power steering hose leaking v-6

[accordian04]

An independent mechanic wants $375 to replace the power steering hose on my son's '04 accord v-6. Really??? He says the part will cost him $175 but the Honda dealer wants $155. Okay, right!

I'm sure I'll be lectured on my description of the specific ps hose...but, I'm calling it the pressure hose. I think it's #4 on the honda parts diagram that connects to the pump itself and the rack.

Is this REALLY such a difficult DIY job? Time consuming? Using the search, I haven't found a good enough "how to" description/procedure that would help ME...a novice, at best.

Any help would be appreciated.

[mobiless2]

I just replace all my low pressure hoses on a 4 cyl, was a slight pain. I can only imagine on a V6 with less room to work on. The hose in question runs along the engine cradle, might have to lower cradle to access.

[randy1515]

Took me about 3/4 hour to do... pretty simple , Got a new one from dealer $120 . The power steering fluid that leaked out smelled for a while , the bolts that hold the brackets on where the hardest part to put back on ...

[accordian04]

randy, were you able to do the entire job from up top...or did you have to jack up the car and work from underneath? did you perform the job on a v6 accord???

how were you able to remove and replace (feed/connect the metal tubing) through the motor mount. some have INSISTED you have to loosen the mount to fish the tubing through to its final connecting point on the rack...or otherwise, you have to bend the tubing. i'd be afraid to bend tubing on a $150 power steering pressure hose.

if this job requires loosening the motor mount...surely one has to do this from underneath??? thanks for your help. i just hate paying close to $400 to get this job done.

[randy1515]

Yes i have a v-6 and once you loosen all the fasteners (4bolts) witch you can reach from the top theres the 2 bolts on the pump and the 1 on the line it self and 1 on the rack and pinion, you have to bend it a little bit to get it out (no jacking up the car) everything is done from the top ... it was easier than i thought,just a slight bend to fish it through the motor mount

[Blackgt1]

When I bought mine, this hose was leaking, and the dealer fixed it no cost, his invoice sheet cost him $150 and it took his mechanic with a lift nearly two hours to do. Just make sure you put Honda power steering fluid, its special for Hondas. Even my manager at work, (Autozone), said that you must use Honda brand or Honda approved, like Accel Power Steering fluid.

[BLCKFLSH]

I changed the pressure hose on my V6. I bent the metal part of the hose, to get it through the mount, but the correct way, is to unbolt the mount, jack the engine up a bit, and pull the line out from under the mount. Your choice. I ordered the hose from the nearest online dealership for $95. You have to disconnect the pressure sensor, then after you get the hose out, remove the sensor from the old hose, and install it on the new hose before installing the hose. I suggest using all new o'rings, including on the sensor. Those brackets on the metal part are a pain to install, and I would suggest using a line wrench to remove and install the flare-nut on the rack. A regular wrench is more likely to screw up the flare-nut. Good luck

[accordian04]

seems i've read the flare nut requires a 14mm flare nut wrench. anybody know for sure?

[BLCKFLSH]

Originally Posted by accordian04

seems i've read the flare nut requires a 14mm flare nut wrench. anybody know for sure?

That's the size I used. You might want to check it with a normal wrench to make sure though. I've read that some of them have 16mm. The easy way to get to all of this is laying on top of the engine from the top. The only part you might do from the bottom is unbolting the motor mount, if you go that route. Hope you don't have short arms, haha.