Hi, my friend has a 99 civic, automatic, and the steering has gotten really unresponsive. She added power steering fluid to the fill line. Steering is now responsive, but a sound like a hornet's nest comes from the front end of the engine.

It intensifies with any turn of the wheel, and intensifies greatly when the wheel is at full lock- left or right. Does not seem to change based on engine speed.

Does anyone have any ideas? We think the power steering pump is done for, but I don't know much about power steering and possible problems, my civic doesn't have it...

Thank you!

 

Is the PS pump belt tight? Is the noise coming from the pump or rack? Is fluid topped off in the reservoir?

 

It's not a loose belt, because the sound did not occur before filling the reservoir and it does not intensify with engine speed.

A rack can't make that noise. It's just a stick with teeth on it. The sound intensifies at full lock because full lock taxes the pump.

"She added power steering fluid to the fill line."

 

With no fluid in the system, the pump would place little resistance on the belt. With fluid added, there would be increased resistance, so checking the belt is worthwhile.

Actually, the valve body in the rack can hiss.

I surely did miss this important detail.

Did you bleed the system by turning the wheel lock to lock numerous times with the front end on stands? Is the system leaking fluid profusely? Also look for a crimped suction hose.

 

fixed it! it was air bubbles in the line. got 'em out, no more noise.

 

Proof of the importance of bleeding the system.