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1999 Honda Civic

Tiny
FOOTEFETISH
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD
I have a 1999 honda civic and it is in great condition, however I couldn't afford to get my 90,000 mile check-up and now that I am at 93,000+ miles it is acting up. The problem is when I turn to the left it makes a squeaky, yet grinding noise. I have added power steering fluid and this did not help. Is this my power steering pump? Power steering column? What is it and what can I do?
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2006 AT 2:51 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
GRNCIVIC
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
I`m not an expert, but it almost sounds like your brake sensors. They will make that sqeaky sound when your pads are getting worn.
If this is the case it will generally make that noise all the time. It might come and go at first, then progessively get worse.
Are you sure that it only makes a noise when you are turning?
That`s the only thing I can think of.
I`m sure Bruce will help out further.
He`s the man!
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2006 AT 3:02 PM
Tiny
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Well it seems like it is most distinct when I am turning and it seems louder when I am turning left. If it is my brake sensors what do I have to do to repair the problem and how expensive will it be? My problem is if I take it in to get a diagnosis it will cost me then I have to pay tohave the problem fixed and labor in Hawaii is not cheap!
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2006 AT 3:23 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
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Grncivic is right on in his analysis. You know sometimes when we make a corner we put a lot of pressure on the wheel and wheel hub assembly. There is always a little bit of give to the assembly and it is normal. Your wear sensors are a very simple feature that allow a small scrapper to rub on the rotor once the pad wears down. It will get worse. It serves as a warning to start thinking about brake pad replacement.

Putting about $20 in to a service manual and doing the brake job yourself will help save some $. I know it is the Christmas season and money is always short.

Take a look at your owners manual and see what the recommended maintenance items were to be looked at and do some of them yourself. Checking fluid levels is free but will either tell you of some impending problems or save some big $ down the road. Have a great Christmas season!
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2006 AT 3:25 PM
Tiny
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Thank You for your siuggestions. Hopefully I can get this taken care of soon. You are right, it is horrible timing as far as money!
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2006 AT 3:31 PM
Tiny
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Now the sound is horrible! It sounds as if it is coming from my front left tire (driver's). The sound is worse as I turn for some reason, do you still think brake sensors? Should I just take it in for a brake inspection?
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Wednesday, December 6th, 2006 AT 12:06 PM
Tiny
GRNCIVIC
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
Yes take it in and have it looked at.
Your front brake pads sound like they need to be replaced. That`s why the sensors are making that horrible noise. The sensors are fine they are doing their job letting you know to have your brakes serviced.
The brake rotors may or may not need to be turned as well.
If you drive much longer in this condition it may damage the brake rotors and then it will REALLY get expensive.
You should be able to get a brake job for around $100 or so.
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Wednesday, December 6th, 2006 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
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Okay so my husband and his buddies took the tire off and they said the problem was simple, they said the guard that blocks rocks and such from getting in between the rotor was somehow shifted and jammed against the rotos itself and that is what was making the sound. They unjammed it and the sound is gone. They rotated my tires, and my car has an appointment for an alignment today. Does this sound right?
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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 2:42 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
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Yes it does. That shield does not often get pushed in, but hitting something on the road can surely push it in. As the car gets older that shield gets thinner from rust and easier to push in and rub.

Great job with finding the problem and taking the effort to rotate the tires. I imagine that you husband and his friend might have detected the tires were not wearing correctly and you wanted to get it aligned.

Hey, awareness of what is going on with your vehicle is great, fun for some, and bothersome for others.

Merry Christmas!
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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 3:27 PM
Tiny
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Thank You again for all of your help.I had the alignment done today and the steering wheel is so tight I can barely drive the thing! The car pulls to the right SO BAD now! The guy says maybe the car has been in an accident, but I haven't wrecked it and have had it for 5 years! When I bought it, it came from a Honda dealer, not some random person, so when I asked if it was ever wrecked I believed them when they said no. I hope this little problem doesn't start a whole chaotic downhill mess with my car now or anything, hopefully it is done and fixed. Although the squeaky grinding is gone, now there is a strange ticking sound from under the hood. So WHO KNOWS!
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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 10:26 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
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When you took it to the alignment did it pull hard? There are alignment specialists that are boneheads.
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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 11:38 PM

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