Hello. I'm glad I found this forum. I searched through
the archives but could not find the answer I need.

I bought a 2003 CRV Automatic last November 02. I've
sent the car back to the dealer 3 times already but it
seems 2 problems persists.

1. A knocking noise that seems to emanate from below
the right-front portion of the car. This occurs when
the car sways on very uneven roads. It doesn't happen
on up and down movements (like going over humps). The
noise seems to occur more frequently during mornings
and becomes less so a few hours of driving (as the
engine compartment gets hotter).

2. This I'm really worried. When I make a hard
acceleration from stop, there seems to be a point in
the acceleration phase where the steering locks up (it
gets harder to steer). It occurs in the portion the
moment the car is beginning to move. Since I don't
know any friend who also has a CRV automatic I'm not
sure if this is normal.

Thanks a lot for your advise.

Oliver

Osoliva,

I have a couple of suggestions for your "steering lockup problem."  All our CRV's have power steering.  There are two possible reasons why the steering becomes harder when you accelerate quickly.  One might be that the power steering pump is "starving."  I would verify that the power steering fluid is up to the recommended level.  The other reason for your steering problem might be that the belt that drives the power steering pump slips when you accelerate hard.  Normally, when this happens though, it is accompanied by a high-pitched sound indicating the slippage.  I would check to make sure that the belt is tightened properly.

I hope this helps.

>

Australian CR-V's have been noted in several magazine reviews as suffering
from Torque steer. I understand that this is like holding a bicycle wheel
with you arms, spinning it and trying to turn it. It is really hard.

The same process occurs when under acceleration in my V but inst as bad as
you describe.

Later,

ML

Michael, thanks for replying.

I noticed the same pulling to one side on my brand new
CR-V when I got it. The dealer did some tire changing
and it disappeared. What's bugging me is the
steering. I experimented further and realized the
steering gets heavier every time you try to jerk it to
one side. Any abrupt change in steering direction and
it seems the power assist dis-engages. Hopefully the
dealer can explain wether this is some kind of safety
feature or not.

Again, thanks a lot.

Drive safe. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Oliver

The hydraulic pump only pumps fluid so fast in the power steering setup. If
you try and tunr fast you end up pumping the fluid yourself. I've noticed
this in pretty much all vehicles I have tried it in.

Rene

Hi oliver,

I have a brand new CR-V Ex with Auto (209 miles) and I too am
getting a noise from the right front end...mine only occurs when I
turn the wheel to the left of center...but when I am driving in a
straight line and do a short quick jerk of the wheel to the left I
get the noise, sometimes I can get it if I stop quickly from a slow
coast - like something is shifting...I had the car to the dealer
today and he found some support loose between the strut and the
body - he tightend it and it seemed to work for a little
while 'cause during the road test the noise was gone...but after I
drove the car for about 1 hour it was back...he called the noise
a "popping" sound...either way it it annoying and I am annoyed that
I have a new car right out of the showroom and it has problems
already! If you have heard anything more on that noise I would
appreciate the information.

Thanks,

Gary

Gary,

I was having the same problem w/ my '02 - had the right front strut
replaced as a warranty repair. Noise has gone away.

Thanks Glenn...I had the engine mounts replaced and that did the trick...then 3 days later I had a similar noise from the front left driver's side...apparently the bolt for the strut had come loose...I have owned Hondas/Acuras since the 70's and I have had more trouble with this vehicle in the first 14 days of ownership than all the others put together...I hope this is not an omen...I had a bad feeling when I found out this one was built in England....should have been a sign!!
 
Thanks for the reply!
 
Gary