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Power Steering Whine

Tiny
KILLERDC
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 HONDA ACCORD
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 94,000 MILES
Now that it has turned colder, 50 degrees or so, my car makes an awful noise when I turn it on in the morning. I believe it is linked to the power steering somehow. It makes the noise regardless of whether I am turning the wheel or not, but when I turn the wheel, it makes an even louder noise. After I let the car warm up for about 10-15 minutes and the engine gets up to operating temperature, the sound goes away, and as long as the temperature stays over 50 degrees it does not come back. Since I live 20-30 minutes from the dealer, there was no way for me to re-produce the sounds for them, because the sound was always gone by the time I could get there. So I took my high tech camera and video'd the problem in high definition and took it to them, but they refused to help. They said the only thing they could do is for me to leave it overnight and they would look at it in the morning. Well that is nearly impossible for me to do given I have to take kids to school etc. The shop foreman who looked at it, said best guess was that it was the power steering pump, and it would need to be replaced. Total price is nearly 700 dollars. I am not at all car inclined, but am very mechanically inclined, so if I can figure out what is wrong, I will attempt to do the repair myself.

I saw a previous post on here mentioning something about just replacing the O-ring. I'm not sure that this is the same issue. The fluids are fine, just had oil changed 2 days ago and was told all fluid levels are topped off.
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Friday, December 4th, 2009 AT 9:34 PM

31 Replies

Tiny
STEALTH916
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I also have an Accord V6 EX, 2005, with 84K miles on it. I am just now experiencing this problem. When it is very cold in the morning, I am getting a loud whine coming from the power steering pump. After 5 minutes or so it goes away as the temperatures come up.

I do not see any leaking fluid, kinked hoses etc. Fluid level is normal. I have a 6yr/100,000mi warranty which will hopefully cover this if it is a major repair.
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Saturday, December 5th, 2009 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
STEALTH916
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I just found this service guide that helped me fix the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/power-steering-fluid-flush

I flushed the fluid and the noise is gone! I love this site.
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Saturday, December 5th, 2009 AT 8:21 PM
Tiny
STEALTH916
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I also did observe foaming in the power steering fluid reservoir when the system was cold and making the 'whine' noise.

So I purchased the new O-Ring from the dealer (total cost 68 cents).

I installed the part in less than 10 minutes. The only tool required was a standard 10mm boxed end wrench with a standard offset. You only have to remove one bolt. Very little fluid came out of the inlet hose when it was removed, but be sure to have a rag underneath the inlet.

Remove the old O-ring, which will probably be in the pump housing, lube the new O-ring with power steering fluid and install the new O-ring over the inlet hose assembly, and reinstalll the inlet hose. Install the bolt and tighten but do not overtighten. Use a torque wrench set to 8 ft lbs if you have it. Start the car and observe for any leaks.

I should know tomorrow morning if my problem has been fixed, as we are expecting temperatures in the mid 20's overnight.
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 AT 10:40 PM
Tiny
KILLERDC
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I am interested in finding out if this worked! I am planning on going by the dealer today to pick up that part, and will replace it tonight, if they wont do a courtesy repair.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 AT 8:50 AM
Tiny
STEALTH916
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes, it seems the O-Ring did fix my problem. It was very cold again this morning, but the power steering pump never complained and the fluid did not foam. I never heard even a hint of the whine/moan sound. I could tell as soon as I started the car that the problem was resolved.

Best of luck!
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 AT 11:22 AM
Tiny
KILLERDC
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks for the info.

Im gonna call up the dealer and see if they will do a quick courtest repair, and if not, I will just run up there and buy the part and do it myself.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 AT 11:25 AM
Tiny
KILLERDC
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
91Cents. That was the cost after tax of a new O-ring. Took me more time to find the proper wrench then it did to replace the part, and saved me 698.00, which is what I was told it would cost to fix the problem. That was the cost of a new power steering pump, and etc.

Thanks for the info. With xmas right around the corner, saving 700 bucks is huge. My kiddo's wont have to cut back quite so much. :)

Thanks again, and I will use this service whenever I have any issues.
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Thursday, December 10th, 2009 AT 7:44 AM
Tiny
2012CHUCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I had the same problem with my 2005 accord with 95000 miles. The dealer fixed it with a one dollar o ring. No charge for labor.
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Tuesday, December 7th, 2010 AT 6:42 PM
Tiny
STEALTH916
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I wanted to follow up since it has been a year that I did this repair. The repair is still working fine and I have had no further problems with the power steering pump on my Accord.

2 weeks ago, my 2006 Honda Odyssey also started giving me similar trouble, although it did it only when the car was WARMED UP (?). I visually verified foaming in the fluid reservoir, then went to the dealer and picked up another $1 O-ring. It was harder to access the bolt on the Odyssey, but I was able to just barely manage it using the same small 10mm box end wrench. It seems that the new O-ring also solved the problem in my Odyssey.
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Tuesday, December 7th, 2010 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
HPEREIRA0893
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Thank You for this very helpful information. I have had this issue on going for the past three years. I have taken my car to many mechanics and also to the HONDA dealer, interestingly enough no one could diagnose the foam in the reservoir, loud noise and the wet hoses. The noise is now louder than ever and even on our warm mornings it's loud. THANK YOU AGAIN.
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Saturday, June 13th, 2015 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
VGRONKOWSKI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2004 HONDA ACCORD
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • 86,000 MILES
I drive a 2004 Honda Accord EX. For the past year, I have noticed that when it is colder outside, my car makes a loud squealing noise especially when I turn the wheel. I took my car in to replace the serpentine belt, and was told I needed to get my rack and pinion replaced for $1100. I had someone take a look at my car who was a car mechanic in the past and said my rack and pinion was dry. He did notice a small leak around the bottom hose that connects to the power steering pump. I read on here that an O-ring needs to be replaced on the power steering pump inlet joint. Is there anything else that should be replaced?
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
If you're replacing a hose, it will come with new O-rings. None of these things are going to cause a squealing noise unless this oil is getting on the belt
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
VGRONKOWSKI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
If there's a leak, can't air get into the system to cause that noise? Noise is gone once it has warmed up.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
Air noise is growling, belt noise is squealing.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
VGRONKOWSKI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Well, belt was replaced, noise remains. Let's call it growling then! Would it be an replacement of the hose(s) and O-rings?
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HONDA TECH 1818
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
Air is entering the pump through the o-ring. Replaced the powersteering pump inlet joint o-ring and that would fix it.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ENATION
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 HONDA ACCORD
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 67,000 MILES
I have a Honda accord v6. When the car is cold the power steering pumps makes a loud noise. As soon as the car is wormed up it will go away. How do I determine what it is exactly.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,730 POSTS
First check your fluid level. Don't overfill it. Then check the conditions of your belt. If it's loose or worn, replace it.

When the pumps begin to go bad, they begin to make a whining noise. To confirm it's the pump, remove the belt and turn each pulley by hand. If one/more has any resistance or make noises, replace them.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
VGRONKOWSKI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you. I will do that. How much do they typically charge to replace the o-ring?
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DRCRANKNWRENCH
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,380 POSTS
It is either the belt slipping, low fluid level or the pump is failing. If the belt is loose, you can check the slack by pushing on it. It should not move more than a cm or so. The entire range can be mesures by pushing it in and pulling it which whould be, about 1/2 inch for a V type belt or 1/4 inch for a flat belt.
Check the level when the vehcicle has been driven around some. Also check if the fluid looks burnt or dirty.
A few questions;
Have you ever used power steering fluid that did not have, "For Use In Hondas" on the label?
Does the noise change when turning the wheel lock to lcok at a standstill?
Let em knwo and I wil reply ASAP.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM (Merged)

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