2000 HONDA CIVIC steering

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

I
AbnormalDeformed
Faulty cylinder lines
Adiustment OK
Faulty valve body unit
Normal
IICompair the steering to another alike
vehicle.
/
Check the force required to turn
the wheel (see Page 17 30i
Start the engine and measure the
force required to turn the wheel
to the right and left. Difference of
the lorce required to turn the
wheel to the right and to the Ieft
should be 2.9 N 10 3 kgf, 0.7 lbf)
or below.
Check for bent rack shaft
Check rack guide adiustment (see
page 17-33).
(cont'd)
17 -23
1,,

Troubleshooting
General Troubleshooting (cont'd)
Assist (excessively light steering) athigh speed.
Shock or vibration when wheel isturned to {ull lock.
Steering wheelwill not returnsmoothly.
lf the problem is not corrected byadiusting the rack guide, adjustthe front wheel alignment lseesection 181.
Check the rack guide for properadiustment (see page 17 33).
Check the rack guide for properadjustment (see page 17-33).
Rack guide is adjusted properly.
lfthe problem is not corrected byadjusting the rack guide, replacethe gearbox.Check the belt for slippage andaolust as necessary {see page11 32).
A and B cylinder lines are nor-mal, check wheel alignment (seesection 18).
Wheel alignment is abnormal,adjust as needed.
Wheel alignment is normal.Check the steering wheel opera-tion and power assist check {seepage lT-30).
It the measurements are out ofspecifications, adjust the ra ckguide.
lf the problem is not corrected byadjusting the rack guide, replacethe gearbox.
17-24

/
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

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

ISteering Linkage and Gearbox
TIE-ROD END BALL JOINT
Inspect for faulty movement
and damage.
STEERING COLUMN
Inspect for loose column
mounting bolts and nuts
BOOTInspectdamage and deteriorataon
STEERING GEARBOXlnspect for loose mounting bolts.
GEARBOX MOUNTING CUSHIONS
Inspect f or deterioration
STEERING JOINTSCheck for loose joint bolts.
l./
TIE-ROD LOCKNUTfor loose locknut
BALL JOINT BOOT
Inspect for damage and deteriorataon'
See page 17-68lor replacement.
SHAFT GROMMETInspect for damage and deteriorataon.
lrz
17-31