Steering easier to turn right than left

[andrew]

I drive a 2001 Honda Civic 1.6 petrol with electric power steering. Recently I have noticed that it is easier to turn the steering right than left. I jacked the front of the car up and on axle stands I turned on the engine. The steering wheel automatically goes full lock to the right, even if I turn it full lock left it will go all the way back to the right. I am suspecting the steering rack but am struggling to understand how it seems to have failed only turning in one direction. It isn’t overly hard to turn left as if the power steering has failed entirely, almost as if the sliding part in the rack has seized in some way.

The car does not pull in any direction or have any problems with handling only the problem mentioned above. I am considering replacing the steering rack with a second hand part but would like some advice as to if I can maybe open up the gaiters and un-seize the slider.

Topic

[Ingvar]

You sure you have full electric PS? You likely have electric assist PS mated with normal hydraulic rack n pinion. As I had 04 Cr-V, NEW model, and I did not have fancy all electric PS.
As of hydraulic ones, I had same issue on 86 LeBaron. It was steering rack.

[andrew]

Yeah it’s full electric has EPS light on dashboard and I have checked the manual which states that it is, also no power steering reservoir.

[Jim Davis]

In your post you said Honda civic petrol, so that lets us know its an overseas car, UK if I am correct? Looking up some info, Honda did make electric assist or electric power steering for you folks. I do not have any repair info for your car, but just guessing some steering sensors in the steering wheel/column or steering rack have gone bad. Wish I could be of more help.

[Erin]

My guess would be either a tire problem or alignment issue.
Alignment problems don’t always cause the car to pull in one direction.
While it is possible that the rack is messed up, that is not real likely, generally speaking.

Another thing – have you inspected the suspension components like –
all ball joints, tie rod ends, struts, condition and inflation of all tires, etc?

Basically, I would save replacing the rack as a last resort since it is a real PITA job.
IN all honesty – you might just have to take it to a reputable shop. If they say it needs a new part that is expensive, get a second opinion but don;t tell the second shop what the first one said. Don’t even mention that you had another shop look at it.

[Mike]

The torque sensor that built into the EPS motor is faulty. It thinks that there is always a discrepancy between the 2 position sensors on either end of the torque sensing rod that’s part of the sensor, causing it to constantly assist a right turn to some degree.

I can explain how the sensor works more if you want, but the effect of the fault is like if a scale is not zeroed, the measurement will always be off in the same direction by the same amount even with different loads on it. You want to be thinking about replacing the EPS motor or its internal torque sensor if it’s available separately.

[andrew]

Yeah its a UK car, sorry should have been more specific, yeah unfortunately the steering rack and its torque sensor are all one unit and one cannot be replaced without the other, the motor however can be so will try replacing that first, however, I do feel as Fopeano is saying that it could be the sensor thus the whole unit will need replaced. I have had tracking and alignment checked on the car and they were both fine. Thanks for the help people.

[Mike]

You may be right, but all the US cars I deal with that have EPS (which didn’t start getting common till around 07MY) have the torque sensor as part of the assist motor as opposed to being part of the rack. Most of our setups have the assist motor inside the car in the upper steering column. Only a few have it outside down on the rack. The way that the sensor works, it has to be between the steering wheel and the assist motor. It cannot be between the assist motor and rack, otherwise it would have no way to know when and now much to assist. .

[Author]

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