Tuesday I got my second new timing belt and water pump, plus a new serpentine belt.

Today I drove the car and noticed the car had thrown a trouble message on the display, dated to Tuesday. It played an audio warning that "you might have a problem with your power steering system. Shut off the car and turn it back on. If you still have the warning light, get to your Acura dealer as soon as it's convenient."

Shut off the car. Started it up again. That stopped the warning (although it remained stored for reference).

Immediately talked to my veteran garage guy. He said he'd never seen such a thing in all his years working on Hondas and Acuras. Steering acts normal, sounds normal, fluid level was normal. He said, "I could see it if it were electronic power steering, but this is hydraulic. I don't know what there is that's electrical that would fail." I guessed it might be a low-fluid warning, but as I said, fluid was full. Guess I'm on Red Alert. Anybody ever encountered this?

 

I have not. It seems rather strange as you've alluded to, for this to be happening on a hydraulic system.

 

Knowledgeable friend WAGuesses that it might have been caused by low voltage from the battery making the computer have a brain cramp. We know RLs are prone to low voltage. Doubly weird because I'd had this one on a trickle charger just prior to the service call and the battery (Acura brand) is only a year old, but who knows?

 

My ears are burning

 

Acura/Honda batteries are known for premature failure. My previous Acura had an Acura battery I purchased brand new at the dealer and it failed in 2-1/2 years.

 

Every battery in the industry is made by the same 3-4 international suppliers. I think it has to do more with the fragility of this particular car's electrical system as designed—I suspect they spec'd an undersized battery to save weight on the car's already portly nose.

 

It is hydraulic but it’s also speed sensitive so there’s definitely a computer component to it. Right?

 

Right you are, apparently. I found this on a specs page:
"Electronically controlled, speed-sensing, power-assist rack-and-pinion."

Now, what "electronically controlled" means in a hydraulic system, I have no idea. Waaaaay beyond my pay grade.

 

I just had this same PWS warning. Turn the car off and on and haven’t seen it since. I checked fluid and was shocked at how dark and dirty it was so I changed it. I don’t think it had ever been changed in 145k miles.