[laing94]

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.

 

[rmyoder]

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.

 

[laing94]

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.

 

[rmyoder]

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???

 

[laing94]

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)

 

[rmyoder]

(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.

 

[laing94]

(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!

 

[lozawa]

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.

 

[laing94]

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.

 

[laing94]

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

I'm convinced now it's the suction hose.

 

[v4forever]

I'm convinced now it's the suction hose.

The proper word that is happening is called cavitation.
Cavitation in a pump occurs when a liquid in the pump turns to vapor due to low pressure at the suction end of the pump. This can happen when there is not enough Net Positive Suction Head (NPSHa) available.

Here are some signs of cavitation in a pump:

• Noise
  Cavitation is characterized by a loud noise, similar to rocks going through a pipe.
  
  
• Loss of capacity
  Cavitation reduces the capacity of the pump because the bubbles take up space that would normally be filled with liquid.
  
  
• • Impeller damage
    The implosion of the bubbles releases a large amount of energy that can damage the impeller.
    

 

[lozawa]

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

I think I was quoted $800 + by the Dealer. I ended up buying a Honda rebuilt from the dealer. I think less than 1/2 the amount. Still expensive to me. But, fit fine. Still working fine.

Also, When I compared the original pump (the bad one), to the new rebuilt one. I noticed they fixed/modified, the part
I think where the fluid goes back into the pump? Been so long ago. Where posters, mentioned the oil ring sometimes
leaks. Honda had that part all sealed up on the rebuilt.

OK, good luck.

 

[laing94]

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?

 

[2011.2017.odyssey]

This was covered in post # 7.

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

Glad you got it sorted out.

 

[laing94]

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.

 

[2011.2017.odyssey]

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...

 

[laing94]

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

Thanks, will try the belt trick.

 

[BigTMan333]

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

 

[2011.2017.odyssey]

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

same thing happened on my gen 2 ody after the high pressure hose was changed, they were extremely sensitive to dry starts / cavitation.

you need to follow the procedure to get the air out of the system before starting the van or risk hurting the pump.

I tried maxlife atf in the reservoir which quieted it down for a bit, but what really helped quiet the groaning was lucas power steering fluid.

I suggest you swap your fluid with a couple bottles of that and observe.

 

[rmyoder]

Also check the reservoir for bubbles while the engine is running. If the fluid is bubbling you have an air leak. Mine was around the suction hose (that goes between the reservoir and pump).

And +1 on the Lucas fluid (the one that says on the bottle neck that it is compatible with Honda)