Hi First time post here, I'm hoping someone can help. I have a 92 Accord ex. I have a loud squeal in the power steering at low rpm. Once I'm up above about 2500 it disappears. It's not a belt squeal, but sounds to be coming from the pump itself.If we remove the belt the sueal disappears, indicating that it is definitely in the power steering system. We replaced the pump, twice, didn't help. You can actually feel vibration in the pump. As you move your hand down the lines the vibration dissipates. We've tried swapping out all lines with the exception of the main pressure line itself ($350), swapped out the rack - no joy. Honda has no suggestions.
Just as a little backgound, the noise started right after the car stopped dead on me on the highway - bad ignition switch. My head says coincidence, but now I'm not so sure.
My next troubleshooting is going to be using an external drive source to drive the pump just to eliminate any interaction with the engine.
Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

Wow... Everything you say makes me think its the pump, but you replaced it twice. When you replaced the pump, how good did you inspect that main pressure line that you didn't replace. Sounds like the only part of the system that hasn't been changed.

If you can drive the pump without the engine, that sounds like a good plan so you can eliminate that interaction. The pump is mounted pretty solidly to the engine (in my cars, anyway) so noise from the timing belt or valvetrain would be transmitted directly to the pump. What I don't understand is that the noise goes away when you remove the belt. How about alignment? Are the pulleys slightly out of line?

 

We actually pulled the line off. You can blow through, and suck on it, with no restrictions.

Also I forgot to mention that the first replacement pump was tested after it was pulled off, and it tested fine.

The alignment theory sounds interesting. I'll see if I can get a straight edge on the pulleys once it warms up a bit here. After that I'm going to have to rig up some setup for an electric motor to drive the pump.

 

<---------- same prob, same exact car

im not a mechanic, so dont ask me questions...i have no clue lol....i only hope to gain knowledge of what the fix is for this pesky problem!!

 

Hey guys, check out this link, it might help:

http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/u...fm/id/2047.htm

Here is a quote from he bottom of the page:

"Steering noise: If there is a squeak or squeal in the steering, especially when making a slow, tight turn, look for a label on the power steering reservoir that says PSF-V additive was added. If the noise is still there after additive was installed, the right-side end seal on the steering rack will have to be replaced. (1990-93)"

 

Thanks. Unfortunately, I have read that, and it didn't apply to me.