Can somebody please post a step by step guide to flushing, draining and changing the power steering fluid on my 1997 civic coupe. With all the guidelines and correct procedure eg Bleeding ect. What to with engine on /off and so on.

 

One way my dad taught me was to take a windshield washer jug and tape your powersteering return hose into it. Then start your car and pour in new fluid as the pump cycles out the old stuff. Wait until most of the old fluid is out of the reservoir or else you'll justbe wasting new fluid. Do that until the fluid returns to the jug clean.Kill theengine and re-attach your return hose.Topup the reservoir and start your engine run it a few seconds while turning the wheel a few times. Check your reservoirlevel, top it if need be,and you're done.
Using a turkey baster sucks! Been there done that....[sm=badidea.gif]

This is a two man job as you don't want to run that pump dry, one guy behind the wheel and one over the engine.

Note: Honda Steering pumps use only a synthetic type fluid made for honda'sso you can't just buy any old power steering pump fluid. It's never cheap to flush a honda power steering unit. You have to waste some new fluid in the process to do it right but... HEY! It's better than a new pump, right?

Good luck.

 

which hose is the return hose? and can this be done with the wheels on the ground since I don't have a body jack.

 

Not sure which hose is the return hose on a 97.Can someone here tell him?Youcan take a lookat the pump and check for markings.My best guess isthe bottom hose is probably going to be your pressurized hose and the top hose should be your reservoirreturn, but that's a guess.

Ever notice you can turn your wheels on the ground when the car is running but not moving? Same thing applies here, don't bother lifting the car. You won't have to the turn the wheel much, you just want to make that pump works a little.

 

Ok. Also is there a recommended timetable for changing steering fluid? for example every 10,000 Miles or every year? Or is it something to do only when problems occur. Thanks

 

Hey bringing up this old thread to ask a question.

My car recently has been stiffer turning the wheel and when I checked the power steering fluid level right after i got done driving there was hardly any fluid in there. do you have to check it when the cars cold? I don't know if I should just top it off or do a flush. What color should it be, and not be?

 

Top off and then look carefully for a leak around the pump, hoses, connections, and steering gearbox.