How to Install a Power Steering Pump for a 1988 Acura Legend V6 L

When the Acura brand Hondas luxury lineup hit the market in 1986, its first offering was the Legend. The Legend was the perfect springboard for a company determined to offer customers both luxury and performance. The 1988 Acura Legend L came standard with a 161-horsepower, 2.7-liter V-6 engine and power steering. The heart of the 1988 Legends power steering system is a hydraulic power steering pump, which creates the hydraulic pressure the system needs to turn the wheels with relative ease. When the pump fails, you may experience several symptoms, including skipping while turning, noise when turning or difficulty turning. Installing a power steering pump on the 1988 Legend is a detailed process that requires a precise adjustment of the drive belt and bleeding of the power steering system.

Instructions

Removal

1

Remove the plastic belt cover from the top passengers side of the engine by removing its bolt and two nuts with a ratchet and socket, then pulling the cover from the engine compartment.

2

Open the power steering reservoir and siphon out as much fluid as you can, using a clean turkey baster. Transfer the siphoned fluid to a clean, sealable container for later disposal.

3

Slide a drain pan under the vehicle and position it directly under the power steering pump to catch any fluid as you remove the pump.

4

Remove the bolts securing the power steering pressure hose to the top of the power steering pump, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the pressure hose from the pump. Remove and discard the O-ring from the end of the pressure hose.

5

Slide the hose clamp up the power steering fluid reservoir-to-pump hose, using slip-joint pliers, and pull the hose from the power steering pump with a slight twisting motion.

6

Draw a diagram of the power steering belts routing, using a pen and paper, as you may need to reroute it after installing a new pump.

7

Loosen the power steering pump pivot bolt, the bolt nearest the top of the pump, using a ratchet and socket. Loosen the power steering pump slide bolt, the one nearest the bottom of the pump, using a ratchet to turn the bolt as you hold its nut still with a combination wrench, and pivot the power steering pump downward to relieve tension on the drive belt.

8

Pull the power steering pump belt from the pump but leave it in place on the other pulleys. You cannot remove the power steering pump belt from the engine, as the alternator belt blocks it, so leave it in the engine compartment.

9

Remove the pivot nut and bolt and the slide nut and bolt, then carefully lift the power steering pump from the vehicle.

Installation

10

Lubricate the new O-ring, which comes with the new power steering pump, with fresh Honda power steering fluid. Press the O-ring into its groove on the end of the power steering pressure hose.

11

Guide the new power steering pump into the engine compartment and into its mounting position. Align the lower bolt hole with the slide on the bottom of the power steering pump bracket and the upper bolt hole with the brackets pivot bolt hole.

12

Guide the power steering pump bolts through their respective holes. Position the pivot bolts nut so that its flag, the tab protruding from it, contacts the flat on the bracket, then hand-thread the pivot bolt into the nut until the nut and bolt are hand-tight. Hand-tighten the slide bolt and its nut.

13

Route the power steering belt over all of the pulleys it drives according to the diagram you drew earlier. Pry up on the power steering pump, using a 12-inch pry bar, until the belt is tight, then snug the pivot bolt and slide bolt with a ratchet and socket. You will perform a more accurate belt tightening later.

14

Press the power steering fluid reservoir-to-pump hose onto its inlet on the new power steering pump and slide the hose clamp to within a half-inch of the end of the hose, using slip-joint pliers. Position the power steering pressure hose onto its mating surface on the new pump and hand-thread its retaining bolts. Tighten the pressure hoses retaining bolts to 8 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

15

Find a section of the power steering pump belt that spans between the power steering pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Place a ruler against the belt, as near the center point between the two pulleys as possible.

16

Press on the belt with 22 pounds of pressure, using a belt tension gauge and verify that the belt moves only 0.75 to 0.94 inches. If the belt moves more or less than the specified range, loosen the pivot bolt, slide the bolt slightly and pry the pump up with a pry bar to tighten the belt or press the pump down to loosen the belt. Repeat this step until you reach the specified belt deflection range.

17

Tighten the pivot bolt to 28 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket. Tighten the slide bolts nut to 16 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket, as you hold the slide bolt still with a combination wrench.

18

Install the belt cover onto the top of the engine and snug its nuts and bolt with a ratchet and socket.

Refilling Fluid and Bleeding System

19

Unscrew the cap from the power steering reservoir and wipe the cap-mounted dipstick off with a clean, lint-free cloth. Add Honda power steering fluid in quarter-pint increments, checking the fluid level with the cap-mounted dipstick between increments, until the fluid level is between the two lines on the dipstick.

20

Lift the front of the Legend with a floor jack and slide jack stands under its subframe. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.

21

Start the Legends engine and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock as far left, then as far right as it will go five times. Check the fluid in the reservoir for any bubbles; if bubbles are present repeat this step.

22

Raise the Legend off the jack stands and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground.

23

Recheck that the power steering fluid level is between the two marks on the dipstick and add more Honda power steering fluid, as needed. The Legends entire power steering system requires 1.8 quarts of fluid, but the exact amount required to refill your Legends system may vary.

24

Take all of the old power steering fluid to a local automotive fluid recycler. Some auto parts stores take old fluids free of charge.