DIY A-105: Power Steering Whine fix
02-22-2012, 10:31 AM
#441
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Thread Starter
Nothing to worry about.. just your HP PS hose leaking and the coolant burning on the rear bank. I'm guessing the smell is a bit sweet. Luckily it sounds like no major damage occurred. Make sure the ticket does state that the hose did indeed leak / pop and cause coolant to burn. You might get them to replace anything that might be damaged. Check firewall, rear motor mount and o2 sensors for any residue / damage.
04-08-2012, 11:33 AM
#444
10th Gear
Thanks!
I had my new (to me) Type S for about a week when it started making that whine in the mornings... just did this fix and she is nice and quiet again. Will be doing the fluid flush this coming weekend... i didn't have enough fluid to do it yesterday. Thanks for the DIY!
04-16-2012, 06:55 PM
#445
thank you very much, just did it 10min job and whine is gone, just as precaution to people changing there ps fluid i needed two bottles of honda oem stuff not one like i was told at the dealer. however no noise what so ever i think there still bubbles in the power steering resvoir any tips? thank you guys again for any info.
Last edited by vectorracer; 04-16-2012 at 06:59 PM.
04-16-2012, 07:21 PM
#446
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If bubbles still appear in the system after a couple of days, that likely means a leak somewhere else in the power steering system.
04-16-2012, 10:13 PM
#447
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Thread Starter
Trust me, most techs grab one bottle. Doesn't mean it's a one bottle job, they usually just suck out a bottles worth. Also something to consider.. the res supposedly has a filter catch on the outlet side that gunks with crap. It was recommended to me to replace the whole res.
05-20-2012, 07:21 PM
#448
Drifting
Just did this fix today in less than 5 minutes. Paid $0.67 for the new o-ring and about $5 for some power steering fluid. Thanks for the write-up Majofo.
For anybody that is having this problem...for the love of god do not pay the stealership to fix it. My wife could have done this and she has absolutely no mechanical skills whatsoever. It is literally the easiest thing I've ever done on a car.
For anybody that is having this problem...for the love of god do not pay the stealership to fix it. My wife could have done this and she has absolutely no mechanical skills whatsoever. It is literally the easiest thing I've ever done on a car.
05-20-2012, 10:33 PM
#449
While doing the 105k maintenance at the stealership, I had them replace the 0 ring and put new power steering fluid in the car because ive had that annoying noise for a while now. They said this would get rid of that noise. 2 days later....the noise is still their? any suggestions?
09-11-2012, 01:47 PM
#451
Q('.')=O
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So as some of you know I got my 105k service done. Let's just say they forgot to do something correctly so I had to take it back and they replaced my power steering pump.
Ever since then I have the noise you are all talking about. I can't hear it when I'm driving but can definitely hear it when I start the car cold (not cold outside aka 80 degrees) but cold as in not running for a long time; and of course when I move the wheel side to side. And I do see some little bubbles in the power steering reservoir.
My guess is that when they replaced my pump they used the old black ring. I will go to my dealership and pick up the new O-ring and try this. Based on what everyone posted in here I'm positive this should fix the noise. Oh and the dealer is charging $2.50 for the ring! Blasphemy!
Ever since then I have the noise you are all talking about. I can't hear it when I'm driving but can definitely hear it when I start the car cold (not cold outside aka 80 degrees) but cold as in not running for a long time; and of course when I move the wheel side to side. And I do see some little bubbles in the power steering reservoir.
My guess is that when they replaced my pump they used the old black ring. I will go to my dealership and pick up the new O-ring and try this. Based on what everyone posted in here I'm positive this should fix the noise. Oh and the dealer is charging $2.50 for the ring! Blasphemy!
09-12-2012, 11:19 PM
#453
how the hell did u guys get that 10mm bolt off mine is on so freakin tight that its stripping! turns out the hose for the same part had a hole. changed that and now its fine. but i still want to change the O-ring for the heck of it...any tips to get it off? only thing that will fit is a regular wrench 
09-13-2012, 02:27 AM
#454
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That doesn't sound right. The bolt is not torqued that tightly-- I used the box end of a 10 mm. standard combo wrench and the bolt came off with no issues at all.
Sure you're turning the bolt the right way?
11-05-2012, 12:08 PM
#456
Bump for new comers, people with this problem....and because my fluid looks like this! haha
Yeah. My PS whine is LOUD in the mornings now. Going to pick up an O-ring at the dealership at lunch and see if it fixes it. Lets hope!
Also, does this PS fluid look like it needs to be replaced or does it look okay for now??
Yeah. My PS whine is LOUD in the mornings now. Going to pick up an O-ring at the dealership at lunch and see if it fixes it. Lets hope!
Also, does this PS fluid look like it needs to be replaced or does it look okay for now??
11-14-2012, 12:17 PM
#457
I too had the PS whine on cold mornings when the engine was cold (I have an '05 with just over 54K miles). My PS fluid looked just like what Trunk Monkey posted above. I wound up sucking as much of the PS fluid out of the res using a turkey baster. Got it all out of the res, started the car, turned the steering wheel lock-to-lock a couple of times (up on jack stands), shut it off and sucked out more PS fluid. I then changed the o-ring (used a 10mm combo wrench, box end; came off easy) and reassembled. I filled the res up with one bottle of OEM fluid (12oz), started the car, turned the steering wheel lock-to-lock a couple of times (with the res cap off) and then shut it off. A majority of the PS fluid was now gone in the res, so I filled it up with my second bottle. Repeated the start car, turn steering wheel, shut off car step again. The PS fluid in the res dropped, but not completely. Filled to the upper level and repeated the process. I still had some new PS fluid left, and seeing that the fluid still looked dark brown (the new stuff is almost clear), I sucked out some more fluid with the turkey baster, filled it up to the top level and redid the start car, turn steering wheel, shut off car step again. The fluid level remained at the same level this time, and most of the bubbles had disappeared. Still looks a little too brown for me, so I will probably go back and get a few more bottles of OEM PS fluid and suck out some more. Kind of like the ATF 3x3 process. You'll definitely want at least two bottles of PS fluid going into this procedure.
It is a pretty quick and simple job, and it eliminated the whining noise I was having (although we haven't had any "cold" weather since the last bout a couple of weeks ago). Should have some cooler weather this weekend, so time will tell if the noise has been eliminated for good.
This is a great thread; hell, Acurazine is the greatest web site ever!!!
It is a pretty quick and simple job, and it eliminated the whining noise I was having (although we haven't had any "cold" weather since the last bout a couple of weeks ago). Should have some cooler weather this weekend, so time will tell if the noise has been eliminated for good.
This is a great thread; hell, Acurazine is the greatest web site ever!!!
11-15-2012, 09:57 AM
#460
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^^^ sorry didnt read the prev post but did you change the Oring? also do you see bubbles in the reservoir ?
11-15-2012, 10:43 AM
#462
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^^^ I think there might be any other place where air might be seeping into the PS system....
I think a PS rebuild is in order
I think a PS rebuild is in order
11-15-2012, 05:32 PM
#463
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Have the same problem - called the dealer today to ask about replacing the o-ring and was told "Forget it - that won't fix it. You need a new power steering pump. When can you come in?". Bought the o-ring for $2 and took it to a mechanic down the street from the dealer who installed it for $30 bucks. (I'm not too handy!). Let's hope the problem is solved!
11-21-2012, 09:05 PM
#467
I can't believe this just happened to me the night before thanksgiving! I turn the car on and notice a whine and turn the steering wheel slighty and have a huge whine/pulsing vibration. Take it for a spin because I feel like it will go away, NOPE. Pull into the garage open the hood, take the cover off, pop the top of the power steering reservoir and bam, bone dry. So now I am going to be on a mission for power steering fluid, and an O ring before I have to be at work at 7am Friday morning. I guess it could be worse...wish me luck
12-17-2012, 01:32 PM
#470
I somehow dropped the bolt. Has anyone had this problem?
Where did you find it???
I think it fell on the towards to the driver side of the car and on top of the engine. I did not hear it plastic or see it on the ground. I used a flash light and could not find it.
Where did you find it???
I think it fell on the towards to the driver side of the car and on top of the engine. I did not hear it plastic or see it on the ground. I used a flash light and could not find it.
12-17-2012, 01:36 PM
#471
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Thread Starter
It might have fallen between the rear bank head.. there is a gap there that likes to catch things like that.. between intake manifold and head.
Otherwise.. around rear mount or plastic shroud covering trans.
Otherwise.. around rear mount or plastic shroud covering trans.
12-17-2012, 01:44 PM
#473
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Thread Starter
nah.. skinny fingers and a mirror
12-17-2012, 01:47 PM
#474
Race Director
12-17-2012, 01:48 PM
#475
shit. I dont have skinny fingers. My gf does lol hopefully she will take one for the team.
Im confused, is the bolt magnetic?
I had a friend drop me off at work and he will be picking up the magnetic arm from harbor freight. So hopefully we can find it this evening when i get off.
This sucks
Im confused, is the bolt magnetic?
I had a friend drop me off at work and he will be picking up the magnetic arm from harbor freight. So hopefully we can find it this evening when i get off.
This sucks
12-17-2012, 01:52 PM
#476
Race Director
I don't no if it is or not... sorry. But at any rate, a mag grabber is less than $5 and that along with a mirror is a highly recommended addition to your tool set
12-17-2012, 01:59 PM
#477
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Thread Starter
the magnetic arm won't fit back there.. but I have used the telescoping arm to pick up bolts to prevent cat scratches, so I'm with nfn.. if you don't have it, you should. Also grab a magnetic catch can from harbor frieght. Basically a huge magnet under a tin to hold all your bolts.
12-17-2012, 03:00 PM
#479
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Thread Starter
It's tight.. and the magnetic arm won't bend. 
Find a flex magnetic arm.
Find a flex magnetic arm.
12-17-2012, 03:08 PM
#480
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^^^ I dropped my switchbacks in the headlight assembly and had to bend the magnetic arm a little bit to remove the switchback....once the switchback was out, i went ahead and "straightened out" the magnetic arm 