I have friend with an 04 Civic coupe, with approx 55k miles, that loses power steering intermittently. It needs to be warmed up to do it, and its definitely intermittent. I removed the belt, and test drove it but despite the hard steering, it didnt seem to bind. Put the belt back on and the hard steering mystery is back. The belt is fine, fluid looks ok, hasnt ever been serviced. Any ideas? It has wider than stock 205/50/16 tires on Honda rims, and they've been on for a while, the steering issue is new. All bushings looked fine, no cracks, and I couldnt move any with a prybar. I am suspecting the pump, or maybe the rack. The pump isnt noisy at all, ever. I can rock the wheel back and forth at idle, and its fine. When I rev it up though, while rocking the wheel, it turns into a rock, and I can barely steer it! Any ideas? The car is stock by the way, it might have the sport suspension, but its not a modified car. Thanks!!

 

i have seen may racks go but not on civics use a small pick and poke a small hole in the p/s rack boots that are on the tie rod, if u leak fluid the seals on the rack are bad and u might as well get a rack, or the other thing is it might be the pump taking a crap, or u have air in the system do u see bubbles in the p/s reservoir ? if so lift the front wheels off the ground take the cap off the reservoir and turn the wheel back and forth and that should let the air out , if all of that does not work sorry i tried

 

No, no bubbles. I wish there were bubbles, or that the pump was whining. I think the car is coming back in today, the girl works right next to where I work, so we'll find out soon.....thanks.