Sticky/Jerky Steering issue

[TrackRider54]

Also, they loaned me a CVT Integra (275 miles)... I don't know people drive that thing!

I have the CVT model and I came from a manual car. It takes some getting used to, but it's actually a pretty good transmission. Lets the engine sit right in the power band. But if it really bugs you, just put it in manual mode and it emulates a traditional geared transmission. The funny thing is, seemingly no matter how hard you drive the thing, it won't get below 30mpg. Well, except for the time I did a little top speed run with it...in Mexico of course. LOL!

Glad your car is going to be fixed. In 3 days I drop mine off. Parts are in and dealer has a car reserved for me. Service manager said it will take 2 days to complete the job.

My car has had the issue since day one, so I've never experienced what it's like to drive without the sticky steering issue.

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[PJK3]

I have the CVT model and I came from a manual car. It takes some getting used to, but it's actually a pretty good transmission. Lets the engine sit right in the power band. But if it really bugs you, just put it in manual mode and it emulates a traditional geared transmission. The funny thing is, seemingly no matter how hard you drive the thing, it won't get below 30mpg. Well, except for the time I did a little top speed run with it...in Mexico of course. LOL!

Glad your car is going to be fixed. In 3 days I drop mine off. Parts are in and dealer has a car reserved for me. Service manager said it will take 2 days to complete the job.

My car has had the issue since day one, so I've never experienced what it's like to drive without the sticky steering issue.

Good point about keeping the engine in the middle of the power band. You're correct that once it started pulling, it kept pulling at a consistent acceleration. It just felt super disconnected to me. I returned the loaner after a couple days, so I'm back to my 6MT.

They told me the rack was on back order and no immediate ETA was available, so I may be waiting for a while. I look forward to hearing how the repair goes for you.

Mine was sticky from very early on, but started being extremely noticeable at around 5,300 miles. During warmer weather it was less annoying, plus most of my commute is such that it isn't very evident.

 

[TrackRider54]

They told me the rack was on back order and no immediate ETA was available, so I may be waiting for a while.

I was told the same thing. The initial ETA of the part was April. The service manager said he requested a "critical part request" or something to that respect.

I was also offered a rental car if I felt my car was unsafe. I declined as I don't think it's unsafe for ME to drive. I would not put my 19yo daughter behind the wheel though. I've figured out a strategy to cope with the stick & release issue.

The only thing I'm worried about is the mechanic doesn't get everything back together to spec. After the new rack is in, it will need to be aligned again too. I assume that will be done. If so, I hope to see the print out of the before and after.

I seldom ever let someone else work on my car. I know they don't put the same level of care and detail that I do when I do my own work.

 

[PJK3]

I was told the same thing. The initial ETA of the part was April. The service manager said he requested a "critical part request" or something to that respect.

I was also offered a rental car if I felt my car was unsafe. I declined as I don't think it's unsafe for ME to drive. I would not put my 19yo daughter behind the wheel though. I've figured out a strategy to cope with the stick & release issue.

The only thing I'm worried about is the mechanic doesn't get everything back together to spec. After the new rack is in, it will need to be aligned again too. I assume that will be done. If so, I hope to see the print out of the before and after.

I seldom ever let someone else work on my car. I know they don't put the same level of care and detail that I do when I do my own work.

Good to know -- hopefully mine won't be months in backlog. They alluded to a loaner, but I don't feel it's dangerous to drive. Ironically enough, I wouldn't want my 23 yo daughter to drive it, but my 20 yo son and daughter would probably be just fine.

I also do a lot of my own work... but a steering rack is out of my comfort zone. That said, not long after buying it, my '08 Civic Si steering rack was warranty replaced (don't remember why), and it was fine. Ironically, I traded it for the Integra.

 

[submitaweasel]

I probably shouldn't say this out loud...but...I havent had an occurrence since my last post in this thread.

 

[SeanIsElsewhere]

Does anyone have a video of the steering acting up? I feel like my car has a little sticky spot close to center at highway and just under highway speeds but not sure entirely; always driven like this. I’ve messed with the road departure mitigation setting to see if it was the issue but still unsure

 

[TrackRider54]

Does anyone have a video of the steering acting up? I feel like my car has a little sticky spot close to center at highway and just under highway speeds but not sure entirely; always driven like this. I’ve messed with the road departure mitigation setting to see if it was the issue but still unsure

It would be hard to get a video of it because it's not something you see as much as it something you feel.

Best way to describe it is a momentary increase in steering effort followed by a rapid return to normal effort. So for example, you are trying to keep the car centered in the lane and you apply a small steering correction which results in the wheel not moving, so you press harder, then POP...the steering goes back to normal and you have a slight over correction.

Now, this alone isn't all that bad. The issue is it happens over, and over, and over, and over again as you're driving. I told my wife that it felt like the knee joint of a Barbie doll. She asked me how I knew that and I had to shut up. LOL!

 

[SeanIsElsewhere]

It would be hard to get a video of it because it's not something you see as much as it something you feel.

Best way to describe it is a momentary increase in steering effort followed by a rapid return to normal effort. So for example, you are trying to keep the car centered in the lane and you apply a small steering correction which results in the wheel not moving, so you press harder, then POP...the steering goes back to normal and you have a slight over correction.

Now, this alone isn't all that bad. The issue is it happens over, and over, and over, and over again as you're driving. I told my wife that it felt like the knee joint of a Barbie doll. She asked me how I knew that and I had to shut up. LOL!

Ah damn OK this may be something I’m dealing with. I do have to rotate my tires which could fix some of the odd steering characteristic (and replace them ultimately come summer; they’ll be due) and see if it’s corrected. If not, I am sure this is what I’ve been dealing with for some time although, the effort I have to exert isn’t terrible but it is definitely noticeable.

 

[Vancity Warrior]

Acura Canada finally got back a month later, this is what they had to say:

'Unfortunately, as Techline is the dealerships field engineer team, the only course of action we have at the moment is to wait for them to come up with some kind of repair suggestion.'

Soo, what now? Any body in Canada, anywhere was able to get this addressed? I'll call up the dealership if I can't visit and get them in touch with mine. Currently stuck otherwise.

 

[TrackRider54]

Dropped my car off this morning. Repair is supposed to take a couple of days. They provided me with a nice MDX.

Now I wait....

 

[Imperial]

Dropped my car off this morning. Repair is supposed to take a couple of days. They provided me with a nice MDX.

Now I wait....

Good Luck and please find out if the part you are getting is revised.

 

[TrackRider54]

Good Luck and please find out if the part you are getting is revised.

Picked up the car this afternoon. I could immediately tell a difference in the steering. Not just the lack of sticking, but the steering feel was better, especially the on center feel.

I've attached a copy of my paperwork, but for the TLDR crowd, the part number used was:

53620-3S5-A34

It does look to be the updated part I reference in post #132. Time will tell if the issue reappears. But I'm a happy customer.

View attachment 2024 - 2 - 1 - Steering Rack Replacement.pdf

 

[SeanIsElsewhere]

Picked up the car this afternoon. I could immediately tell a difference in the steering. Not just the lack of sticking, but the steering feel was better, especially the on center feel.

I've attached a copy of my paperwork, but for the TLDR crowd, the part number used was:

53620-3S5-A34

It does look to be the updated part I reference in post #132. Time will tell if the issue reappears. But I'm a happy customer.

View attachment 2024 - 2 - 1 - Steering Rack Replacement.pdf

Thankful you got a fix and you’re relieved! I just recently became a victim of it I believe. Scheduled to bring my car in for the initial diagnosis next week. Mine appears so minor though however. I’ll have to drive a loaner or new one on the lot to compare the feel.

 

[Imperial]

Picked up the car this afternoon. I could immediately tell a difference in the steering. Not just the lack of sticking, but the steering feel was better, especially the on center feel.

I've attached a copy of my paperwork, but for the TLDR crowd, the part number used was:

53620-3S5-A34

It does look to be the updated part I reference in post #132. Time will tell if the issue reappears. But I'm a happy customer.

View attachment 2024 - 2 - 1 - Steering Rack Replacement.pdf

Great! I believe you mentioned previously that you never knew how a "good working steering wheel" felt as you pretty much bought the car that way.

- Speaking of "on center" feel, now it doesn't seem disconnected from the rest of the steering radius?
- Did they align steering wheel properly and it is at the center?

 

[TrackRider54]

Great! I believe you mentioned previously that you never knew how a "good working steering wheel" felt as you pretty much bought the car that way.

- Speaking of "on center" feel, now it doesn't seem disconnected from the rest of the steering radius?
- Did they align steering wheel properly and it is at the center?

Yes...the day I bought the car I test drove a new Integra and we couldn't get the numbers where I wanted them so I asked if they had a CPO. They did, and we did the deal on that car. I never drove it. On the way home I was immediately disappointed that something was wrong with the steering. I was told it was a service loaner, so I figured someone might have run over a curb and bent something since one of the wheels was rashed. The dealer told me to come in and they would repair the wheel. When I was there, I told them about the steering. The service manager told me there was a tech at the dealer who had the same issue. They never questioned it. They were completely familiar with it and told me the fix was a new steering rack but there were none in stock anywhere. Initially I was told it would be April before I could expect a new part, but it arrived sooner than expected.

The on center feel is very direct now. No play in the wheel like before. I'm sure part of that was due to whatever was causing the sticking.

The car appears to be properly aligned. I took my hands off the wheel and it tracked straight, but you never know if you don't see the alignment printout, and I wasn't given one of those. I have a friend who manages a tire shop and I may have her check the alignment one day. She probably won't charge me for it.

It may be placebo effect, but the steering feels considerably better to me. Not just the lack of the sticking issue...but better all around. Almost like the new part was designed to tighter tolerances or something. But it could be in my mind. Either way, I am very happy with it.

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