Honda City 2010 - Steering "Sticks" at Highway Speed

[saadsmalik]

I have a 2010 Honda City 1.3 Manual that has a strange issue. After driving for over an hour on the motorway, the steering wheel meets resistance when making very small incremental adjustments to maintain the lane, like I have to push it past the sticking point. Tire inflation is good and alignment was done recently. Also got the front left wheel bearings changed recently, if that's somehow relevant.

It affects the very minor adjustments I make, slightly left or right of center, to keep in the lane. Normally, these adjustments are subconscious, but with this issue, they’re a distraction since I have to apply more force and the car suddenly swerves more than required when the steering wheel "unsticks".

Would appreciate if someone could help me out with this. I travel on the motorway very frequently and wouldn't want to run into any trouble.

[omersiddiqui5482]

What is your speed during those adjustments

[saadsmalik]

~120 km/h. Experienced it today on M2. It was fine when I travelled on it last time about a month ago.

Work done on the car since the last trip:
- Clutch plate, pressure plate and clutch bearing replaced
- Front left wheel bearing replaced
- Wheel alignment, although I felt today that the alignment was still out since the car was drifting slightly to the left
- Brakes serviced and discs tooled

The car has done ~115,000 km.

[omersiddiqui5482]

The car is electronic power steering I guess?

[omersiddiqui5482]

If you are observing mis-alignment get that checked else I think this something normal for a EPS car the steering gets harder as the speed increases...

@capsat sir if you may guide me and @saadsmalik

[saadsmalik]

@omersiddiqui5482 yes it has EPS.

Actually I think I haven't been able to explain the problem properly. It's not that the EPS gets stiffer with speed. It's like the steering wheel is stuck and requires more force than usual to be moved. Like for example if I want to change lanes, it'll feel as if it's stuck and will require more initial force to start turning. Once it starts turning, the movement of the steering wheel is fine. Hope this explains better.

I'll definitely get the alignment checked.

[capsat]

1st thing first if you can check yourself for a lose electrical grip over EPS assembly. locate remove and clean the grip and its slot with contact cleaner used for electronics it cleans the contacts and evaporates within seconds use air blower to remove left over debris. It is more likely a bad electrical connection then a mechanical issue.

[babarhyd]

Yes this is a real issue. I have felt same thing in my City 2005, City 2009 and also Corolla 2011. All had such issue. Usually it comes after car is driven 100,000kms. This issue appeared after front suspension was overhauled with new parts. So its probably related to mechanical parts rather than electrical.

[mehran]

Wheel bearings are usually changed in pairs. If the left is faulty both the right and left should be changed. Same for headlight bulbs. Maybe this uneven bearing change is causing one wheel to face some resistance resulting in an effect on the steering.

[omersiddiqui5482]

Brother I guess your city 05 had hydraulic power steering. This here is a EPS fault.

[omersiddiqui5482]

Bhai check via your OBD 2 port if it showing any errors for EPS... Might be as @capsat said some electrical issues or it can be something in the EPS actuator.

[babarhyd]

City 2003 till current gen has EPS aka Electraanic Pawar Shteering.

[ashbal]

The blades in the kanghi are getting stuck most probably...basically the sterring wont turn at all at first but when u apply pressure it will start working properly and sterring will be turned more than expected...happens due to the problem i mentioned above

[Gringo1]

I have city 1.5 2018 model same issue on highways. Car is driven around 15k km

[pwuser151089382416]

Aoa .. after reading all the comments in this thread i would like to update you that I had encountered the same problem 2 years ago and i'd to visit several mechanics to actually understand the problem. It is only related to your steering assembly. There is this zigzag ring on the top of assembly which connects to your steering. These zigzags wear off gradually as you drive. The more bumpy and unpaved paths you drive on, more wear and tear will be likely. The only solution to this is a new steering assembly. Do get it checked by an expert or kharadia before you buy one.