I've poured through several other posts through the search function but still feel lost...

A few months ago when I started my car, the EPS light was on and I had no power steering. I turned it off and on with no change. I drove it home, the next day it was fine. A few weeks later I noticed it my steering wheel moved very choppily and I could hear a noise coming from under the hood (steering rack?) straining to work. This was only when I was pulling out of parking spaces and parking later. The problem went away the next day.

To make a long story short, it became an intermittent problem, sometimes choppy on cold starts and being fine later. Over time it got worst and worst (one day going out on me completely in mid turn ). It's at the point right now that it is very choppy every day at parking lot speeds and sometimes a little choppy during regular speeds as well.

I took it to a guy I know's dad's shop and he said the motor in the steering rack was going back and the whole steering rack needs to be replaced. I called up the Honda dealership and the parts department says they don't see any separate "motor" in the steering rack, and only a torque sensor, as well as the tie rods and rack. IS THERE A MOTOR?? I don't want to spend $1400 for a whole new steering rack if there isn't even a motor in there to replace. So what's the problem??? Torque sensor??

This seems like it's either gonna be really expensive to fix, or really cheap if this mechanic is just plain wrong. I really don't wanna pay the stealership $100 or w/e the cost just to have them look at it. I'm a broke college student.

Ideas? Knowledge? Smarts? HELP?!

 

On the left side there is a resavoir with hard lines coming out of it. 4 tobe exact. thats your electric pump for the steering. it has a dip stick. pull it out and check the fluid level. sounds like your low on fluid. the tank on it is square. its behind the left strut. use only recomended honda fluid in it. when troubleshooting, always go with the cheapest fix first.

 

check into your ESP (electronic power steering) system. i personaly have not heard anything bout them going out but im sure there can and will be problems with them. a guy here in oregon is having the same sort of issue.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=742114

GL with the problem.

 

I was under the impression we didn't have power steering fluid since it is a fully electronic system?

I'll look into that, thanks.

 

I seriously hope this is a joke, if not please gtfo and stop spreading bs.

To the op there is no resevoir you are correct we have full electronic power steering.

 

^ Agreed. Fully electronic. Even if it is a joke the OP is looking for some info not that nonsense.

 

My steering has problems too. When I start the car after it sat for a long time or when it is cold, the steering becomes difficult. Sometimes the steering wheel would vibrate back and forth and have no power steering for like 2 seconds. It's been colder here in Socal lately so the problem happens more often.

 

Sounds similar to mine badboy. I first noticed it when it was cold out. The problems over time seemed to get worst and temperature became less of a factor.

Any mechanics or people with specific knowledge on the issue out there that can shed some light on this? Is it possible that the torque sensor has just gone bad? Is it possible that the EPS control unit next to the battery just needs to be replaced? Basically, am I pretty much left with the only option of spending around $1400 replacing my whole steering rack?

 

Buy a used rack from a part out car for much cheaper.

 

My bad, ignore that info. still learning the systems on these cars. thanks 2poor2mod for pointing that out. i haven't had any steering problems with mine so i haven'tnever look at that before. sorry for the bad info. good luck with getting the problem worked out.