Here's a tricky one...
A. When I am traveling at speeds under 25mph, and I steer left and then to the right I get a "chirping" from my vehicle. It's a higher pitch chirping, almost like a metal-metal rubbing noise.

It doesn't happen all the time, and usually on colder nights. Ad it only happens when transitioning from left to right...

B. Now, I don't know if this is related, but I live on a not-so-perfectly paved road, THere are frost heaves, and when I hit them, I get a creak/graoning noise from the drivers side front of the car. Sound reminds me of a worn leaf-spring... Hitting sharp bumbs? nothing, Hit a speed bump, and it creaks.

I don't know if it's just a body creak, or a worn suspension component, but it's done this for life of the vehicle...

C. O.K. here's the weird one, anyone notice at speeds of say 25 - 40 mph, the steering can be fooled? What I mean is that when transitioning left and right while driving the wheel has a ratcheting feel to it? ALmost feels like an unbalanced wheel vibration.

I mean the steering feedback while driving is excellent, and the car corners very well, but it almost feels like I can fool the power steering by left - right transitions.

I hope someone in here can help, I've taken it to the dealer (Chambers of Burlington, MASS) and got no help! I am a Honda fanatic and I love my car, but I would like to diagnose any issues before they become bad.

Thank you very much for your help.





Modified by anythngbutgm at 4:50 PM 11/23/2004

 

What flavor of Accord?

Steve

 

02 EX 4-cyl Sedan, 5-spd...

40,000 trouble free miles...

 

To address a and c, check your power steering fluid level...mine does this due to a small leak in the power steering rack; annoying but not life ending. My car makes the same noise that you're describing and also does the "ratcheting feeling" sometimes too when the fluid is low.

As for b I am thinking worn bushings; you can either replace them or try putting some white grease on them.

 

Thanks VRDrvr, right now the PS tank is about half way between the two indicator lines, but I'll add some and see if that works.

I know Honda had a large recall back in 99? for worn ball joints, Could something like this be the source of the creaking in the front? It is usually noticable on large "dips" in the road or in my case, large frost heaves...

Thank you very much for your help on this.