System Description
Steering Gearbox
The rack-and-pinion type steering gearbox has a valve unit incorporated with the pinion to control the steering fluid pres-
sure. Steering fluid from the pump is regulated by a rotary valve in the valve unit and is sent through the cylinder pipe to
the power cylinder, where hydraulic pressure is applied. The steering fluid in the other side of the power cylinder returns
through the cylinder pipe and valve unit to the reservoir.
VALVE UNIT
CYLINDER PIPE
POWEB CYLINDER
Valve Unit
Inside the valve unit is the valve, which is coaxial with the pinion shaft, and controls the steering fluid pressure. The valve
housing is connected with the fluid pipe from the pump, return pipe to the pump, and the two cylinder pipes from the
respective power cylinder.
The pinion shaft is double - structured with the input shaft connected to the pinion gear, both of which are interconnected
with the torsion bar.
The pin insened in the valve and the pinion shaft groove engage; this allows the pinion shaft to rotate together with the
Because of this construction, the difference in angle in the circumferential direction between the input shaft and the valve
becomes larger according to the torsional strength of the pinion or steering resistance. However, maximum torsion
between the shafts is regulated by the engaged splines of the shafts at the pin engagement section to hold the torsion bar
within the set value.
This allows the steering system to lunction as an ordinary rack-and-pinion type steering if the steering fluid is not pressur-
ized because of a faulty pump.
VALVE
Difforcnco in .ngl. bo{w€cn thainput shalt rnd pinion !h.tt
ln-1
B
lEngag€ with the pinionshaft groove)
17-8
INPUT SHAFT
Pressure Control
Low assist at higher speeds:
When steering resistance is low. such as when driving at high speeds. or when driving straight ahead, the input shaft is
near or in the neutral position, so there is little or no flow to any of the power cylinder orifices, Most of the feed pressure
trom the pump is bypassed to the reservoir. Because of this, the pressure stays the same in both sides of the power cylin-
der, resulting in low or no assist.
vaz =- S\->/-\7/RETURN PASSAGE(To RESERVOIRI
VALVE UNIT
High assist at lower speeds:
When steering resistance is high, such as when driving at low speed, or when turning the wheel with the car stopped, the
difference in angle created between the input shaft and the valve opens the fluid passage on one side, and closes the fluid
passage on the other side, at each pair of orifices. The fluid pressure increases in the side of the power cylinder fed by the
larger fluid passage. This increased pressure pushes on the rack piston, allowing the steering wheel to be turned with light
effon. On the other side of the power cylinder, the return passage opens allowing the steering fluid to return through the
input shaft to the reservoir. The fluid passages to the power cylinder automatically change in size, increasing as the steer-
ing resistance increases. In other words, the passages become larger and power assist increases when the steering effort
would normally be high, (for example. when parking or making low speed turns). and the passages become smaller and
power assist decreases when the steering effort would normally be low, (for example, when driving at high speeds or
straight ah€ad).
FLUIO PASSAGE TOPOWER CYLINDERFrom PUMP
A
/t-:\
v"
=iJ
RETURNPASSAGE
FLUID PASSAGE FROMPOWER CYLINDER
ALVE F.om PUMP
RESERVOIR
17-9
Troubleshooting
General Troubleshooting
Check the following betore you begin:
. Has the susp€nsion been modified in a way that would affect steering?. Are tire sizes and air pressure correct?
. ls the steering whe€l original squipment or equivalent?
. ls the power steering pump belt properly adiusted?
o ls steering fluid reservoir filled to proper level?
o ls the engine idle speed correct and steady?
Normal reliel pressure
I
I
Go to pate tu.l t
r Fluid pro$ure is too low:Chock th€ rgturn circuit pipe and hose between thogearbox and pump tor clogging and dotormation.* Fluid pressure is too hioh:Check the pipe and hosg connected from th6 pumpto tho georbox tor clogging and delormation.
Check pump fluid pressurg (soepage 17-221,Measure steady-state fluid pres-sure while idling with the shut-offvalve fully open.Ir shoutd be 1,500 kPa (15 kgtcm' , 213 psi) or bolow.
Normal
Check pump fluid pr€ssur€ {se€page 17-221.Measure pump relief pressurewhile idling with the shut-offvalve fully closod.h should be 6,400 - 7,400 kPa {65- 75 kgtcm,, 924 - 1,067 psi)
Check the flow control valve.* Check lhe valve for smooth movement in thg hou6-Ing.* Chock thg reli€f valve for leaks.
Abnormal
I
I
Faulty flowtontroi valve
17-10
Place the front wheels in the straight ahesd position and
measure the distSnce the steering wheel can be turned
without moving the front wheels.
ROTATIONAL PLAY: 0 - 10 mm l0 - o.:Xl inl
lf the plsy excseds the service limit, psrform rack guide
adjustment (see page 17-211.
lf the play is still excessive after rack guide adjustment,
inspect the stsering linksgo and gearbox as described
on the next page.
ROTANONAL PLAY
Inspection and Adjustment
Steering OperationPower Assist Gheck with
817-1
Gar Parked
1. Check the power steering fluid level (see page 17-
21) and pump belt tension lsee page l7-20).
2.Start the engine, allow it to idle, and turn the steer-
ing wheel from lock-to-lock sev€ral times to warm
uo the fluid.
Attach a spring scale to the steering wheel. With the
engine idling and the car on a clean, dry floor, pull
the scale as shown and read it as soon 8s the tires
begin to turn,
il. The scal6 should read no more than 33 N (3.4 kgf,
7.5 lbf). lf it reads more or less, ch€ck the gearbox
and pump.
Inspection and Adjustment
Pump Belt
NOTE: When using a new b€li, first adiust the deflection
or t€naion to the values for the new belt, thsn readiust
ths deflection or tension to the values tor the used b€lt
after running sngine for five minutss.
lnspoction
Attach th€ belt tonsion gauge to th6 belt and measure
ths tension of the bslt.
Tanaion:
U3.d Brft: 391, - 5/O N (lO - 55 kgf, 88 - r20 |bf)
Ncw Bch: 7aO - 89, N (75 - 90 kgt, 170 - 20O lbO
NOTE:
. lf thsre are cracks or any damage evident on the belt,
raplaca it with a now ono.
. Follow the manufacturer's insructions for the tonsion
g8uge.
PUII"EY
07JGG - 00r0r0a
Inspect the pump belt for cracks or any damage.
Replace the belt with a new one if nec€ssary.
Mc!3uramrnl without Bch Tcntion Grugr:
Apply a torce of 98 N (10 kgl, 22 lbll and measure ths
deflection between tho power ste€rin9 pump and tho
crankshaft pulleys.
Daffaction:
U:ed Bch: 11.5- 13.5 mm (0.,t5-0.53 inl
Nlw Brh: 8.0 - 10.0 mm (0.31 - 0.39 inl
here,
17-20
Adiu3tmant
1, Loosen the power stesring pump mounting bolts.
2. Turn ths adiusting bolt to gst the propor bolt ten-
sion, then rstighten the bolts.
3, Start ths €ngine and turn the steering wheel trom
lock-tolock s€veral times, then stop the engino and
recheck ths deflection of the belt.
AD'USN G BOLT
NOTE: Perform rack guide adjustment with the wheels
in the straight ahead position.
Loosen the rack guide screw locknut with the spe-
cialtool, then loosen the rack guide screw.
Tighten the rack guide screw until it compresses the
spring and seats against the .ack guide, then loosen
it.
Retighten the rack guide screw to 3.9 N.m {0.4
kgf'm, 2.9 lbf.ft), then back it off to specified angle.
Specified R6turn Angle: 20 t 5"
Tighten the locknut while holding the rack guide
screw.
1.
6.
RACK GUIDE SCREW
25 N.m12.5 kgf.m, 18lbtftl
L(rcKNUT WRENCH, 40 mm07916 - SAs(xtOl
Check for tight or loose steering through the com-
plete turning travel.
Perform following inspections:
. Steering operation (see page 17-18).
. Power assist with car parked.
Check the reservoir at regular intervals. and add fluid as
necessary.
GAUTION: Use only Genuine Honda Power Stosring
Fluid-V. Using othsr fluids such as ATF or other manu-
facturer's power stoering fluid will damags ths systcm,
SYSTEM CAPACITY:
LO6 litor (1.12 US. qt, 0.93 lmp.qtl
at disasssmbly
RESERVOIR CAPACITY:
0.79 lit6r (0.8:l US. qt, 0.70 lmp.qt)
UPPER LEVEL UNE
LOWER LEVEL LINE
,l
Raise the reservoir and disconnect the return hose
that goes to the oil cooler.
Connect a hose of suitable diameter to the discon-
nected return hose and put the hose end in a suit-
able container.
CAUTION: Tako caro not to 3pill tho tluid on tho
body and parts. Wipe off the spilled tluid at onqe.
Start the engine. let it run at idle. and turn the steer-
ing wheel from lock-to-lock several times. When
fluid stops running out of the hose, shut off the
engine. Discard the fluid,
Refit the return hose on the reservor.
Fill the reservoir to the uDoer level line.
Start the engine and run it at fast idle, then turn the
steering from lock-to-lock several times to bleed air
f.om the system.
Recheck the fluid level and add some if necessary.
CAUTION: Do not lill the roservoir beyond tho
uppgr lovel line.
7.
lnspection and Adjustment
Pump Pressure Check
Check the fluid pressure as follows to determine
whether the trouble is in the pump or gearbox.
NOTE: First check the power steering fluid level and
pump belt tension,
CAUnON: Dilconn€st the high pros3uro ho3s with cale
!o e3 not to spill tho powor stooring fluid on th6 lramo
lnd olhor parG.
1. Disconnect the outlet hose from the oumo outlet fit-
ting, 8nd install the pump joint adapter on the
pump outlet.
2, Connect the hose joint sdapter to the power steer-
ing pressure gauge, then connect the outlet hose to
the adaotor.
3. Instsll the power steering pressure gauge to the
pump joint adaptor as shown.
OUTLET HOSE FlTnNG
HOSE ATTACHING BOLT1l Nm11.1 kg{ m 8lbf.ftl
6 x 1.0 m.n BOLT{P!rt of tooll11 N.m11.1 kgtm,8lbf.ftl
P/S JOINT ADAPTOR IPUMPIo?NAK - SmolrA
PUMP OUTI.TTFITIING
Open the shut-off valve fully.
Open the pressure control valve fully.
17 -22
1.
Start the engine and let it idle.
Turn the stee.ing wheel from lock-to-lock several
times to warm the fluid to operating temperature.
Measure steady-state fluid pressure while idling
with the shut-off valve fully open. lf the pump is in
good condition, the gauge should read less than
1500 kpa (15 kgf/cm,,213 psi).
lf it reads high, check the feed line or valve body
unit (see General Troubleshooting l7-10).
Close the shut-off valve. then close the pressure
control valve gradually until the pressure gauge
needle is stabl6, Read the pressure.
lmmediately open the shut-off valve fully.
CAUTION: Do not keep the shut-ott valvs closod
moro thgn 5 soconds or th9 pump could b6 dam"
agod by over-h6ating,
lf the pump is in good condition, the gauge should
read at least 6.400 - 7,400 kpa (65 - 75 kgIlcm,,924- 1,067 psi). A low reading means pump output is
too low for full assist. Repair or replace the pump.
10.
P/S PRESSURE GAUGE
Power Steering Hoses, Pipes
Replacement
NOTE:
. Connect each hosg to the corresponding pipe securg-
ly until it stops at the stopp€r on the pipe.
Install the clamp or ad,ustable clamp at the specified
distancs from the hose end as shown in the drawing.
. Add the power steering fluid to the specilied level on
the reservoir and check fo. leaks (see page 17-23).
Put ov6r the pipe untilthe hose stops at the$opper.
CAUTION: Chock all clampsfor doterioration 8nd dstor-
mation, and rsplacG with new onss if n6co33!ry,
Put over the pipe untilthehose stops at the stopper.
2.5 - 5.5 mm
{0.01 - 0.22 inl2.0 - 4.0 mm10.08 - 0.16 inl
2.5 - 5.5 mm10.01 - 0.22 in)
OUYI.fT HOSE11 N.m{1.1 kgl.m, 8 lbl.ftl
INI."ET HOSE
ABLE CLAMP
RETURN HOSE
coot"ER
CLAMPS
17 -34
CLAMPS