So like two weeks ago I pulled into a parking spot with my 89 Civic DX hatchback and I went to straighten the wheel out and it wouldn't turn. So I just assumed I had pulled to far forward and they were locked against the curb. Although this was odd because I KNOW how to park my car. But I just ignored it. Well I soon found out that whenever my engine is at idle or low RPMs my power steering pump doesn't want to work. It will turn like a couple degrees and then lock up, and then turn, and then lock up. All the while when it is doing this it screeches every time it locks up. I looked at the power steering pump while I was doing this and whenever it does this it just freezes. The fluid seems pretty fine although it is a little on the dark side. Would my bearing be going out? Is the pump clogged and needs high pressure to flow properly? The belt is a little worn, could it just be slipping? I am unsure as to which one is the exact problem and I don't wanna start tearing stuff apart until I know what to do. Also, when it locks up, it isn't like it just just super hard and it feels like it doesn't have power steering... It actually just LOCKS up and you can't turn it. It also only seems to do this when the engine is warmed up... If cold, it works fine.

Any help would be much greatly appreciated!!!

**********UPDATE*************UPDATE*************** ***UPDATE*******

So after talking with some people I suspect that it maybe the valve in the power steering or whatever. I don't know anything about this so I was wondering if someone could explain it to me so I know what to be looking for in terms of parts.

THANKS!!!


Modified by square_1 at 10:23 AM 3/23/2006

 

Anyone please? Power steering locks up... Wondering why?

 

take the belt off and try to turn the pulley by hand..it should spin freely..you probably need a pump...

 

I WOULD NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN UNTILL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED!!!!
WHY RISK YOUR LIFE????????

 

if i was you i would just take it off and leave it off non power steering cars rock

 

I think you need to go to the gym or something I didnt think a dx hatchback comes w/ power steering?

 

Yeah... They come with it. And I don't mind not having power steering, it is just that my car happened to come with it. And is isn't just really hard to turn, it like locks up or so it seems. I drive non-power steering cars and don't have any problem. So I am going to test the pump by trying to turn the wheel freely. Thanks.

 

Wish my DX had power steering, yes I am a weak bastard and I hate not having PS.

 

So i never knew of a dx hatch having power steering. Was it an option or what? I would try flushing the fluid, or maybe the ignition lock is not unlocking. Like when the key is out of the ignition.

 

no they dont come with them the only ef with power steering is a 4d lx i believe maybe ex also. must be a swap from another car, i would just take it off, since ive had my car w/o p/s my forarms are as big as sammy sosas

 

I am pretty sure mine isn't a swap. It was only owned by a bunch of old people or something before me. I know old people would want power steering but how would they swap that?

 

yeah they 100 percent di dnot come iwth power steering. weird.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crx_88_si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I didnt think a dx hatchback comes w/ power steering? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Automatic transmission models did.

 

Well mine's an automatic (as much as I wish it wasn't) so that explains it! :-D

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Automatic transmission models did.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by square_1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well mine's an automatic (as much as I wish it wasn't) so that explains it! :-D</TD></TR></TABLE>

all is explained, lol.

 

Had a similar issue with the power steering on my brothers 1991 Toyota Camry. The steering would lock up on occasion. It wasn't leaking fluid because the resevoir was always full, the pump wasn't bad because when it wasn't locked up it worked fine. It ended up being an internal valve on the steering rack itself which would have required a new rebuilt rack and to the tune of 300$ I saved myself the aggrivation of changing it and told him to sell the car before going to college. Don't know if this could be a related issue or not just lending a bit of experience w/ similar symptoms.

 

Oh crap I hope not! I will just have to test my power steering pump first! Haha.

 

it is probably the rack... unless the stupid belt is just loose. Did you say that the steereing totally locks? Or is just really hard to turn?

 

I am pretty sure it locks. But maybe I am just not used to it and it is just a lot harder than normal. BUt I have driven non-power steering cars a lot and they don't even feel that hard. The belt squeals when it happens though. I am going to try to test the pump really soon. Also the fluid is REALLY dark if that means anything bad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by square_1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am pretty sure it locks. But maybe I am just not used to it and it is just a lot harder than normal. BUt I have driven non-power steering cars a lot and they don't even feel that hard. The belt squeals when it happens though. I am going to try to test the pump really soon. Also the fluid is REALLY dark if that means anything bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

depends on the fluid they used. If they used proper fluid it can very from being dark colored to even red. But flushing the fluid never hurts.

And if it does lock you wouldn't be able to turn it back the opposite way, so I think you are just finding that it comes to the end is just very difficult to turn it back the other way.

 

New developments on the power steering problem. Only seems to stop working when the car is warmed up. I have noticed if I just get in my car in the morning without letting the motor warm up, the power steering is fine. But then it only goofs off after it warms up.

*Note to all that are coming in late... The power steering only doesn't work when at an idle or parking or such where I am driving really slow.

 

update