Very Hard Power Steering
 

Hi,

I have 8th gen civic. Recently I heard a whinning sound from the engine and felt a bit hard power steering, I check the PS Fluid and it was not full and the power steering hose was leaking. I went to the mechanic and have it replaced with the used hose avaibale in the scrap market. Just after 1 day having it replaced, my steering was hard again and making strange noises when I turned it. I turned my car off and started it, power steering was fine again but just after quater of a mile drive it started to act the same again.

I took it back to the mechanic, he said there must be some air(but there was no air I checked) or the problem with hose, the took the hose off again check it and put it back, filled the fluid took off the air but the steering is still hard.

Now the mechanic is saying that the problem is with the pump. BUt I don't agree because the steering was fine when it took my car to him, I was filling up the fluid everyday, I never let it read the lower level. So, I think the pump most be fine.

I don't know much about the mechanical work, I did not took it to the dealer as they charge alot here.

Now the steering is very hard but when you put gas on the accelerator, it becomes soft.(not much but better).

One more thing I noticed, when it switch the car on, the dashboard blinks, somethings it seems the battery is not given power but if I do it again it fluctuates and the car starts. I was thinking it might be the problem of POWER STEERING Preesure SWITCH . What do you people think? I really need help .

Is this the PUMP, Pressure switch or the hose ? I put in the Fluid available in the market(RED in color) Should I put the original honda (Yellowish).


Regards

Re: Very Hard Power Steering
 

Too late, I'd guess.
Why don't you believe your mechanic? If you don't trust him, why is he still your mechanic?
Dealer too high? Is there no value in correct answers? I don't make money off of wrong answers at work.

Leak is first, the pumps on the early cars leaked rather often. I have seen a few that were bad, as in a weak pump. Running the system while it is low on fluid can burn up the pump.

Wrong fluid is next, that needs to be flushed out thoroughly. It is a hydraulic system, it depends on the correct fluid for pumping efficiency and to build correct pressure.
You may have done damage by filling it with the wrong fluid. That could mean a steering rack too.

Weak pump, as evidenced by the statement: "Now the steering is very hard but when you put gas on the accelerator, it becomes soft.(not much but better). "
Pressure testing is in order to prove if it truly is a weak pump. Before throwing parts at it.

Re: Very Hard Power Steering
 

I'm debating whether it's worthwhile responding to this question, because despite admitting your limited mechanical ability, you don't trust anything your mechanic is stating and are unwilling to visit the dealer.

Everything ezone stated is completely correct, it's difficult for me to expand on advice given by an excellent honda tech, but I can second his advice.

You stated, " I was filling up the fluid everyday", am I to infer that the system was leaking for some time and you frequently topped up the fluid to compensate?

The system is hydraulic, only the Honda PS fluid should be used, anything else has a high likelihood of causing damage to the entire system, steering rack included. Generally speaking, unless you are knowledgeable about mechanics, it's best to exclusively use Honda OEM fluids for everything except oil and even then following the suggested specifications.

A weak pump is also highly likely, the symptoms you describe are exactly what would be caused by that, pressure test the system and proceed.

Re: Very Hard Power Steering
 

^^ 100% agree.

I would like to add, it's very hard to read a post when the incorrect tense or incorrect word is used in a poorly put together sentence. No offense but, it reads like spam from Nigeria.