DIY A-105: Power Steering Whine fix
I have this problem currently on my 05 TL. I got the new o-ring in my possession. 80 cents. Plan on installing toNIGHT and hope for no whine in the morning. This thread seems to be a lifesaver for so many owners, I hope to be yet another successful user of this quick fix.
I have this problem currently on my 05 TL. I got the new o-ring in my possession. 80 cents. Plan on installing toNIGHT and hope for no whine in the morning. This thread seems to be a lifesaver for so many owners, I hope to be yet another successful user of this quick fix.
well i changed it today... but it was already the orange oring... i repalced it with the new one anyways hopefully that will solve the problem but i'm not optimistic...
at this point i'm not even sure if its coming from the power steering.... the noise is exacrly what OP describes though... so i dont know.
at this point i'm not even sure if its coming from the power steering.... the noise is exacrly what OP describes though... so i dont know.
It'll take you a half hour to find the wrench and about a minute to change the O-ring.
Thread Starter
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 88,888
Likes: 11,846
From: Waffles, BU
I have two full sets of sockets and a set of impact sockets.. yet have bought 6 additional 10mm sockets of varying neck length for this same reason.
I had the whine and did this fix. Didn't really help. I sucked the reservoir dry and refilled. That helped for a bit but it came back and the fluid is very dirty again. Should I continue to flush?
I don't have the whine but I thought I'd buy the o-ring and change it anyway.
So I just changed mine and realized the old one was orange already and was still in really good condition.
I guess that's why they say "if it ain't broke don't fix it".
So I just changed mine and realized the old one was orange already and was still in really good condition.
I guess that's why they say "if it ain't broke don't fix it".
450$ whine made ME whine
Ok, so my car normally sits nice n snug in the winter months starting November 1st and returning to play in April, but with the nice weather I have had it out a little longer. Started it up last week and GROAN MOAN AND WHINE that power steering was howling. I brought my car into the BloomingTon Acura and they attempted to replace the o-ring twice to no avail and my power steering pump was to blame. At 88xxx miles I guess I was somewhat shocked that the power steering pump was going out on such a spendy car. My winter car a 2000 nissan xterra has 180,000 and all original equipment including the manual transmission. Makes me somewhat nervous that the acura will hold up as well. Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 88,888
Likes: 11,846
From: Waffles, BU

Ok, so my car normally sits nice n snug in the winter months starting November 1st and returning to play in April, but with the nice weather I have had it out a little longer. Started it up last week and GROAN MOAN AND WHINE that power steering was howling. I brought my car into the BloomingTon Acura and they attempted to replace the o-ring twice to no avail and my power steering pump was to blame. At 88xxx miles I guess I was somewhat shocked that the power steering pump was going out on such a spendy car. My winter car a 2000 nissan xterra has 180,000 and all original equipment including the manual transmission. Makes me somewhat nervous that the acura will hold up as well. Thoughts?
I'm glad I ran into this tread! My 06 TL has just started to make the noise. I'm going to get the o-ring today right after work, but one quick questions...
I've glanced through all the pages on this tread, but I don't see what the best way is to drain the PS fluid. Or do I need to drain it? If so how much, just the reservoir? I don't have any of the fancy PS draining gear... Any tips?
Thanks!
I've glanced through all the pages on this tread, but I don't see what the best way is to drain the PS fluid. Or do I need to drain it? If so how much, just the reservoir? I don't have any of the fancy PS draining gear... Any tips?
Thanks!
takin care of Business in
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,994
Likes: 4,733
From: Kansas City, MO
I'm glad I ran into this tread! My 06 TL has just started to make the noise. I'm going to get the o-ring today right after work, but one quick questions...
I've glanced through all the pages on this tread, but I don't see what the best way is to drain the PS fluid. Or do I need to drain it? If so how much, just the reservoir? I don't have any of the fancy PS draining gear... Any tips?
Thanks!
I've glanced through all the pages on this tread, but I don't see what the best way is to drain the PS fluid. Or do I need to drain it? If so how much, just the reservoir? I don't have any of the fancy PS draining gear... Any tips?
Thanks!

Once the reservoir was out, I plugged a long tube into the return hose and ran that to empty bottle (large 2-liter or better). Then I started the engine and turned the wheel back & forth till became impossible to turn at all. Have someone hold the hose and bottle because it fills up quite a bit and there is quite a bit of force pumping that fluid around.
Filling it back up requires you fill the reservoir, then start the engine and turn the wheel. Shut it down and do it again (reservoir will be low again). Repeat until the reservoir stays full.
Last edited by 94eg!; Dec 6, 2011 at 12:50 PM.
anyone else have any other suggestions??
Thanks!
Great DIY write-up. I was having the annoying whine too. I looked at my PS fluid & there was definitely air getting in there, because there it was bubbling when I looked in the reservoir.
I got the new o-ring from my local Honda dealer for $1.25. I was able to complete the o-ring replacement, completely empty my old fluid & refill with new fluid in less than 1/2 hour. NO MORE WHINE!
Thanks again!
I got the new o-ring from my local Honda dealer for $1.25. I was able to complete the o-ring replacement, completely empty my old fluid & refill with new fluid in less than 1/2 hour. NO MORE WHINE!
Thanks again!
Mine too. Noticed it for the first time yesterday.
Got my O-ring, waiting on some Amsoil fluid. Will flush the system and replace the O-ring in a day or two.
BTW - the Honda parts desk guy knew EXACTLY what was going on as soon as he the part number I'd written down.
Got my O-ring, waiting on some Amsoil fluid. Will flush the system and replace the O-ring in a day or two.
BTW - the Honda parts desk guy knew EXACTLY what was going on as soon as he the part number I'd written down.
Prices for the O-ring are all over the map! Picked one up at Vangergriff Honda in Arlington (TX) for 96 cents. Swapped it out for the obviously dried out original O-ring and no more noise in the morning!
So much air was getting into the system and making it foam up the power steering reservoir was overflowing. With the new O-ring, no more foaming, no overflowing.
So much air was getting into the system and making it foam up the power steering reservoir was overflowing. With the new O-ring, no more foaming, no overflowing.
Last edited by Scottwax; Dec 16, 2011 at 01:45 AM.
This o-ring was actually causing a loss of power-steering on my sisters 03 RSX. Not too much noise in this case either.
On the 05 TL, it just squealed like CRAZY at startup one morning. It was the first near-freezing morning of the year.
just did finished this today. my dad was surprised how easy and cheap it was. paid $1.50 for the o-ring. now my luxury car doesn't sound like a clunker driving through the streets in the morning lol.

What a PITA!!
I didn't have the right tool to get to that bugger of a 10mm bolt.
Drove me nuts. It's done though.
Last edited by Bearcat94; Dec 17, 2011 at 10:25 PM.
Very little for just changing the o-ring.
I "flushed" mine (using a baster-bulb thing), so I used two bottles (1 flush and 1 refill). Otherwise, it would've been just a few ounces.
I "flushed" mine (using a baster-bulb thing), so I used two bottles (1 flush and 1 refill). Otherwise, it would've been just a few ounces.










I got the PS hose O-ring at an Acura dealership for $1.25, not including sales tax (total of $1.37, IIRC).