06 power steering chatter

[aldo10]

Hi folks I'm hoping someone here can offer some input on a power steering issue that cropped up yesterday.

There is an audible chatter that seems to be coming from the power steering. It is constant when the vehicle is in gear (auto) but stationary. When you put it in neutral or park it goes away. When its in N or P it only happens momentarily on steering wheel change of direction.

I had the wife in the car, in park engine idling and turning the wheel left and right. The chatter would happen on direction change then disappear while continuing to turn in that direction. Once she spun it the other way it would chatter for maybe half to one second then go away. Put it in gear and it would chatter constantly.

The vehicle is full Honda service with 110K on the clock. It had the recall power steering hose change at the 90K service.

Two days ago I had an tyre centre fit four new tyres and wheel alignment. When I drove it home it was perfect, no issues.

I rang Honda and they want it to be booked in obviously with no ideas on what it could be.

I have left it in the garage as the last thing I need at the moment is to damage the pump further if that's the issue.

[Fredoops]

mine's got the same noise

except my PS pump is actually leaking a little.

it could be either the pulley tensioner or the pump itself.

Honda'll charge you a bomb for either

[aldo10]

I was hoping for better news. Anyway I think its time for this little excursion to end. I simply can't afford to keep throwing money at was is an exceptionally maintained vehicle.

When I put my hand on the power steering hose which exits the front of the pump toward the radiator it pulsates very hard whilst it makes the chatter. When the noise stops, the pulsating through the hose goes away or reduces considerably.

[aldo10]

Seeing that yours is leaking (mine isn't) could it be a seal gone which is letting air in? They can froth the fluid and cause poor lubrication/cavitation so I have read.

[chez00]

yes it could be cavitation, or perhaps it somehow got some contamination in the fluid and has damaged the vanes in the pump.

[aldo10]

I tried another Honda dealer and their service department was a little more helpful. Whilst I don't expect an over the phone diagnosis I was after any thoughts that perhaps the recent tyre fitment and wheel alignment may be the cause.

He said that they sometimes rotate the steering wheel left and right during an alignment without starting the engine. This can cause a problem with air entrainment into the fluid. He said generally the air escapes on its own after a bit of driving but it does make it noisy.

It would be good if it were that simple. Fingers crossed.

[Fredoops]

I simply can't afford to keep throwing money at was is an exceptionally maintained vehicle.


If by 'exceptionally maintained' you mean honda-maintained then you're likely to still have the original P/S fluid in the system from 2006.

P/S fluid they hardly ever change...


I've decided to replace my P/S pump, Im planning to put an P/S pump for the bigger accord into the Euro, it cost a whole lots less.


Seeing that yours is leaking (mine isn't) could it be a seal gone which is letting air in? They can froth the fluid and cause poor lubrication/cavitation so I have read.

possibily, thats a rebuild usually circa $300.

[aldo10]

Well I must be a contender for 2013 choko of the year award?

After following an power steering air bleed technique, listening via screwdriver stethescope to try and pinpoint the noise I thought is wasn't the the power steering it seemed to be the tensioner bearing. I removed the belt, inspected it for stones etc, checked the tensioner bearing, felt smooth and spun up easily so I put the belt back on all to no avail. Started the car and the noise was still there. I was sitting in the garage scratching my head and I saw a bottle of Maguires vinyl conditioner, I squirted some on the belt and the noise was gone ..............

[Dru42]

Mine makes this noise too.... only when im stationary and turning the wheel left....

Should i get it checked out or will it go away on its on?

[aldo10]

I would say try determine that its the belt. If it isn't I would investigate it.

Mine hasn't come back since I sprayed the belt.

[Jasemas]

Maybe the belt wasn't tensioned correctly?
Does the belt need to be replaced within maintenance spec?

[aldo10]

No it seems to be at the top end of adjustment by what I could figure. There is a small raised square on the tensioner body. The arrow on the block is pointing to the back of the square. Standing at the drivers wheel, the square is toward the front of the car.

[aaronng]

There should be a raised rectangle next to the raised square. So it looks like two buildings, one tall and one short. The triangle should be pointing in between the square and rectangle. If it is pointing at the square (towards the front of the engine), then the belt is stretched and should be replaced.

[aldo10]

Thanks Aaron. I might take a picture.