2000 Honda Accord power steering pump

Tiny
TXHONDAACCORD2000
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 HONDA ACCORD
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 142,000 MILES
Thursday I took my car in to get an oil change, and they told me I needed to change my belts. So, they did both. When I picked up the car, I noticed a small leak under the front passenger bumper. When I pulled out, turning the wheel made a low whine that got louder and louder, whenever the wheel was turned in either direction. I thought it was because the belt was just replaced. 2 hours later, I called and said something was wrong, the noise hadn't stopped. I was told to bring it in in the morning and they would look at it. They told me it wasn't the belt, that it was the power steering pump and it needed to be replaced. They had tried putting the Honda PS fluid in, but it's still making the noise, and that it wasn't a safety issue. I said it wasn't having any problems before I brought it in. The manager said the lowest price he could find was $400 for the part, he would not charge labor and take $100 of the price to take care of me. I couln't wait for the part to come in, so I made an appt for Mon. When the tech brought it around for me, he said sorry I broke your car. I did put ps fluid in, but I don't know why the pump. That Fri. Night I noticed a smell when I got out of the car, and when I lifted the hood, there was fluid sprayed all over. If they had put too much fluid in, would that have broken the seals on the pump. Or a hose. Or did the pump just break and that's why it's spraying. I find it odd that everything was fine when I came in, then the pump's broken, there already was ps fluid leaking out in the parking lot before I left, that he didn't notice the noise when he put it in the parking lot, then he's taking $100 off the cost of the part. My ex-husband always took care of these things, and I don't know what I'm talking about and don't want to get taken advantage of. Is this something that just happens, and I get to pay $300 for a new pump, or does it sound like something they should replace? Thanks.
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 AT 6:14 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
When fluid level drops, the pump would whine. Fluid leakages are usually due to a bad high pressure hose. Since fluids were sprayed all over the engine compartment, I would suggest getting the leakage resolved first. The noise might go away once the leakage is rectified.

If it is the hose that is leaking causing the fluid level to drop and whining noise, it is something that cannot be attributed to the shop as such hoses tends to leak overtime and any movement would expedite it.

Replacing the pump is not going to solve the problem unless the leakage is rectified because when fluid level drops, the whine comes back.

If it is the pump that is leaking, get a second opinion to check if the leak is due to any external factors, which the shop might be responsible for, if they had caused the damage while replacing the serpentine belt.
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Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
The pump may have been damaged with a prybar. When u notice something like that dont take your car. They need to show u where its leaking from on the pump. Look at the pump for damage or bent housing. If they damaged it they need fix it. Their playin lets make a deal because they are wrong. They can rebuild the pump if they want. They sound like parts replacers not techs.U NEED TO PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND SAY NO U NEED TO REPAIR THIS. Unless u got 300 dollars to throw away. Gl
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Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 AT 7:19 PM

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