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How do you change the power steering fluid in a Honda Civic?

Is there a way for me to change the power steering fluid in my Honda Civic by myself? I’m operating on a pretty tight budget right now and I don’t want to take it to the shop if I don’t have to.

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Doing
car maintenance
yourself is a great way to save some money and learn a new skill. For this particular job, you’ll need a drip pan, a hose, and a screwdriver.
Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to change the power steering fluid in your
Honda Civic
:
  • First, you’ll need to
    open the hood
    and locate the power steering reservoir. It should be on the passenger side of the engine.
  • Once you find the power steering reservoir, use a turkey baster to remove as much of the fluid as you can.
  • Now you’ll need to drain the remaining fluid. Use a flathead screwdriver to disconnect the black return hose from the side of the reservoir. If you have trouble locating the hose, you can check your owner’s manual for the exact location.
  • Next, place one end of another hose into a drip pan or another container for the old power steering fluid, and connect the other end to the disconnected return hose.
  • When your hoses are all connected, start your car and let it idle for a few minutes. Then, with your car still idling, move the steering wheel from side-to-side until there is no more fluid coming out of the hose.
  • Turn off your engine and disconnect the hoses. You can also empty out the old fluid from your bucket or container.
  • Reconnect the return hose to the reservoir.
  • Now, you can refill the reservoir with new power steering fluid! Make sure the fluid reaches the line on the side of the reservoir.
  • Finally, turn on your car and let it idle for about 10 minutes. You should also turn your wheel from side to side two to three times. This will help to dislodge any excess air in the system. You may have to add more fluid after you do this.
And, just like that, you’ve replaced the power steering fluid in your Civic!
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