mrkatt

Hi guys,

Well my nightmare story begins with my fathernlaw and myself DIY timing belt job (tbelt/all tensioners/acc belts/ changed rad hoses/flush. Problem, I unclamped the pump and moved out of the way for easier access to engine. Now job done, everything back together, car starts right up no leaks, no misfires, but the ps pump starts howling. I bleed it with R/L turns, foam disappears. I drive the care for a few miles arround town, all is quiet. Day 2 after tbelt job, ps pump on way to work (80 mile freeway drive), I can hear the pump howling. I look at it, see a little foam, turn wheel R/L a few more times, foam gone, noise still there. Day 2, howling still there, but not as bad. Call arround, honda/acura/honda specialist tell them my story all say, "overtighted you ps pump, bad bearing". I call around, rebuilt 250s junk 100s, but new can be found online from acura 270. I call my local dealer, he matches the online price and agrees to put on my car for $55 (don't want to mess this bearing up as well). Off to the dealer I go. Done deal all is good right? No! I my get car from dealer, before I drive away, they tell me the ps pump has a small "growl" from air, but that will disappear in time (same noise it made before I replaced pump, maybe my old one just had residual air, shit). So, I get home, pump even louder then ever, funny smell from engine compartment, open hood, and discover several problems.
1. They put a remanufactured, not new pump on.
2. ps fluid foamed out all over the side of the engine compartment and all over my new belts, while dripping all over my driveway. Had to remove yet more of my skin to clean.
3. Tech that worked on my car left his wallet in it (yes I returned it with all his money/stuff, at this point I need all the karma I can get).
This all means I have to call and go back...So I call. The service manager was very pleasent, told me to come back now (80 mile round trip mind you). I return, with pregnant wife, kids. Manager pleasent, assured me to "make it right". Will replace this remanufacted pump with new, (while commenting not an install problem, but be a defective pump)flush ps fluid, steam clean engine compartment, got a MDX loaner. Will let you guys know the follow up story, and remember, don't overtighten you ps pump!

Thanks for letting me vent,

Jason

CJITTY

isn't there a fix for that..a small rubber grommet or plug that you can buy for 80 cents that completely takes care of it? Search for a TSB on this issue via azine search or google.

01tl4tl

belt tension is critical,, and parts fail- whether new or rebuilt they are a bunch of pieces put together in a hurry- with tiny rubber o-rings as its source of sealing under pressure

gen2s should all be changing out the ps fluid by now- 60k miles suggested!
Old fluid is bad news on the seals- its a DIY job

01tl4tl

note to others when changing the ps fluid-

place cardboard under the wheels to reduce friction'
With the engien at idle Turn the wheel FULLY left to the stops- then all the way to the stops on the right- repeat as needed-turn a normal speed- adding fluid as needed

Foam is an indicator of a problem !!

fsttyms1

There is nothing wrong with re-manufactured. Its all new parts inside. No reason to throw away the case and pulley.

Our PS-Pumps are very touchy.

mrkatt

Hi guys,

Well, after 3 trips to the dealer for my powersteering pump noise issue, the noise is still there (dealer replaced with new pump pm 3rd trip, 1st trip was rebuit that failed). The noise is present after the car warms up and at rpms above 2 K, when below 2 K it will moan for 5-10 seconds, then all is quiet.
The dealer put on a new pump (last one was a rebuilt that shot powersteering fluid all over the engine compartment). The resivior has fluid turning within it, no foam, and at level.

My concerns are that it is either the power steering pump (my guess), is on wrong, or...I put something together wrong when I put my timing blet, water pump tensioner in, through the car runs at perfect temp, no leaks, and has never run this well.

I need help/advice here guys.

Thanks,
Jason

totaledTL

Does the noise occur if the car is not being turned or does the wheel have to be turned to cause the noise?

mrkatt

the noise occurs both ways. Either turning the wheel, like when I just come to a stop after exiting the freeway, or at a stop when car is quiet, turn the wheel and you can hear the noise, thogh the noise disappears in 5-10 seconds, but reappear when gas is given.

I am lost on this one, I will return to the dealer, but I am reluctant to tell them I did my own tbelt, and would place blame on that. But overall I am lost to what is wrong?

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jason

totaledTL

That seems to contradict- ? You state the wheel is turned in both scenarios. Does the steering wheel have to be turned to hear it? Or if the car is just at a stop, idling, no steering wheel motion, does it do it?

mrkatt

I understand you question as, if I move the steering wheel does the pump make noise, yes it make noise. If at a stand still I turn on other electrical accesories to increase engine load, no noise. Next step before dealer, I will disconcect the belt only from ps pump and drive, see if noise evident, if still, that ac/alt belt, then only belt left, tbelt (would of shreded by now if problem), oh well hope its just ps pump, will see.

jason

01tl4tl

stop turning the wheel when the car is stopped- that loads the pump and rack
Has the steering rack been inspected?
There is a specific tension the belt has to be at, or can cause issues

01tl4tl

A misalignment of the main crank pulley might be involved- did you get it on with the needed 181 foot pounds of torque

tell the tech what work you have done and what the dealer has done (write a note- leave in car)- it makes their diagnosis easier- they check the obvious and dig if needed from there

mrkatt

Well, 4th trip to dealer to fix ps pump noise...and the noise is still there, though much less. I have noticed that when cold, no noise, when warm, noise from ps pump, especially when you turn steering wheeel (before, no noise at all car with 88 K miles) at a stop or slow L/R turn.

I wonder if there is a crimp in a hose? I know that >94 year tls have an o-ring prob, but only occured when cold. Also, what does clean ps fluid look like? mine looks like black/dark choclate in color, I wonder if I flush it changed it noise might decrease...? Oh well, done with dealer for now, noise is annoying though.

Thanks,
Jason

Gfaze

I don't think it should be that dark, you may have a contaminated P/S system. They probably didn't do a thorough flush and now you have a blockage somewhere which is preventing full and free flow of the fluid throughout the system.

mnacuraholic

I am having a similar issue with a noise coming from the power steering area. FYI, I just had the timing belt/water pump replaced, by a mechanic, a little over a month ago. When I start it up, no noise, as soon as I give it some gas or it warms up, it starts to whine (almost rattle-whine) it gets louder as you turn the wheel either way. I, however, do not notice any foam or bubbling of the power steering fluid @ all. The fluid does look dark & from, a novice diy, the belt looks good. Thinking the p/s pump is shot. Could the t/b & w/p replacement caused this or messed w/ it??? Any help would be much appreciated!!

bruistopher

If I'm not mistaken are power steering pump has a tensioner of its own. It's a little bolt on the side of the power steering that you torque down.

When I had to replace my drive belts and I put everything back together I had the same symptoms you were having until I torque down that tensioner bolt.

totaledTL

I had the timing belt & water pump replaced on a different import car one time (also a V6) & the ps pump crapped out shortly thereafter. Maybe after the ps belt was reinstalled and (probably) tensioned differently than it was, contributed to it's failure. Just a theory.