"Elle"
Thanks for the quick reply and info.  To answer your questions; he used
only Honda OEM PS fluid and no he didn't overfill it.  I've been going to
this mech. for at least six yrs.  At times I went to someone else and
found out from him I didn't need the work done or he could do it for a lot
less.  He works out of his garage but use to work at a Honda dealership and
was trained and certified.  He also has won national competitions against
other Honda mechanics.  He only works on Hondas.  If he thinks there is
something I can do myself and save money he lets me know.  Needless to say
I trust this mech.  He also advised me to go online and tell my problem on
a forum like this.  That said I know he is falliable and can still make
mistakes like any other mech. and maybe when he worked on it he accidently
damaged something.  So if there is air in the system how else could it get
there if it wasn't from overfilling?  And if there is air in the system
would that cause the steering to be difficult?

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A few possibilities:

1. Make sure he put in genuine Honda OEM PS fluid. In the
alternative, my 1991 Civic has run fine on the PS fluid sold
at Autozone and similar that specifically says for Hondas
(and only Hondas, IIRC) on the front. If he put in anything
else, damage may have been done to PS parts.

2. If the system was overfilled, the swishing that occurs
(by design, so to speak) while running the car may have
simply through some oil out of the system. Refill with
genuine OEM PS fluid, per your owner's manual or the online
Factory Service Manuals. Post if you don't have either.

3. Air might have been sucked into the system during the
overfilled-swishing condition. You'll want to purge air from
the system. It's something a DIYer can do. I have used the
directions for purging the air from the PS system at
http://timingbelt.soben.com/ (about 3/4s of the way down),
and they work great.

Report back with the outcome of these attempts.

Elle
Original and sole owner, 1991 Civic, 201k miles

I recently had a new altenator put on my 1991 honda accord.  My mechanic
said he tightened all the belts real good. And he added quite a bit of
honda power steering fluid after noticing it was low.  On my way home I
noticed a whining noise every time I turned to the right or left.  I
phoned my mech. the next day and he said he heard a slight noise when he
drove it and thought it was probably a seal honda has had problems with
that they have an additive for which will fix it.  Later I drove it a
short distance and besides the whining noise it soon became hard to steer.
When I got home I shut off the car and popped the hood.  I took off the
reservoir cap and saw fluid foaming towards the top.  Also there was fluid
on top of the reservoir and all around below it.  Later there was a large
oil spot on the driveway below where the reservoir is.  I phone my mech.
again and he said he has only heard of this problem once before and wasn't
able to find a fix for it.  He could only say to add more fluid since I had
lost so much.  I did and every time I drive it, which has only been a few
at short distances, I get the same results.  I've never had problems
before with the power steering on this car and I've owned it since 1996
when it only had 29,000 miles.  Now it has 250,000 and the only front end
work is 2 new front axiles and a right side A-upper arm (ball joint).
Hope someone can Help!!  Can't afford a new vehicle.

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