Hey guys,

I'm back again with a new issue. This time it's due to either the steering or the suspension. Let me explain.

Last night I got home and while parking heard a squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel. After I parked, I kept turning the steering back and forth and it was very noticeable from inside the cabin. Today the noise continued, so I took a video. I also noticed that the same noise also occurred when creeping forward (no gas) and slamming on the brakes. The small jerk caused the same squeaking noise. The first video below starts off with me turning the steering wheel. Hopefully, you can hear the noise. Later in the video I put the camera outside looking at the wheel (it's dark so apologies in advance). At first, it's just the wheel turning, but then I put it in drive/reverse and brake a few times. You'll hear the squeak as the car rocks back and forth.

I searched youtube and came across the below clip (second video) and thought that it might be the issue. When I went back out to check, I had the help of my dad to turn the steering while I tried isolating the noise. There is a little noise coming from the power steering pump, but it could be normal (third video). The squeak seems to be coming from the front passenger wheel. There is some noise coming from the drivers side wheel, but it might just be the echo from the passenger side.

Does anyone know whats causing the noise? I had a service done last week (oil change, timing belt, water pump, tire rotation). Not sure if this could be related (bad job?).

Thanks!

First vid (dark so just listen for the noise):

Youtube power steering video (though its for the 3rd gen and I didnt see any fluid leaks):

Second vid :

 

i dont think your is a leak....the squeak is more from the steering wheel column....i am guessing the bushing.....

but see if there are any air bubbles in the reservoir....and check to see if the serpentine belt is tight and not slipping....how is the steering feel ? tight ? loose ?

 

^ What he said.

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for your replies. The steering feels perfectly fine. I took it to a guy and he said it's the ball joint (they're dry?).

I'm going to order the ball joint and the rear mount which the dealer said was busted when I took it in to get my timing belt done (asked them to check all of them). The guy also checked the mount and said it looked fine, but I'm still going to have it replaced since on my previous posts and videos a few ppl here said it was busted too. He's charging me 150 on the labor which I think is fair. The symptoms for the mounts are 1) heavy bang when I throw it into reverse when cold and 2) same bank when letting off the gas and the tranny shifts from third to fourth when cold (though not sure what relation the temperature has).

Let me know if you this this can't be the problem.

Thanks!

 

Oh and he also saw that my oil pan gasket is leaking (though only a small amount). I didnt notice any drop in oil levels during the year between my oil changes so I think I'll live with it for now...

 

Glad your getting all that fixed and Thanks for reporting an update....

 

No problem swoosh.

I just tried searching for the ball joint and can't find it on any of the Acura oem parts websites. Doing a search on it, i found that there is one for the 04-08 TL (51220-SDA-A02) but can't find one for the 2nd gen.

Does anyone know where I can get one and what the part number is?

Thanks!

 

He also mentioned that he could grease it or spray wd 40 on it. Possible on our cars? Trying not to spend too much more on this car now. Dropped 800 on maintenance two weeks ago and spending another 300 on the mount.

Thanks

 

^^^ if i were you i would buy Innovative mounts and install em myself....

150 labor + mounts are kinda pricey in my opinion....but if you take your car in for everything to this dealership, they might be able to hook you up

 

I think the ball joints come with the arms upper or lower depending on what you have. If I'm not mistaken.

The way I diagnose mounts is have someone observing the action of the motor with the cars' emergency brake fully applied, then in drive and reverse snap throttling the motor, if mounts are bad you can see a noticeable jump of the motor indicating excessive freeplay, meaning the mount is busted, (it's hard to see the driver lower tranny mounts the two small ones). You also may notice some heavy clunking or banging also not normal and indicates a bad mount or mounts.
You can try to spray it down or grease them, they don't have grease fittings. Likely it won't do much.
Just the other day a customer complained of squeeking when turning left to right and vice versa at a stop. He had aftermarket upper ball joints heim joints.
Glad you're caring for your car.

 

Below are the two videos I took to test my mounts. I try doing things myself but the rear mount is just tough to get to so don't mind doing it.

For the ball joints, greasing them sounds like a good first try. If it doesn't work then I'll have them replaced. If they are lose then I'll also replace them.

 

Yeah sure looks like the rear mount has excessive play like you are thinking. Check the pass eng mount, those tend to tear.
The longer you drive a car with a mount coming apart, the more likely other mounts will start to come apart as well.
I think I'd have someone do it for me lol. Just make sure they don't stretch or tear any wires, and reinstall vacuum lines. Someone on here had that issue.

 

Shit thats a lot of play....if i had to guess i would say both your front and rear mounts are on their way out.....