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Intermittent Power Steering Failure

Jamie91

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Location
Slough
Car
2005 iCDTI Saloon
First noticed this yesterday on way home from work. Doing about 50 on a straight road and the wheel felt a little heavier in my hands for a few seconds, then was back to it's usual effortless motion again.


In the gym car park something similar, but being a low speed maneuver it was quite obvious PAS had failed. Again only for a few seconds.


Then this morning, I was taking a 90 degree turn at the lights one handed, only for the PAS to go ! Got it round with both hands, no sooner had I made the turn then it was fine again.


Any ideas? Seems odd that the PAS is only failing sometimes.
 
Jon_G said:
Low fluid level?

Slipping belt?
I hope it's the first one. But I don't think so somehow because I got it serviced 3 months ago, (can't remember off hand if they changed the PAS fluid, but would have thought so).

I can deal with it, but prefer to have PAS. Just wondering if say the PAS were to stop working completely, would I be damaging the car by driving without it.
 
Jon_G said:
Haven't you checked the fluid level?
I check engine oil level, windscreen washer level and tyre pressures / tread every 2 weeks.

I have never thought to check anything else (outside of it's annual service) but will do tonight.
 
Checked the PAS fluid and a good inch below the minimum level ! Time to buy some
 
sounds like you have a leak somewhere. Fluid should not be lost. I have had my Accord for 6+ years and not lost an ounce of fluid in that time
 
try to use genuine Honda fluid as pump can be fussy, check high pressure hose for pinhole leaks and at joins. The old hose can fail and is not uncommon. PAS fluid is not changed under normal service routine.
 
Problem got worse today, didn't have time to wait for the Honda product, so picked up Halfords own brand for £8 on my way home. Steering light as a feather again now :)
 
Dave G said:
Now you need to find out where you are loosing the fluid from.
I'll monitor the level carefully on a weekly basis for starters.
 
Checked the fluid level today. About halfway between Min and Max. I filled it a little higher than Max 7 days ago, so definitely a leak somewhere. Not sure how to identify a leak, other than taking it to my local independent
 
Took it to my local independent today. Jacked it up 6 feet in the air and he reckons it needs a new steering rack.

Quoted me £200 for the part and £120 labour. Said I'll get back to him.

Will look to source the part cheaper myself if possible, but damn that's expensive for what I thought was a minor problem
 
Jamie91 said:
Took it to my local independent today. Jacked it up 6 feet in the air and he reckons it needs a new steering rack.

Quoted me £200 for the part and £120 labour. Said I'll get back to him.

Will look to source the part cheaper myself if possible, but damn that's expensive for what I thought was a minor problem
for a Honda Accord that's a bargain
 
Jamie91 said:
Not sure if srs
not sure what you mean there

but srs, get a quote from a dealer for the same thing, then come back and be srs about it


edit: btw it's an MOT failure so the problem is srs
 
Did '£200 for the part' mean a replacement rack would be fitted, or did 'part' mean replacement seals?

Either way, £320 (inc. VAT?) to get the problem sorted isn't bad.
 
Jon_G said:
Did '£200 for the part' mean a replacement rack would be fitted, or did 'part' mean replacement seals?

Either way, £320 (inc. VAT?) to get the problem sorted isn't bad.
absolutely.

For an independent, £120 labour is 2 or 3 or even 4 hours work (depending on rate), so I doubt if £200 is for replacement seals.

Without checking, I would expect the part from Honda is ~£500, and labour ~£300, then add on VAT
 
This independent charges £60 an hour labor, so I'd ***ume he thinks it will take 2 hours to fit.

Yeah he said it need a new rack completely. Not sure if he means with VAT but even if he didn't (I will check) then it's still going to be a whole lot cheaper than going with Honda from what I'm reading on here.

Thanks for the advice though guys
 
no problem


if you want to check all Honda part numbers and prices for anything to do with the steering rack, I've just dug out these links

http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=B__3321&block_03=611&block_02=B__3321&block_03=611


http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=B__3311&block_03=611&block_02=B__3311&block_03=611



http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=B__3361&block_03=611&block_02=B__3361&block_03=611


note that although it's for the 7th gen pre-facelift Accord Tourer with 2.4 engine, prices and configuration will be the same for any 7th gen, and probably 8th gen
 
freddofrog said:
no problem


if you want to check all Honda part numbers and prices for anything to do with the steering rack, I've just dug out these links

http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=B__3321&block_03=611&block_02=B__3321&block_03=611


http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=B__3311&block_03=611&block_02=B__3311&block_03=611



http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=B__3361&block_03=611&block_02=B__3361&block_03=611


note that although it's for the 7th gen pre-facelift Accord Tourer with 2.4 engine, prices and configuration will be the same for any 7th gen, and probably 8th gen
Cheers ! Some very expensive parts in there :O
 
yep, all OEM Honda parts are ridiculous prices, even I was gobsmacked to see a complete steering-rack at £1,416

As Jon said, check what exactly the independent is going to be getting for £200. I doubt if it is a complete rack, because I can't see that being a two-hour job, and, I can't see much else in those URLs that add up to between £200 and £500 that would also be a two-hour job.
 
freddofrog said:
yep, all OEM Honda parts are ridiculous prices, even I was gobsmacked to see a complete steering-rack at £1,416

As Jon said, check what exactly the independent is going to be getting for £200. I doubt if it is a complete rack, because I can't see that being a two-hour job, and, I can't see much else in those URLs that add up to between £200 and £500 that would also be a two-hour job.
Just spoke with him. It's a reconditioned rack he is going to get, with a brand new being in the ~£700 region.

And the £320 wasn't with VAT, so it's going to be just shy of £400 with VAT. Booked it in for 2 weeks time
 
Good stuff.

Would be interesting to find out where he gets new ones from for ~£700 (half the dealer price).
 
probably pattern parts, garages rarely use dealers.

I'm still skeptical tbh, and would get a second opinion from another place or Honda specialist. I'm not doubting it is the rack as the seals can go but always best to check and confirm prices are fair
 
^ when you look at those URLs, it is very difficult to figure out how a whole rack can be replaced in only 2 hours.

But if it is a reconditioned rack and if it can be swapped in 2 hours, then I can't see any other solution being quicker and any more effective.
 
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