99 accord power steering

so I bought this '99 Accord. It had 3 codes that I have been working on clearing and that is going well. While in the process I discovered that the front cross member was in real bad shape. The seller fixed the cross member but now I am having power steering issues. The car started making noise and I checked the level and the fluid was low. I started asking questions to the man that repaired the cross member. Come to find out after putting the new cross member in they filled the power steering system with Tranny fluid and not even Honda tranny fluid. I have driven approx. 400 mi. with this in my system. Do you think I have done major damage to my power steering? and if so, what should I look for to confirm this? Tomorrow we are flushing and replacing with import fluid (not Honda brand just in case the problem is at the rack) Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I've seen a few people run power steering systems on transmission fluid and it worked fine. The first time I saw it was when I helped a friend swap the engine in his Jeep Wrangler. When it was time to fill the power steering system, he pulled out a bottle of transmission fluid and insisted on using that instead. He justified this by finding a bottle of power steering fluid and saying "rub some of this between your fingers" I did and it felt really thin. He then told me to wipe it off and then do the same with the transmission fluid. It had a smoother texture and seemed like it would be a better lubricant. People who do this swear that it protects the power steering pump and keeps it from wearing out.
Anyway, since both are essentially types of hydraulic fluid being used in a hydraulic system I doubt there has been any damage. Also, I'm not sure that Honda's "special" power steering fluid is strictly necessary. I've had 3 Hondas and I ran them on regular power steering fluid without a single problem.

Thank you

My power steering lever in my 99 Accord was low. I do not know where it went but in the meantime I did not want to remove the rack and pinion boot band to see it is filled with fluid. Couple of months ago I filled the reservoir with ATF. So far so good.

Good luck,
Sam

well today it took my son 5 sec. to find the leak. Since the new cross member was put in, the steering had been disconnected. The leak was at the O ring on the top of the pump. we drained the tranny fluid that was in the system, cleaned it up real good and put it back together. put some Lucas in it. I still have a tiny leak, but it will have to stay that way while waiting for a new O ring from Honda.

Some cars actually call for ATF in the power steering. My Stealth does.

well today it took my son 5 sec. to find the leak. Since the new cross member was put in, the steering had been disconnected. The leak was at the O ring on the top of the pump. we drained the tranny fluid that was in the system, cleaned it up real good and put it back together. put some Lucas in it. I still have a tiny leak, but it will have to stay that way while waiting for a new O ring from Honda.
Well, that was an easy fix!