1997 HONDA CIVIC fluid

Troubleshooting
General Troubleshooting
Check the following before you begin:. Has the suspension been modified in a way that would affect steering?. Are tire sizes, tire variety and air pressure correct?. lsthe steering wheel original equipment or equivalent?. lsthe powersteering pump belt properlyadiusted?
. ls steeringfluid reservoirfilledto proper level?. ls the engine idle speed correct and steady?
Hard Steering (Check the powor assist. se€ page 17-3o. lfthe torce is over 29 N (3.0 kgf, 6.6lbo, Procede with this troubleshootinq.)
Abnormallluid pressure
{fluid pressureis too high)
Faulty valve body unit
Relief pres-sure too low
Abnormal
Faulty llow control valve(Replace the pump es anassembly)
Ch€ck the feed snd return circuit lin€s ano nosebetw6€n the gearbox and pump for clogging andd€lormation.
Normal line and hose
Check the pump fluid pressure(soe page 17-34).l/easure steady-state tluid pres-s!re while idling with the bothvalves tully open.It should be 1.500 kPa (15 kgf/cmr,213 psi) or below.
Normal
Check th€ flow control vslve (see page 17-42).. Chock the valvo lor smooth movement in the hous-ing.. Check the reliefvalve for leaks.
Check the pump fluid pressure
{see page 17-34).Measure pump relief pressurewhile idling with the pressure con-trol valve Iully closed.It should be 6,400 - 7,400 kPa (65 -
75 kgflcm,,920 - 1,070 psi)
Normal relisf pressure
17-22
Go to page 17-23Faulty pump assembly

/
Uneven or rough steering
Steering wheel kicks back
during wide t!rns.
ll,
)
Adjust the rac* guide (see page 17-3).
lf the problem is not corrected bY
adjusting the rack guide, replace
the gearbox.
Adiust the belt tension. Feplace the
belt, il necessary (see Page 17 32).
lfthe engine stalls when the wheel
is turned while car is stopped or
moving at low speed, adjust the
idle spe€d (see section 11)
ldle speed low or erratic.
Check power sleering fluid level lf
the level is excessively low, check
lor leaks in the system. Add lluid
to the specified level.
Air in reservoir, or check Powersteering Iluid level.
lf ltuid level is OK, check O-rings
and seals on both ends of thepump inlet hose, and the P/Spump housing mating surfaces
and the pumP shaft oil seal for
suction leaks. RePlace Parts as
nocessary.
Adjust the belt tension (see Page17 32)or replace belt.Pump belt sliPPing on PLrlleY(pump stops momentarilY)
Check if pump press{rre is normal
and the gauge needle travel is 500
kPa (5 kgl/cm?, 7l Psi) or less.
Chock the flow control valve if the
needle travel exceeds 500 kPa (5
kgflcm', 71 Psi). l{ the flow control
valve is normal, replace the PumPas an assemoly.
Install the power steering pressure
gauge, Close the Pressure contrcl
valve fully and m6ssure the PumPpressure {s€e page 17-34}.
17 -25,

Troubleshooting
Noise and Vibration
NOTE; Pump noise in first 2 - 3 minutes after starting in cold weather is normal.
Humming
Rattle or chattering
Humming due to pulsation of fluid is normal, particularlv when the wheel isturned with the vehicle stooDed.
lf equipped with automatic trans-mission, the hum could be thetorque conveater or pump noise.
Confirm by temporarily removingthe pump belt.
High-pressure line touching theframe.Reposition the line.
Loose steering shaft connector,tie-rod. or balljoint.Check and tighten, or replacepaats as necessary.
Column shaft wobbling.Replace the column assembly.
Check the rack guide tor properadjustment (see page 17,33).Adiusi, if necess€ry.
Rattling sound and feeling when turning the steering wheel raght and left with theengine OFF is normal.
Pump noise, though not loud. trom the valve body unit can be heard whon turn-ing the steering wheel right or left. This is normat.
CAUTION: When imp€sting, do not hold the steering wheet a[ the way tothe right or the left.
17-26

)
Pump noaseGrating noisefrom pump
Pump gear nois€
Check the tluid level.
lf low, fill the reservoir to the
proper level, and check lor leaks.
Tighten or replace as nocessary.
Cavitation caused bY air bubbles
in the fluid.
Check lor a crushed suction hose
or a loose hose clamp allowing
air into the suction side of the
sy$em.Tighton or roplace as necossary.
NOTE: Pump noise uP to 2 - 3
minutes alter starting in cold
weather is normalCompare pumP noise at operating
temperature to simular vehicle.
lf pump nois€ is abnormallY loud,
remove and inspect the PUmP for
w6ar and damage (see Page 17-
41).
lz/
Rattle or chattgring
17-27
Tighten or replace the Pulley.lf shatt is loose, rePlace thepump.
tr

Troubleshooting
Fluid Leaks
Check the gearbox assembly for oil leaks carefully. Oil can leak out of various points. depending on location of thefaulty oil seals/seal rings. Check the following before removing the gearbox from the frame_
Steering GearboxLeaking from the oil seal on thetop of the valve housing.Replace the valve oil seal fromthe valve housing.
Leaking from cylinder end intoleft tie rod boot.Replace the valve oil seal tromthe pinion shaft.
Replace the cylinder end seal onthe gear housing side.
Leaking lrom cylinder end intoright tie-rod boot.Replace the cylinder end seal onthe cylinder end side.
Leaking lrom the shaft upper endsectron or pin engagement sec,tion ol the pinion shaft.Replace the valve body unit.
Tighten the connector. lf it's stillleakinO, replace the Iine, cylinderor valve housing unit.
Leaking from cylinder line A or Bconnections {at tlare nut}.
Leaking caused by a damagedcylinde.line A or B.Replace cvljnder line A or B.
Leaking from feed line and returnline ioint fitting on the valve bodyunit (at flare nut).
Tighten the connector. ll it's stillleaking, replace the line,,oint fit,ting or valv6 housing.
17-2a

Inspection and Adjustment
Steering Operation
Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position,
and measure the distance the steering wheel can beturned without moving the front wheels.
ROTATIONAL PLAY: 0 - 10 mm l0 - 0.39 inl
lf the play exceeds the service limit. perform rack guide
adjustment (see page 17-33).
lf the play is still excessive after rack guide adjustment.inspect the steering linkage and gearbox as describedon the nel(t pag€.
ROTATIONAL PLAY
17-30
Power Assist Gheck with
Vehicle Parked
1. Check the power steering fluid level (see page 17-33) and pump belt tension (see page 17-32).
2. Start the engine, allow it to idle. and turn the steer-ing wheel from lock-tolock several times to warm
up the fluid.
3. Attach a spring scale to the steering wheel. With theengine idling and the vehicle on a clean, dry floor,pull the scale as shown and read it as soon as thetires begin to turn.
The scale should read no more than 29 N (3.0 kgf.
6.6 lbf). lf it reads more, check the gearbox andpump,
D0

IRack Guide Adjustment
NOTE: Perform rack guide adjustment with the wheels
in the straight ahead Position.
1. Loosen the rack guide screw locknut with the
cialtool.
'96 - '97 models:
Loosen the rack guide screw
'98 - '00 models:
Remove the rack guide screw and remove the old
sealant off of the threaded section.
Apply new sealant all around the threads. Loosely
installthe rack guide screw
Tighten the rack guide screw to 25 N'm (2.5 kgf'm.
18 lbf.ft), then loosen it.
Retighten the rack guide screw to 3 9 N'm (0.4 kgim,
2.9 lbf.ft), then back it off to specified angle.
Specified Return Angle: 20" max.
Tighten the locknut while holding the rack guide
screw.
Check for tight or loose steering through the com-
plete turning travel.
Perform following insPections:
. Steering operation (see page 17-30).
. Power assist with vehicle parked.
4.
LOCKNUT WRENCH, 40 mm
lr
17-33
Fluid Replacement
Check the reservoir at regular intervals, and add fluid as
necessary.
CAUTION: Always us€ Genuine Honda Power Stearing
Fluid-V or S. Using any other type of power sto€ring
tluid or automatic transmission lluid can cause
increased wear and poor steering in cold weathor.
SYSTEM CAPACITY:
0.85 liter 10.90 US' qt,0.75 lmp'qt)
at disassembly
RESERVOIR CAPACITY:
0.4 liter (0.42 US. qt, 0.35 lmP.qt)
LEVEL LINE
LOWER LEVEL LINE
1. Raise the reservoir, then disconnect the return nose.
2. Connect a hose of suitable diameter to the discon-
nected return hose, and put the hose end in a suit-
able container.
CAUTION: Take care not to spill tho fluid on the
body and parts. Wipe off any spill€d fluid at oncs'
3. 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.
4. Reinstall the return hose on the reservoir'
5. Fill the reservoir to the upper level line.
6. Start the engine and run it at fast idle, then turn the
steering trom lock-to-lock several times to bleed air
trom the system.
7. Recheck the fluid level and add some it necessary.
CAUTION: Do not fill the reservoir beYond the
upper l€vel line.
HOSE

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 andpump belt tension.
CAUTION: Disconnect the high pr$sure hos€ with care
so as not lo spill the power sieering tluid on tha frame
and other parts.
1. Disconnect the outlet line from the Dumo outlet fit-
ting, then installthe P/S joint adaptor (pump) on the
Dumo outlet.
2. Connect the P/S joint adaptor (hose) to the power
steering pressure gauge, then connect the outlet
hose to the adaptor.
3. Install the power steering pressure gauge to the P/Sjoint adaptor (pump) as shown.
ourlEr HosE FnrNo ,t"ll lrilu"ott
P/S JOINT ADAPTOB IHOSEI07RAK - S0i10l2rol07RAK- 50{{)120
P/S PRESSURE GAUGE07406 - 001000Aor07406 - 0010001
4. Open the shut-off valve fully.
5. Open the pressure control valve fully.
17-34
(Pa.t of tooll11 N.m11.1 kgt m, 8 lbf.ftl
PRESSURECONTROL VALVE
SHUT.OFFVALVE
PUMP OUTLETFITTING
6 x 1.0 mm BOLTlPart of tool)11 N.m11.1 kgf m, 8 lbtftl
7.
Start the engine and let it idle.
Turn the steering wheel from lock-to-lock several
times to warm the fluid to operating temperature.
Measure steady-state fluid pressure while idling. If
the pump is in good condition, the gauge should
read less than 1500 kPa (15 kgf/cmr, 213 psi).
lf it reads high, check the outlet line or valve body
unit (see General Troubleshooting 17-22).
Close the pressure control valve, then close the
shut-off valve gradually until the pressure gauge
needle is stable. Read the oressure.
lmmediately open the pressure control valve fully.
GAUTION: Do not keep lhe prossure control valve
clos€d more then 5 soconds or the pump could be
damagod by over-heating.
lf the pump is in good condition, the gauge should
read at least 6,400 - 7,400 kPa (65 - 75 kgflcm,, 920 -
1,070 psi). A low reading means pump output is too
low for full assist. Repair or replace the pump,
9.
P/S PBESSURE GAUGE07{16 -@1@OA
oi
SI{UT.OFF VALVE