Let me just start by saying that this issue is driving me insane, it has me to the point where i almost ready to sell this car ........ it's been such a huge issue and has cost me close to a grand in parts, mechanic work and dealership costs.

Now my power steering goes out intermittently, as in the car can start and the power steering light is off, and when the power steering light isn't on the car's power steering works. Yet after x amount of time (x seems to vary and is never consistent) the power steering just stops working. As in without warning or any other sign it shuts off and will stay off until you turn the car off. If you turn the car off and on real quick at like a red light or something it will "fix" the problem, once again for an x period of time.

So far I have replaced
The power steering control module
The wiring harness
and tried to clean the connecters.

The only thing I feel hasn't been replaced is the power steering rack ......... now some people have said that sodering the connecters together fixed their car, but cleaning the connectors doesn't even fix the problem half the time. I'm really at my wits end someone please help =[[[[ what is next to fix. btw I have a mechanic from UPS (one of the top truck mechanics there) helping me out with the mechanic issue.

Help =[


As of November 11th 2009 the issue still hasn't been fixed, but I have something else to comment on. When the OUTSIDE temperature is warm ......... the power steering just doesn't work, like right now it is 65 - 70 degrees (fahrenheit) and the power steering doesnt work at all, but ALL of last week I had no issues whatsoever when the weather hit below 45 .......... So warm temperature = no power steering, cold = power steering ....... anyone have a clue what this could mean?

I used to clean my connectors at least once a week before I finally crimped/soldered the connections together.
Been running like this for a few years now without any power steering issues.

Facts: My power steering light stays on - there's no power steering

1) Cleaned and bent contacts on 8 gauge power wires (2x) for snug fit
2) Soldered the 14 gauge sensor wires (3x) and taped up
3) Tried disconnecting the ground (negative)
4) 20 pump reset (with oil temp calibration notification confirmed)
5) Odometer reset (test light confirmed)
6) "Turn all the way left, turn all the way right" method
7) Tried disconnecting the Positive - and repeat 4-6

I've tried every combination of this to no avail. Dealer is my final option. Anyone have any recommendations?

Does step 6 usually work? I have no indicator of it working - and I've started and stopped the car so many times. I'm willing to try anything shy of sacrificing a goat before I take it to the dealer.

If you contribute, PLEASE be accurate with your descriptions. I don't mean to be a dick, but some descriptions I've read are vague and inconsistent and this does not help at all.

Let me just start by saying that this issue is driving me sane

^^
:mdrmed:

Sorry,

/end threadjack.

5) Odometer reset (test light confirmed)
No such thing as an "odometer reset".
All you did was enter an I/O diagnostics screen, which is why you saw 'TEST'.
So this did nothing to help your problem.

6) "Turn all the way left, turn all the way right" method
This has to be performed when you disconnect the battery.
This is to "enable" the DSC feature.
Again, not related to the power steering.

7) Tried disconnecting the Positive - and repeat 4-6
You already disconnected the negative... must have been desperate ;)

I've tried every combination of this to no avail. Dealer is my final option. Anyone have any recommendations?
Your issue might not be with the harness, but the EPS Control Module.
If your above methods showed NO signs of improvement afterward, then it might be time for a trip to the dealer.

to the top with an update ........ temperature affecting power steering, doesn't make sense

if temp. is effecting it, the only thing i can think of is fluid.

^........except for the little tiny fact that you don't have power steering fluid!


Typically what happens is some coolant comes out of the coolant bottle overflow hose(if you've ever overheated or have too much in the bottle) and gets on the power steering connector which is down underneath that overflow hose and it gets all cruddy and doesn't make good connection. I guess driving through high water enough could also do this as well since that connector does sit pretty low down there. Like someone else said, it could also be the EPS module..............that I'm not sure about.
Since in your case........I know you were just messing with your battery, you might want to check the power steering fuse just in case you popped the fuse. I believe it's a 60amp and located at #34 in the engine bay fuse box. I would find it very hard to believe you popped this one, but you never know. Did you have any issues the last time you were disconnecting and re-connecting the battery?

yeah hahah, i found this out after posting that. I feel like a jackass.

I'm experiencing the same exact problem ! Since my power steering went off I drove it once ! It's been 3 days since it's not working alot of ppl just drove it with out power steering for 2-3 days and it came back alone ... Dont really know what to do either !

Like all of you, I have this same problem. It started Feb. of '10. Since then, I've had the dealer replace the harness, I've cleaned the connectors although they didn't look dirty. The dealer said that my EPS module needs to be replaced at a cost of $1400. I went on Ebay and bought one from a vendor that was taken out of an '04 RX8 that had 35k on it before it was totalled. It works slighty better than my original one, but the PS is still bad (warning light is still lit and wheel hard to turn) I dunno what to do. I made it clear to the dealer that if I have the EPS module replaced my them, and if that didn't remedy the problem, I will be very upset. May have to take that chance.

I also read that Mazda lost ~181 million last year. I wonder how much of that was attributed to the RX8 issues.