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Hi,

I recently bought a 2005 Civic (manual, sedan), which is turning out to have more issues than I realized. One of them relates to the power steering. I first noticed it in tight turns at low speed (especially, for example in a fairly tight circle in a parking lot). The feedback on the wheel fluctuates slowly, about every second or half-second, almost as if the power assist is partially cutting in and out.

While I'm turning the wheel, everything is smooth and feels normal. Then, about a half-second or a second after I finish turning the wheel (now I'm just holding the turn), I get increased feedback on the wheel, then it's gone, then it's back, etc.

I just tried this with the car parked, just dry-steering, and got the same result. I think that pretty much rules out tires, alignment, or suspension.

It's only on fairly tight turns, i.e. somewhere around a full rotation of the wheel or more.

Power steering fluid level is good, belt is tight, no obvious leaks, though I haven't gotten underneath it yet. No abnormal sounds.

Any thoughts would be really helpful, thanks!

 
Rep Power: 517

Are you turning the steering wheel all the way til it stops and do you continue to apply pressure against the stop when it does this?
(I wonder if the pumps relief valve is sticking or something.....you'd need special adapter and a hydraulic pressure gauge to actually test the pump)

What happens if you stop just short of the end of its steering wheel turning, does it still act funny?
Does it work ok in normal driving?



Does it have Hondas fluid in it, or did someone dump ATF in there? They don't seem to like ATF at all.

Try fresh Honda fluid?


A used pump would probably be cheap at a you-pull-it yard and easy to bolt on to try.


Misc. thoughts here.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks!

No, I'm not turning all the way to the stops. I'm turning the steering wheel maybe one full rotation, definitely not at the stops. And, yes, in normal driving the same thing happens, but only in fairly tight turns. Wide turns, or when the steering wheel is straight ahead, and everything feels normal, aside from a slight pull to the left (but it also needs tires and a lower ball joint).

The fluid level is fine, though it's looking pretty grungy so a flush is a good idea.

Yeah, I was wondering about the pump. I was also wondering about the rack/spool valve or the pressure control valve. I don't have any experience with this though so I don't really know, just what I've picked up in passing. I'm *hoping* it's something less expensive, as there are other issues I'm going to have to fix on this car too...

I'll get under it on the weekend and look for leaks just in case. The fluid is at max but the previous owner might have topped it up before selling it, so who knows...

 
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So I had a look underneath and everything is tight. I also flushed the P/S fluid completely and replaced it with new Honda fluid. That helped a lot, the problem is significantly reduced, though not completely gone. I guess that's as far as I'll go with it for now, though I'm still puzzled about what exactly was the cause.

Thanks for the help!

 
Rep Power: 133

I believe there is a strainer in the PS reservoir that perhaps is clogged somewhat? Did you notice debris at the bottom of the reservoir?

 
Rep Power: 517

True dat. Fine mesh screen in the bottom of the reservoir.

 
Rep Power: 133

A new PS reservoir is only $20 CAD if you can't clean the screen in the old one and you think it is the issue. The new fluid helping would indicate that it may be so. I see some online have removed the reservoir and flushed with kerosene or similar. For $20, I'd change er out.

 
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So the car is no longer mine. It had a SIGNIFICANT number of issues, too many to fix without spending a fortune on parts, so it now belongs once again to the gentleman who sold it to me.

Nevertheless, the flush had helped but not completely taken care of the problem. The car sat for a week or so without being driven, however, and when I drove it again, it seemed to be back.

Interestingly, a few days ago I drove a 2004 Civic LX sedan that a neighbour is selling. He's taken really good care of it since it was new. It had the same issue, though much less severe. In a tight turn (like in a parking lot, steering wheel held one full rotation, constant speed), the assist seemed to kick on and off, somewhat randomly but at approximately one second intervals.

I'm surprised no one else has seen this. It can't just be a fluke that the only two Honda Civics I've driven had the same issue!

 
Rep Power: 517

Tire issues (such as flat or hard spots) making the steering wheel twitch?

 
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Well, on the original car the tires were a mess, and one ball joint, which I changed out as soon as I got the car home, had lots of play. I had assumed it was one of those, until I tried a dry steer. With the car running but not stationary, just turning and holding the steering wheel, the same thing happened. The feedback on the steering wheel kicked on and off at intervals somewhere around one second. Belt felt and looked fine, no noises, fluid flush helped a little but didn't make it go away, and then after sitting for a week it was worse again. Didn't try the dry steer with the car I test drove though...

Based on what I've read, I wonder if the spool valve in the rack can get clogged up over time? That might explain why it got a little better after a fluid flush?

 
Rep Power: 517

I guess it's possible, sure.
I've seen so very few issues with them in the shop here though, nothing really stands out in my mind.