Power Steering Pump Fluid Bubbling

After I got my van serviced, before I started to drive off, I decided to park it, engine still running.

I popped the hood, and was just looking over the engine. I did see my ATF reversoir, filled to the 'max' line and it was also bubbling. I thought nothing of it as I would imagine the pump was cycling the fluid through.

I think you mean the power steering fluid reservoir and not the ATF reservoir.

You both should get the power steering TSB checked our under warranty ASAP: http://techinfo.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A07-005.PDF

Whoopsie. Thanks for the correction, yes the power steering reservoir is what I mean to type down.

My reservoir has already been replaced (paid out of pocket, 2 months after warranty expired).

New Dad New Van said:

I think you mean the power steering fulid reservoir and not the ATF reservoir.

You both should get the power steering TSB checked our under warranty ASAP: http://techinfo.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A07-005.PDF

Click to expand...

There should be no air in the power steering system. Bubbles are not good. Check for leaks.

Ah ok - Thanks for the heads up. I'll bring it in to my dealer to check it out.

New Dad New Van said:

There should be no air in the power steering system. Bubbles are not good. Check for leaks.

Click to expand...

Took the van in to have it looked at, along with a safety recall and a ECM flash for the transmission shift.

They diagnosed a bad PS pump, of course resulting from the inadequate reservoir. With 42K miles, they wouldn't cover it under warranty, even with the TSB on it and an admittedly faulty design. $542 parts and labor

I have an extended warranty from CNA National. Waiting to hear if they'll cover it. They'd better - nothing in my contract says they won't.

Not sure why they don't do a recall on this, as it's obviously faulty and takes >36K miles to rear its ugly head.

Not impressed so far with the engineering....

I've heard from a Honda Mechanic that this issue is VERY common in the 3rd generation Odyssey. It happened to me also about two months after warranty expired in '09, and has resurfaced again in the last couple weeks. So, be prepared to fix it again after another 36K miles more or less.

Why is there no forced recall on this?

Soudbash said:

I've heard from a Honda Mechanic that this issue is VERY common in the 3rd generation Odyssey. It happened to me also about two months after warranty expired in '09, and has resurfaced again in the last couple weeks. So, be prepared to fix it again after another 36K miles more or less.

Why is there no forced recall on this?

Click to expand...

For the PS Reservoir ($13 at local dealer), personally I would replace this every 2y/24K just to prevent PS Pump damage.

I wrote the procedure on DIY PS Reservoir here, see posts #25 and #26:

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/52-2005-2010-odyssey/77121-power-steering-pump-replacement-diy-2.html

Hello CNN,

Im a bit confused here and I read the wonder post especially your contribution.

You mention earlier that you replaced the reservoir for $13 every 2y/24K to prevent PS pump damage? Why? Why replace the Reservoir so many times? I would think replace the fluid, but why the PS Reservoir?

I have an 1998 Accord with 140K. I only replace the fluid every 30K, but never the Reservoir. Whats wrong with the original reservoir? The TSB mentions replacing the pump.

Thank you for the education.

Ariel

ahh, I got it. The metal shavings from the power steering rack clogs up the mesh in the reserviour.

I particularly like the telescopic magnet trick to remove the shaving, but maybe it is definately cheaper to replace the reserviour.

This 2007 with 78K I picked up doesnt have a power steering issue. The fluid looks dark, but I dont know the history since I am second owner. I will order a res just in case and replace that.

Nice to learn new things. Thank you CNN

arielb1 said:

ahh, I got it. The metal shavings from the power steering rack clogs up the mesh in the reservoir.

Click to expand...

Actually the metal shavings from the PS Pump (remember the pump uses the "vanes" in an eccentric chamber to drive it), and not the PS Rack.

The bottom line is the mesh is clogged.

For best insurance, change the PS Reservoir every 2y/24K, it is only $13 at local dealer.

If you read my DIY, then I was amazed at the rates that the PS Pump runs: it sucked the entire 12 oz of PS Fluid in within 1.5 seconds.
Figure it out using simple math:

12 oz per 1.5 seconds x 60 seconds = 480 oz/minute = this is the amount of fluid flowing through the filter mesh per minute!

roadcarver said:

After I got my van serviced, before I started to drive off, I decided to park it, engine still running.

I popped the hood, and was just looking over the engine. I did see my ATF reversoir, filled to the 'max' line and it was also bubbling. I thought nothing of it as I would imagine the pump was cycling the fluid through.

Click to expand...

When I just bought my brand new Nissan Titan and I just wanted to look at the engine compartment while the engine was running. I saw the the ps resevoir was bubbling and I thought it was not normal. I asked on the forum and they said it was normal. They said if I'd never seen the bubbling before it's problably because I'd never seen a resevoir made out of clear plastic. I had the truck over 5 yrs without an issue of ps.

The bubbles can also be coming from a bad O ring on the intake side of the power steering pump, there is a change to a new O ring honda # 91345rda-ao1 which is RED, the old one is black, there is a video on utube showing this procedure