I tried changing the PS fluid today and failed. I couldn't get any of the hoses off because only one of them has a clamp that's accessible and after I removed the clamp the hose would not come off.

So I tried the turkey baster method. I sucked out as much fluid as possible. The rest ends up below that little circular door inside of the reservoir and it's impossible to get to it which is annoying. So I turn the car on and turn the steering wheel a little to the left and a little to the right repeatedly, avoiding turning it all the way to the stops. Some more fluid ends up on the top half of the reservoir which I assume comes from the return? As I do this the steering wheel has "gaps" in it which means as I turn it hits a pocket of air or something and the steering becomes extremely smooth and easy and then it quickly turns stiff.

I repeat this entire process and I have roughly six cups of power steering fluid out. The reservoir only has about an inch or two of fluid on the bottom half that I can't reach. It's bubbling around because it's sucking in a lot of air I guess and the steering wheel is almost impossible to turn. At this point I gave up and threw two bottles of new fluid in there which were almost crystal clear. The result? It's the same color as it was before. Damn it! I thought it would at least be lighter.

Search results on this forum show that it may never become lighter and I will just have to get by knowing that it was at least better than it was before.

1. Does anyone know how I can further drain the system without removing the hoses? Did I make any mistakes this time around? I have two more bottles and I'm willing to try again if I made some serious mistakes. I'm mostly looking for a way to get the fluid on to the top half of the reservoir.
2. The steering wheel is still hard to turn as it was before I started this whole thing, it is in no way comparable to the smooth turning of the 1995 but it's not so bad that it feels like power steering isn't there at all. I'm really at a loss as to why this is. One weird thing is that the steering wheel shimmy seems to have decreased in severity after doing this little thing today. Before the wheel used to shimmy left and right so forcefully that my arms would move. Now if I maintain a firm grip it doesn't move at all or just a tiny bit. Driving without my arms on the wheel proves the shimmy is still there however...
3. Could a bad steering pump belt cause power steering to become difficult? It's at the end of its lifespan as it was never changed and it's at about 125,000 miles. The belt is hard and brittle with almost no deflection since I can't push it down at all and it has cracks dispersed all over the v-teeth/ribs.

 

It's not possible to change the fluid w/o disconnecting the return hose and directing to a catch pan. You'll need a cap over the reservoir return nipple. Old hoses can be stiff and very hard to remove. Generally, you will need to get to rotate back/forth and pull at same time to remove. New hoses should be considered.

To get clean (clear) fluid, you will need to replace the reservoir. There is a filter in the bottom of the reservoir that traps particles and colors any new fluid.

I would be tempted to find a used PS pump. Your's may not be putting out enough pressure/volume to give good boost at low engine speeds.

good luck

 

I've done this with the front wheels raised off the ground. That way the PS isn't working real hard when you turn the wheel.

 

A new resevior is a good idea. I have the procedure from an 03 Accord service manual. I guess it would be the same for your Accord. Well here it is.

PS: Make sure you have a good connection on the return hose, or the pressure will blow it right off. You don't want power steering fluid on your drive belt, or anywhere else really. Most people will run a hose down, to the ground, under the car, so they have more room for a pan to catch the old fluid. Personally, I didn't let the pump suck in any air, when fluid level, in the resevior, got close to the suction hose (bottom hose on the resevior), I started pouring new fluid in. I didn't like the idea of running the pump dry. If you try it, good luck.

 

A new "anything" is not in the budget. Probably costs more than I bought this car for.

I would try the return hose but the hose clamp has the clamp portion on the downward face of the hose. That makes it impossible for me to reach it with pliers or anything that doesn't fit between the hose and the car body under the hose. That's about a room of like two or three inches. I can't rotate the clamp either, not while it's giving pressure.

 

Do you understand the reservoir is mounted on slide support and can be readily removed for access?

good luck

 

Yeah I pulled it off of it that day but I couldn't move the reservoir because the hoses are holding it down.