I recently purchased a 1990 Honda Civic 4-DR sedan with the 1.5L. It runs fine and drives straight outside of a need for realignment. The thing that is bothering me is that when I start my car the steering wheel spins uncontrollably to the left until it can no longer turn. I let the car warm up and the steering returns to normal outside of the aforementioned alignment issue. It is cold in KC this time of year, so I would imagine that has a little bit to do with the issue but I doubt it is the core problem itself. I have topped off the power steering fluid and as far as I can tell there has been no improvement. Do I need a new p/s pump? Please help me.
When I Start My car the wheel spins
- Thread starter dogar from kc
- Start date
Genuine Rolla
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I have never heard of something like this happening.
But it's still hella interesting.
But it's still hella interesting.
if the transmission is manual, leave the car in neutral, see if it still does it when its in neutral. If it still does it, you could try adjusting your clutch cable. If thats good, all i could think of is maybe a transmission fork or syncro getting stuck or not disengaging all the way.
Chris.
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this has nothing to do with the STEERING WHEEL
and please.. a video of this happening will be nice... because i have never heard of this before.. unless you drive a new lexus with the park assist
If your transmission is staying engaged some how, when you start the car its possible that the wheels are driving forward and because of the way the drivetrain is designed, it will jerk the steering to the left
My civic is an automatic. I don't have the ability as of right now to post a video but let me recap.
I turn the car on.
I leave it in park.
As the engine fires up the steering wheel simultaneously begins spinning(quickly) to the left.
The wheel only stops spinning when the wheels are turned all the way.
For the next few minutes(until car warms up) I am unable to turn the wheel in either direction.
When the car warms up it returns to its normal functionality.
I certainly appreciate all of the input thus far but again PLEASE HELP.
Can this vehicle be saved? I HOPE
I turn the car on.
I leave it in park.
As the engine fires up the steering wheel simultaneously begins spinning(quickly) to the left.
The wheel only stops spinning when the wheels are turned all the way.
For the next few minutes(until car warms up) I am unable to turn the wheel in either direction.
When the car warms up it returns to its normal functionality.
I certainly appreciate all of the input thus far but again PLEASE HELP.
Can this vehicle be saved? I HOPE
I will try putting the car in neutral when I start it although it is automatic
OK, here's the update. It is considerably warmer outside than when I usually start my car. I usually star my car in the morning before I head out for work. Obviously it sits all night in 10-15 degree weather. Its about 40 out right now and when I started the civic there was absolutely no motion in the wheel. If it is a rotary valve what kind of expense am I looking at from a shop and how in depth of a project, if I were to attempt repairing this issue myself.
Yes, it has power steering.
Chris.
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pretty sure youll have to replace the entire rack.
RonJ
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I think the rotary valve inside the power steering rack has failed. The function of this valve is to sense which direction the driver is turning and then apply high pressure power steering fluid to the proper side of the rack piston to provide power steering assist. Sounds to me like the rotary valve is leaking fluid to one side of the rack piston. If I am correct, you need to have the steering rack replaced.
You could also rebuild the rack yourself, but this would require a lot of work, time, and tools. Best to just replace the rack. I paid about $300 for a rebuilt rack that carries a lifetime warrantly.
You could also rebuild the rack yourself, but this would require a lot of work, time, and tools. Best to just replace the rack. I paid about $300 for a rebuilt rack that carries a lifetime warrantly.
Chris.
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there is another option....
you can go without PS.. remove the pump... and recirculate the lines into eachother.
it will be more difficult to turn when standing still... but its a cheap way out...
the 4th gen sedan was the frist to recieve power steering in a civic in the day...
the rest of them had manual steering. i perfer it when it came to that car... but thats just me.
you can go without PS.. remove the pump... and recirculate the lines into eachother.
it will be more difficult to turn when standing still... but its a cheap way out...
the 4th gen sedan was the frist to recieve power steering in a civic in the day...
the rest of them had manual steering. i perfer it when it came to that car... but thats just me.
Also, if I don't fix this issue immediately what are the chances of catastrophic failure while I am driving, meaning, if I don't fix it today will the problem cause me to smash into on coming traffic?
Chris.
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yea theres no way to rebuild that on your own... the best you can do is replace the seals on the extremeties of the rack and on the input shaft. the rest of it is non rebuildable.
By the way, did I say you guys kick serious ass? If I didn't let me say that you do.
Chris.
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if you do what i said... there wont be any problem like that... you are just removing the pressure part of the system. it will function like normal after that. well... not normal.. but with no auto turning problems