Is the fluid low, or incorrect type? Even good pumps whine with low fluid. If level is fine, the pump is likely bad (again). What brand did you install?

 

I replaced my reservoir and fluid and the whining stopped. Reservoir has a built in strainer and yours may be plugged.
Also, does the fluid look clean, clean fluid and a new reservoir fixed my whine.
How dirty was the old fluid.?

 

Thank you both for your replies. Changing the reservoir is a good idea. The strange thing is that it doesn't always do it -- it's intermittent.

I can validate that the fluid is clean and filled to the proper level.

I installed a Cardone Magnapure filter from RA.

 

I installed a Cardone Magnapure filter from RA.

before or after the noise started?

There is a reason its called CarDone, avoid that crap at all cost.

 

any of the magnefine filters work great and have a good reputation.

using filters of unknown quality and leaving them on past their life expectancy can do more damage than good if they start coming apart.

back to your noise issue, common on these is the return line elbow at the pump, mine had a faint whine and small leak in the area.
it was sucking air through the bad seal which was causing the slight cavitation.

many change the pump when all that was needed was some seals.

what brand pump did you replace your original with?

 

^this
Also check the return suction hose (between the reservoir and pump). Mine was seeping and allowed some air to enter.

 

Sorry - I wrote that wrong. There's no filter on the line. I meant to say I replaced the original pump with a Cardone pump, but I didn't replace the reservoir. I also replaced the pressure hose because I accidentally cut the one that was on there.

I'm thinking I'll take a look at the issues you mentioned above. If nothing turns up there, I may just buy an Ultra-Power pump, new reservoir, Magnefine filter and redo the job.

 

Sorry - I wrote that wrong. There's no filter on the line. I meant to say I replaced the original pump with a Cardone pump, but I didn't replace the reservoir. I also replaced the pressure hose because I accidentally cut the one that was on there.

I'm thinking I'll take a look at the issues you mentioned above. If nothing turns up there, I may just buy an Ultra-Power pump, new reservoir, Magnefine filter and redo the job.

Honda never had a filter on the high pressure side of the power steering system (mine doesn’t have one) and I don’t recommend you install one.
They installed a strainer in the reservoir
More restrictions means more problems.
Just dump the fluid out every few years, and as it’s already been mentioned use the correct fluid.

 

I suspect the pump is failing during the times it needs to work hardest, such as when you turn while not moving. Does it make less noise while you are moving? If so, this is typical of an inferior pump (many store brand or aftermarket pumps are like this, not just Cardone).

Regardless, if you are certain the pump is causing the noise (and not just leaky seals or low fluid), then you get to repeat that repair. IMO the OE Honda pumps are the way to go. Buy once, cry once.

Edit: if you are adventuresome and you still have the original pump, you could try rebuilding it with new Honda seals. I know one person who did this successfully and saved a few hundred $$$.

 

I suspect the pump is failing during the times it needs to work hardest, such as when you turn while not moving. Does it make less noise while you are moving? If so, this is typical of an inferior pump (many store brand or aftermarket pumps are like this, not just Cardone).

Regardless, if you are certain the pump is causing the noise (and not just leaky seals or low fluid), then you get to repeat that repair. IMO the OE Honda pumps are the way to go. Buy once, cry once.

Edit: if you are adventuresome and you still have the original pump, you could try rebuilding it with new Honda seals. I know one person who did this successfully and saved a few hundred $$$.

Helpful info. Thank you! I really appreciate it.

 

You'll also want to make sure you use a Honda compatible fluid - most power steering fluids are not.

-Charlie

 

I was able to do some work on it this weekend. I found the fluid was foaming and pouring out of the reservoir.

I followed John Clark's method of draining the fluid, getting wheels off the ground and turning wheels from lock to lock until fluid stopped coming out.

Cleaned reservoir filter with brake cleaner, refilled with Honda-compatible fluid from AZ, turned lock to lock and topped up fluid until it maintained its level.

Whine went away for a little while, but driving it today and noticed it foaming over again.

I'd like to try another couple of things before replacing the pump. My next steps are to replace the reservoir and to use a better fluid, maybe mixing Lucasoil and Honda OEM fluid 50:50.

Is this a good approach?

 

Haven't bothered to review your thread- has the O-ring on the inlet side hose leading into the reservoir been replaced? That's a common point for air to enter the pump causing it to foam. The price from Honda is good, I wouldn't bother with aftermarket. And the parts guy can get you the proper one since the outlet O-ring is a different size.
I see now that posts 7&8 mention this.

 

If any oil leak/seepage is present around the inlet/outlet the o rings are leaking. Do you have pics of the reservoir and the o rings?

 

Thank you both. I'll check into this.

 

Working on this again today. Have a correction to make: The pump is not a Cardone; it's an Edelmann--not sure what difference that makes.

I also had to replace the pressure hose, and that came with a new o-ring.

I'm not seeing any leaking from the pump or hose area, or the pump elbow. All the action seems to be taking place at the reservoir, so am going to focus there.

I also bought some seals for the pump in case I need to rebuild that. Just realized that they're not the same brand as the pump--I hope that doesn't matter, but I suspect it does.

 

A quick update: when I worked on this last week, I used John Clark's method of draining old fluid by turning the steering wheel lock-to-lock until there was nothing left. Topped up with new fluid. Was better for awhile, but the foaming and whining came back quickly.

After doing some more research today, decided to buy a hand vacuum pump and vacuum bleed the system. After doing that to the reservoir until the vacuum held, the sound was completely gone.

To make sure it stays this way, I'm going to pull the fluid out (since it's gone darkish again, likely due to the old fluid remaining in the system) and add in a 50/50 PS fluid and LucasOil mixture.

Does this sound like a good course of action? I hope this is a permanent fix.

 

Does this sound like a good course of action? I hope this is a permanent fix.

New oil is a great idea as oil has an additive package built into it.
For power steering fluids, anti foam and anti wear additives wear out in the fluid.
Replacing all the fluid is your best bet.

 

I did a few things that seem to have fixed the issue:
1: used a hand pump to pull all fluid from the reservoir
2: installed a new reservoir
3: added a 50-50 fluid / Lucas-oil mix
4. Vacuum-bled the system at the reservoir until it held pressure

Seems to be all better. Will check it tomorrow a.m. after it's sat in the cold overnight.

In any case, thank you all for your help and suggestions. This forum is worth its weight in gold.

 

Glad to see it is resolved!

Just to be sure, which "Lucas-oil" did you use? Only one of the Lucas products is compatible with Honda PS systems.

 

Well, shoot. I used the 'power steering stop leak', which says it's compatible with all fluids.

Hopefully that's the right one, since I'm not even sure I could pull that goop back out of the reservoir.

 

Lucas has a universal fluid with conditioners that specifically states Honda compatibility on the neck of the bottle (available at Walmart, etc). I have been using it exclusively in my Odyssey for nearly a decade and it is good stuff. I cannot speak to the stop leak or the blend of stop leak and Honda fluid.

Perhaps a call to Lucas would provide detail on its compatibility???

 

Well, the whine is back, and so is the foaming. Since I have a new reservoir on there, I reached underneath the inlet hose that goes from the reservoir to the pump and found a small fluid leak. I suspect that's where the air is getting in.

I put some White Lightning grease on there, but thought maybe something like Flex-Seal is better. My preference would be to replace the hose, but per the service manual, ID appears to be 11/16'', and both my local parts store and (surprisingly) RockAuto came up empty on the part.

Any suggestions? I do think this is where the air is getting in -- there are no other apparent leaks anywhere in the system.

EDIT: I think I may have found the part on the Sunsong site, but description only--no specs or picture. Have left them an email.

(I'm also in contact with LucasOil about fluid compatibility--thanks for that tip)

 

(see post #8 above).

It's called a suction hose and you need the pre-formed hose in order to seal properly. I used A-Premium brand from Amazon (about $12); the hose is stamped Sunsong which is a good brand.

Edit: while you wait for the part, you may be able to stop the foaming if you wrap duct tape around the hose.

 

(see post #8 above).

It's called a suction hose and you need the pre-formed hose in order to seal properly. I used A-Premium brand from Amazon (about $12); the hose is stamped Sunsong which is a good brand.
View attachment 187359

Edit: while you wait for the part, you may be able to stop the foaming if you wrap duct tape around the hose.

Ah, yes, sorry that didn't register at that point in the troubleshooting process. Thank you!

 

OP. Your work ethic is great. IMHO, I would have used OEM new/rebuilt power steering pump, purchased from
Honda Dealer. And used Honda power steering fluid. Did this when my 2001 odyssey had a noisy whine.
Power steering pump has been running fine ever since.

 

Thank you. Given the life of this vehicle, I couldn't stomach paying $700 for a pump, which is what my dealership quoted me.

 

Finally got and installed my replacement hose from reservoir to pump, which I thought was the sole issue. Once I replaced, the whine got louder and isolated itself to the pump elbow. Since I already had a new gasket kit, I pulled the elbow and replaced the gasket. The noise went away immediately.

Strangely, the old gasket (on a new pump I recently replaced) looked fine visually, which makes me wonder why the new gasket would seem to fix the issue.

Also, my drive belt is now squeaking/chirping. The belt was recently replaced. Maybe I spilled some fluid on it -- could that be a cause of the new song it's singing?

 

Hello laing94. I am dealing with a similar issue as you've described with my 2004 Odyssey. The short version of it is that my power steering started whining after a water pump + timing belt replacement, so I replaced the power steering pressure hose, the suction hose, and the reservoir. The whining went away, but only for a few days.

I have not replaced the pump yet as I am not certain that it is necessary, since my power steering was completely fine before the water pump + timing belt job. I am considering replacing the gaskets around the elbow of the power steering pump.

What gasket kit did you use for the job, and has your power steering been working normally since your final post on Jan 5, 2025?

Thank you

 

This was covered in post # 7.

maybe you should try reading all posts to avoid future grief.

Glad you got it sorted out.

 

I focused on the hose and not the gasket because the leak seemed to be coming from the hose where it joined the reservoir. Also, I had recently replaced the pump and didn't think the gasket would fail so quickly.

I'm sure I'm reading in curtness where it's not intended. I have read and re-read all of these posts and think of this forum and pros like you who take their time to help others as a valuable resource.

I do thank you for your time and expertise.

 

I focused on the hose and not the gasket because the leak seemed to be coming from the hose where it joined the reservoir. Also, I had recently replaced the pump and didn't think the gasket would fail so quickly.

I'm sure I'm reading in curtness where it's not intended. I have read and re-read all of these posts and think of this forum and pros like you who take their time to help others as a valuable resource.

I do thank you for your time and expertise.

No expertise on this end, just been down the same road and sharing the experience which was solved with a couple bux in seals.

CarDone are really sub par quality parts IMO, and to be avoided.

regarding the belt squeal, how much oil are we talking?
it should burn off in time.

spray it with water from a spray bottle and see if it quiets down.

Happy motoring...

 

Pump is actually an Edelmann -- I called it wrong the first time. No idea the quality difference there.

Thanks, will try the belt trick.