Our 2001 Accord LX (2.3 liter 4 cylinder) recently started making a groaning noise from the power steering, especially when the vehicle is stopped or barely moving and your turn the wheel. It doesn't make any noise when cold but after it is warmed up, it starts groaning and I did find bubbles in the power steering reservoir. I shut it off and turned the steering wheel all the way back and forth a couple times to push the air out trapped in the rack, then let the bubbles dissipate and the noise disappeared after a few seconds.

I've read up on 2003- 2006 Accords having air get into the system because of a bad O-ring on the P/S pump inlet fitting, but was this also a problem on the Accords from the 1998- 2002 generation? I know the air in the system is responsible for the noise as my old Nissan Pulsar which has a power steering leak, has the same problem when the P/S fluid gets too low.

I'e no loss of power sateering fluid or any noticeable leaks with the Accord so should I go ahead and replace the O-ring, or is there another likely place where air could be getting into the system on the 2001 models?

 

My brother's 01 LX PS pump was leaking at the o-ring. Replaced and all is well. You should try that first.

 

Thanks! Was it doing the same thing as mine (sucking air into the system thru the O-ring) or was it leaking P/S fluid from around the O-ring? I'll proabably di the O-ring first, just wondering if there is anything else I might need to look at.

 

It's the perfect time to replace the o-ring, hoses, clamps and ps fluid for your 01 Acc. However, I think the o-ring, fluid or clamps could be the culprit.

 

I went ahead and replaced the O-ring (I also coated it with a little of the power steering stop leak stuff that swells up the rubber seals). The noise and the bubbles in the power steering reservoir are basically gone, so i guess the .57 cent O-ring plus $6 shipping did the trick.

 

We took the Accord for a 45 mile drive tonight and when I pulled it in its parking space the power steering noise returned. Sure enough, more bubbles in the reservoir. Since I know the problem is air getting into the system, and I assume the new o-ring hasn't failed in some way I'm wondering where else in the power steering system is air likely getting in.

Since air is getting in, and no power steering fluid is leaking out, I'm assuming the leak would be at the upper part of the system (around the pump or reservoir vs. down lower at the rack). To contrast, I have an '88 Nissan Pulsar that is leaking at the rack and will also get air in the system when the power steering fluid gets low enough.

 

I also did some looking around and found some people were talking about using an orange viton o-ring as a replacement. The replacement o-ring I bought was black like the original. Do i need to get the orange O-ring to get rid of the air leak problem? I'm running into the same thing with the intake manifold gasket on my 2007 Corolla. The original black gasket dries up and leaks air, but Toyota sells an orange gasket that takes care of the problem (I'm replacing this tomorrow on my Corolla and was wondering if the Honda o-ring should be replaced with an orange one).