2001 Honda Prelude Steering wheel Hard to Turn

SPIDY0580

MEMBER
2001 HONDA PRELUDE
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
47,000 MILES

I live in NY and its been around 17-23 Degress Farhenhiet for the past couple of months. My Car has been sitting in the Garage for a month and Half and yesterday I went to go start the Car and I can't turn my steering wheel. So I jacked up the car and I was able to turn the Wheel, it was tough, like manual steering and notices that Power Steering Fluid was coming out of the Resivour everytime I turn the wheel to the left or the right. Do you think something is frozen somewhere.

Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 9:03 AM

4 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi Spidy0580,

When engine is not running, turning the steering wheel would cause fliuds to be pushed out of the reservoir.

After starting the engine if the reservoir keeps foaming then either the fluid supply hose to the power steering pump inlet is leaking or you have a bad pump.

After sitting for extended period of time and the weather, the pump vanes could be stuck so you need to warm it up a bit and try again.

Jack up vehicle and keep engine running, make full turns of the steering from right to left a few times, keeping it at full turns for a split second before returning.

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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 12:08 PM

SPIDY0580

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3 POSTS

I have let the engine run for a while, but no Cigar.I mean its really cold here, so I don't know if something maybe is frozen somewhere becuase the last time I drove it was fine. Hard to think it would just break like that after a month and half.

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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 12:42 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi,

It should not be broken, just frozen and stuck and the culprit is the power steering pump vanes. The power steering pump belt is working, I presume? ;)

Run the engine and let the power steering fluid warm up before attempting the procedures I posted above.

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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 1:46 PM

SPIDY0580

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3 POSTS

Thanks. Its really cold here, so I think I will try your method when we hit mid 40's hopefully which will be soon.I did let the car run 1/2 hr, but I was still unable to turn the steering wheel. Also MY PWR STEERING resivour is Past the Max level, which mean its not going anywhere but just sits in the Resivour.
But I will def try when it gets warmer.

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Monday, January 26th, 2009 AT 2:33 PM