I put this in the misc tech forum but I think it needs to be here.


I have a 97 prelude. The power steering pump was making a whining noise so I bought a re-manufactured one from partsgeek. I put it on and it makes a louder whining noise. Here's a vid of the sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-BrAZ6BadY

There are tons of bubbles in the reservoir. It looks like foam. I have tried:

Jacking the car up and turning the wheel 50 times
Using a pump to suction air from the top of the reservoir
Replaced the crappy hose holders on the suction side with hose clamps

Any suggestions? Should I send the part back for another? I cant find any leaks that would indicate where air is coming in.

 

I went through the same problem on my car about a year ago. The PS fluid is contaminated. When you swapped the new pump on the new one had oils and other crap in it most likely. You need to completely flush it out. I would say the fluid has to be 99% pure and free of bubbles for it to operate normal.

To be honest you may just want to check if the old one works with new fluid and just take back the one you bought, nothing better than OEM.

 

I'll do that tonight and update you. Thanks

 

Changed the fluid completely, filled it up with honda fluid. Ran it for a while, still makes the sound and there are crazy amounts of foam and bubbles when its running.

 

Just keep bleeding the air out, it take a while to get all the air bubbles out once air gets in the system.

Another issue is you could have a leak in the system some where or one of the hoses is not clamped down tight enough which could be allowing air back into the system.

 

Its sucking in air on the suction side of the system. The pump, reservoir, the hose in between these two, or the cooler lines. Its most likely the pump. Have you considered rebuilding the OEM pump? Its easy to do and inexpensive.

 

draining and filling the fluid will resolve it, i went through 2 PS pumps before realizing i didnt change the fluids.