now i understand there are no maintenance or a service time interval on when to do a ps fluid change but what if i felt compelled to do so since it does look pretty dirty. and also, i dont want the sediments in the fluid to ruin my ps assembly.

also what is the best way to get all of the fluid out because ive done the drain 3 times and everytime i start the car back up and turn the steering wheel, the dirty fluid from "somewhere flows back into the reservoir.

comments and suggestions?

thanks

 

I would think you will have to pump a lot of fluid through it.
I once asked at Advanced auto what the power steering fluid capacity was but I will have to ask again. I know its about a few quarts.
Perhaps the sediment is in the rack itself and its heavy.

 

At least on the '90-'93 Accords, there is a filter screen at the bottom of the Power Steering Reservoir. This should protect the pump frrom sediment damage, but if you're concerned, it might be worth cleaning. For more info about that, go here: https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/power-steeriong-leak-reservoir-foam-2441008/

I'd expect a car with a decent amount of miles on it like mine (140,000 miles right now) to have a brown color to the fluid. I don't know how many yours has though.

 

Advance Auto has Seafoam for power steering units, you can run that through the system to clean up the actual rack. I haven't heard any horror stories but haven't heard any stories about using it at all really.

There's a screen in the bottom of the PS reservoir for 94-97 as well. Remember to never let the system run completely dry - it's not very good. Also only use Honda PS fluid.

 

Would seafoam helps clean the rack without causing any harm since you cannot really flush them all out after putting it in? How much fluid should I be buying to just change out.
Thanks,

 

On my 02 Accord, I did the same thing with the flush and drain...
But I actually put the car up on jackstands and flushed the fluid out like that (that way the vehicle's weight wasn't sitting on the wheels, making it easier on the entire system since the fluid isn't to capacity).
I unplugged the return hose and pretty much just ran about 4 bottles of cheap fluid, then 4 bottles of Honda Genuine fluid before closing it up and refilling. It took that many bottles for the return hose to finally spit out clean fluid. I also thoroughly washed the reservoir with simple GREEN...
This was several months back, and to date, the P/S fluid looks clean.

 

Did you have the car running the whole time while waiting for the clean fluid to spit out? How did you pour the new fluid it with the reservoir off?

Thanks.

 

You need to buy a service manual, it details exactly how to go about doing the flush.

The car has to be running for it all to occur, how else is the fluid going to be pushed from the reservoir to the rack to the pump and back in?

And you can't feasibly do it with the reservoir out, you could but the fluid runs through so quickly it would run dry, which can cause serious pump and rack damage.

And in regards to your Seafoam question, after reading the can's directions since they tell you, you just simply run the Seafoam through the rack and then feed power steering fluid (fresh stuff) in behind it, after it's sloshed around it will travel through the pump and back out. Keeping fluid going to the rack while this is happening will cause the Seafoam to be forced out.

 

I look at the manual and I would like to know if the return hose the top or the bottom one on the reservoir? The pic is not very clear. There are 2 hose right on top of each other. I suspect the return hose to be the top one.

Thanks.

 

The one from the pump is the return, it's the one on the top.

There is a wire mesh filter at the bottom hose that will be cleaned up a bit by the Seafoam as well.

You will want a long funnel/hose to route the fluid to a bucket otherwise it will make an absolute mess on the bay and ground.

 

Thanks for helping. That will be my project today and also the valve cover for my 99 Corolla.

 

Yeah of course.... with the car running, the P/S pump and belt turn which moves the fluid in and out of the system.
The top hose is the return hose, the bottom one feeds the pump (that's why it's strategically positioned there so that it sucks out the fluid from the bottom instead of the top--it's a "empty from bottom fill from top" concept).
I had the car running while we turned the steering wheel all the way left, then all the way right, over and over again so that the fluid would run through the system. The top (return) hose was positioned downward toward the bottom of the car and into a bucket to catch the fluid it spit out (MAKE SURE IT'S POINTING DOWNWARD, any other position will cause a sprayfull mess of P/S fluid, and it could burn you if it hits your face).
I didn't pour fluid without the reservoir. I ran about three or four bottles of AutoZone P/S fluid through the system, then turned off the car, then removed the reservoir and cleaned it. Once clean, I replaced it and ran about 3 more bottles of Honda P/S fluid. You basically can't do the job without the reservoir.
But like the dude above said... get the manual and this'll be a lot easier to follow. It's pretty straightforward though... Good luck

 

So I am going to suck the old fluid with a baster to below the hoses, then disconnect the return hose, stick it on the trans long funnel into an oil drain bucket below. Then I pour in new fluid and run it. Keep adding new fluid to the reservoir until new fluid comes out of the return hose right?
I am more worry that the system will move fast and I cannot add new fluid fast and it run dries.

Thanks.

 

Yeah it shouldn't really spit fluid out unless someone is steering the wheel.

I don't know about that baster method... I've never personally tried it... I'd rather do it with the reservoir so that I can keep track of how much is going in and out.... plus two hoses (as tough as P/S hoses tend to be) I'd rather be handling one, than two at one time... you should let the reservoir worry about the feed hose while you worry about holding the return hose downward.

If you hear that rubbing sound coming from the pump (you know, that sound that American cars usually make when they have bad P/S systems?) stop turning the wheel or add more fluid... that sound happens when the pump dries up, it can damage it internally if you run it that way... Remember to put the car up on jackstands while draining, it'll be much easier for both you and your assistant.

DON'T FORGET TO BLEED THE AIR OUT OF THE SYSTEM AFTER YOU'VE COMPLETED THE FLUSH AND CLEAN PROCEDURE!!

 

After looking at the reservoir more closely, there are 3 hoses coming out of the reservoir. Two top ones are side by side and not on top of each other. But those 2 hoses are going down to the bottom of the car, so I guess they are going to the rack. There's a larger hose at the bottom going to the pump. I think this bigger bottom hose is the return hose right?
Thanks.

 

No, the thicker one which connects from the bottom of the reservoir into the pump (where you'll find the pulley and the belt) is the FEED hose, that's the one that feeds fluid into the pump--do NOT remove that one...

The return hose will come from the bottom of the engine and reach all the way to the TOP of the reservoir... post a picture, I'll show you exactly what I mean.

 

Cap off the outlet at the reservoir. If youre worried about the fluid coming out faster than pouring in, try this. Get a long trans funnel, fit it to the fill hole of the reservoir. Fill up the funnel with about 4-5 bottles of Honda fluid. Have someone start the car as you hold the funnel in place. When the funnel empties, signal your assistant to turn the engine off. Youre done.

 

Wouldn't that overflow the reservoir before you even start the engine?

Thanks.

 

Here's a pic link to Ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990-...Q5fAccessories

I have not even started yet, I just suck some fluid out using the baster. That baster is useless. It keeps letting the fluid back in as soon as I pull it out of the reservoir. Anyway, the fluid is dark brown but looks clean. But the new fluid is almost clear. Would changing the fluid out cause the pump to leak? I had this happen once.
It seems like there's a screen in the middle of the reservoir holding up by a spring. I can push it down and the smaller portion on the bottom of the reservoir has more fluid below.
I got a total of 7 bottles of Honda's fluid, I hope that is enough, 6.5 bottles left now. I don't plan on running any generic fluid through it first, will that be enough? Should I guy more of Honda's fluid?

My steering is still smooth but I just want to do it as a maintenance step.

Thanks guys.

 

Doesn't that happens when you drive it normally any way? Or just turn the steering a few times and that would push the air out? Or is there a special technique?

Thanks.

 

If you follow the manual you're fine.

Just keep the fluid flowing and not let it run dry and turn the wheels back and forth. So long as nothing runs empty you won't have many air bubbles and they will work themselves out with the cap off.

 

I guess Im lucky. My MATCO funnel seals perfectly on the inside of the fill hole.

 

So I got the pic here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990-...Q5fAccessories

Some one please tell me which one on the top is the return hose? Which is the function of the one next to it?

Thanks.

 

The return line is the one that goes towards the front of the car to the cooler. The other line goes to the speed sensor.

 

Thanks.