91 Accord Power Steering Problem

My 91 Accord's power steering has a problem. Sometimes, it's like there's no power steering at first and then it suddenly frees up and is easy to steer. Turning to the left may be slightly more prone to this problem than the right but that may just be my imagination. When it frees up it turns very easily (almost like there's too much power in the power steering ). I suspect the power steering pump but I'm not sure if it couldn't be a semi clogged hose. I've added fluid to the proper level, it seems to stay at the right level (I don't see any evidence of a leak anywhere), but that didn't seem to help at all. Any ideas what the problem is?

Sounds suspiciously like the condition many GM cars had that was referred to as rack and pinion morning sickness...they would have no power assist on cold start up in one or both directions until the fluid warmed up slightly, then it would work normally. Problem got worse in colder weather.

With them, the problem was contamination that had eroded metal sealing surfaces inside the rack, making it difficult for a cold rubber seal to conform and fluid pressure would bleed off, causing a lack of assist until the rubber warmed just enough to fully conform to the surface...the problem usually went away within 20 sec to a minute of starting the car.

This like yours, or is yours random?

I was thinking about this a bit more...if the spool valve is sticky in the rack they'll act like that too, if it happens pretty regularly this might be it.

I'd suggest some fluid with a cleaner/conditioner in it like K+W Transeal or Seafoam tranny and power steering conditioner. Suck out some fluid and replace with one of those, see if it improves. Otherwise, it sounds like you are working towards a rack replacement in the future...

Thanks for the advice. I did try flushing the fluid and no improvement. I ended up getting a new rack (meaning new remanufactured according to the receipt) about a week ago. All seemed fine again until this morning I noticed just an ever so slight grab when I made my first turn out of the driveway. After that it was fine the rest of the way to work. After work I thought I felt the same slight grab on the first turn. Again all was fine after that. I checked the fluid when I got home. It was red and there were some bubbles on the top of the fluid. It actually looked maybe just a little low in fluid. I also thought that you were only supposed to only use the "special" Honda power steering fluid (which I thought was clear, at least what I bought when I flushed it was clear). Could these bubbles be due to the "wrong" type of fluid being used or maybe just from the level being a little low? If they did use the NON HONDA approved fluid, will it cause a problem? I was pretty sure I read elsewhere on this site that the wrong fluid will cause a problem. Any and all comments/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the advice. I did try flushing the fluid and no improvement. I ended up getting a new rack (meaning new remanufactured according to the receipt) about a week ago. All seemed fine again until this morning I noticed just an ever so slight grab when I made my first turn out of the driveway. After that it was fine the rest of the way to work. After work I thought I felt the same slight grab on the first turn. Again all was fine after that. I checked the fluid when I got home. It was red and there were some bubbles on the top of the fluid. It actually looked maybe just a little low in fluid. I also thought that you were only supposed to only use the "special" Honda power steering fluid (which I thought was clear, at least what I bought when I flushed it was clear). Could these bubbles be due to the "wrong" type of fluid being used or maybe just from the level being a little low? If they did use the NON HONDA approved fluid, will it cause a problem? I was pretty sure I read elsewhere on this site that the wrong fluid will cause a problem. Any and all comments/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hey blockhead,

I recently replaced the steering rack on a 1989 Honda Accord LXi that my girlfriend recently bought. I bought the steering rack at Advanced Auto and when I installed it and was ready to hook up the lines to it I took the plastic plugs out and to my supprise noticed RED power steering fluid pouring out of it.

I don't know why the company that rebuilds these steering racks puts RED (ATF?) in this model steering rack when it is specifically made for a 1986 - 1989 Honda Accord. The steering rack is ONLY supposed to have clear Honda power steering fluid in the unit. :nono: :disappoin

I tried flushing the whole system with 10 bottles of Honda P.S.F. that I bought at Walmart for $2.77 each bottle. seemed to work at first but now the fluid in the P.S.F. reservoir is red again but not as bad.:disappoin I guess my only option is to keep on doing flushes on the power steering system until the fluid remains clear. what a P.I.T.A.

Non Honda power steering fluid will damage the seals of the unit. :banghead:
Good Luck.
Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

Thanks for the reply. I was afraid the answer was going to be something like damage to seals will occur with the NON HONDA APPROVED fluid. I'm going to contact the shop that put on the rack and ask them to bleed out the system and refill it properly. (What do you think my odds of success are on that request?) I guess if that fails, I'll try to do it myself.

Hey blockhead,

I recently replaced the steering rack on a 1989 Honda Accord LXi that my girlfriend recently bought. I bought the steering rack at Advanced Auto and when I installed it and was ready to hook up the lines to it I took the plastic plugs out and to my supprise noticed RED power steering fluid pouring out of it.

I don't know why the company that rebuilds these steering racks puts RED (ATF?) in this model steering rack when it is specifically made for a 1986 - 1989 Honda Accord. The steering rack is ONLY supposed to have clear Honda power steering fluid in the unit. :nono: :disappoin

I tried flushing the whole system with 10 bottles of Honda P.S.F. that I bought at Walmart for $2.77 each bottle. seemed to work at first but now the fluid in the P.S.F. reservoir is red again but not as bad.:disappoin I guess my only option is to keep on doing flushes on the power steering system until the fluid remains clear. what a P.I.T.A.

Non Honda power steering fluid will damage the seals of the unit. :banghead:
Good Luck.
Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

It's possible the rebuilder uses the proper fluid but with a red dye added to aid in spotting seal leaks when they pressure test the rebuilt unit...

Excess foaming is listed as one of the symptoms of non-approved fluid in a Honda rack...the OEM stuff won't foam, being a different composition than most PS fluids.

Foaming will make any hydraulic unit's operation sketchy.