DIY: Power steering connector cleaning with pics
#27
Charles Bundy
iTrader: (5)
Addendum: It wasn't mentioned in this thread, but if the EPS still act out after cleaning all the three connections, check the fuse which is located on the positive terminal of the battery marked EPS 60 A. And make sure your terminals are clean and tight; if the positive terminal is loose, a slight bump may cause to cut off your EPS' electrical continuity.
The following users liked this post:
Mazda1222 (06-28-2020)
#28
Registered
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Broward, FL
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Awesome diy... Gna try this tmrw. My p/s has been kinda shotty for awhile, kinda goes out off an on, usually when im turning at low rpms and then when i get on the gas i feel it loosen up. Steering wheel kinda shakes left or right sometimes but i guess ill see if its the harness or rack tmrw
#29
Registered User
I noticed there wasn't one of these with pics so I figured I would make one.
1: Disconnect Neg battery terminal (just to be safe you will be working with Di- electric grease and electrical connections and no one likes to get shocked!)
2: Remove the air intake box
3: You will need connector cleaner and di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317489747
4: Locate the two connectors under the coolant reservoir, clean them, allow to dry, apply di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
5: Locate the white connector on the battery harness, clean like step 4
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
1: Disconnect Neg battery terminal (just to be safe you will be working with Di- electric grease and electrical connections and no one likes to get shocked!)
2: Remove the air intake box
3: You will need connector cleaner and di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317489747
4: Locate the two connectors under the coolant reservoir, clean them, allow to dry, apply di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
5: Locate the white connector on the battery harness, clean like step 4
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
i already done all of that and still my eps lumpy when i turn right and also only when the engine temperature is cold or below normal operating temp
please help me
#32
White water pearl Rx8!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: California
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It seems like replacing the ES harness is your next step. I've been doing a lot of research because this just happened to me on my 06, and it seems that there are three steps. Cleaning the harness connectors is step one. If that does not solve the problem, then step two would be to replace the ES harness. And if that doesn't work, then step three would be to replace the rack. I cleaned my connectors, but I still have to test drive it and see if that solved the problem (crossed fingers), if not, I'll be ordering a harness pretty soon!
#34
White water pearl Rx8!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: California
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I noticed there wasn't one of these with pics so I figured I would make one.
1: Disconnect Neg battery terminal (just to be safe you will be working with Di- electric grease and electrical connections and no one likes to get shocked!)
2: Remove the air intake box
3: You will need connector cleaner and di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317489747
4: Locate the two connectors under the coolant reservoir, clean them, allow to dry, apply di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
5: Locate the white connector on the battery harness, clean like step 4
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
1: Disconnect Neg battery terminal (just to be safe you will be working with Di- electric grease and electrical connections and no one likes to get shocked!)
2: Remove the air intake box
3: You will need connector cleaner and di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317489747
4: Locate the two connectors under the coolant reservoir, clean them, allow to dry, apply di-electric grease
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
5: Locate the white connector on the battery harness, clean like step 4
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177
#35
Charles Bundy
iTrader: (5)
#36
White water pearl Rx8!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: California
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not exactly sure, but this is what the EPS harness looks like:
Electric Power Steering Harness
Electric Power Steering Harness
I knew that plug had nothing to do with the harness.
#37
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: San Juan, PR
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I cleaned mine about 3 times and it lasted a out 3 weeks before it went bad again. I finally bypassed the plug using wire taps and electrical wire (I did not want to cut the harness and eliminate the plug.
#38
power steering
my power-steering has been out for several months now. Been having to drive it around cause its too expensive for right now taking it in into Mazda. I tried cleaning all those connections but nothing. Turned the key and the light is still on and its still hard to steer. I checked with a local "mechanic" he took a quick look under the hood and recommended to replace the rack & pinion unit. I checked at autozone and they want $530 for the system, What would ya recommend? Thanks
#39
#40
Great DIY - Fixed my problem
Thank you and this website for yet another great DIY process with great pictures. I had recently replaced an upper radiator hose and during the process of topping off the radiator, the coolant clearly had been flowing right onto these connectors. So I started feeling a difference in the steering - it would be very easy to turn to the right and more difficult to turn to the left. Then the Power Steering light started coming on and I would lose all Power Steering. I followed this DIY tip and process, cleaned all my connectors and coated with the grease. Problem solved - good to go. Thanks Again!
#42
running on double cream!
iTrader: (1)
I dont' have a light on the dash, but when the car is cold and randomly other times, the steering is just very.. off. Its hard to turn at times but only at certain points in the rotation of the wheel. It's quite off and a little concerning since I haven't gotten any warning light on the dash.
I stopped at Pep-boys on the way home and bought both the CRC electrical cleaner and die-electric grease so we'll see how that goes tomorrow. I have a bookmark saved for a new revised harness if I dont' have any success.
I stopped at Pep-boys on the way home and bought both the CRC electrical cleaner and die-electric grease so we'll see how that goes tomorrow. I have a bookmark saved for a new revised harness if I dont' have any success.
#43
Charles Bundy
iTrader: (5)
I dont' have a light on the dash, but when the car is cold and randomly other times, the steering is just very.. off. Its hard to turn at times but only at certain points in the rotation of the wheel. It's quite off and a little concerning since I haven't gotten any warning light on the dash.
I stopped at Pep-boys on the way home and bought both the CRC electrical cleaner and die-electric grease so we'll see how that goes tomorrow. I have a bookmark saved for a new revised harness if I dont' have any success.
I stopped at Pep-boys on the way home and bought both the CRC electrical cleaner and die-electric grease so we'll see how that goes tomorrow. I have a bookmark saved for a new revised harness if I dont' have any success.
#44
running on double cream!
iTrader: (1)
Normally if it is your EPS, you will feel a jerking motion as though your car is possessed before the whole system fails then the light on the dash lights up. If you haven't taken up the task of cleaning those connectors, take the time to read this DIY first: Lower Steering Shaft U-Joint.
#47
I'm back... so the cleaning only helped for about a week and then the problem has returned. What's interesting is sometimes when I get in the car it works and other times the light is on and it has failed. Even when it does work however you can feel that the system is failing. I've cleaned all those connectors. What should be the next thing to try?
#48
Registered
This thread will determine whether or not this is a GOOD saturday evening in Cincinnati...
(Image just taken of my garage... as PSU surgery starts.... )
Now, where is my rum?
(Image just taken of my garage... as PSU surgery starts.... )
Now, where is my rum?
#49
Registered
So, on the way to work this morning my power steering pretty much failed completely.
No warning light (and the light is functioning) but very sporadic operation of the PS, which is worse than having none at all in my opinion.
The problems started about 2 weeks ago, and have been becoming more frequent as time goes by. The primary problem is that the power steering really doesn't want to come "off center" when it goes bad, so changing lanes is a rather sketchy thing right now, as I never know if I will have power steering or not when I move the wheel off canter.
For the last couple weeks I have been trying the "Manual Calibration" technique of turning the ignition to accessory, cranking the wheel all the way to the right, then all the way to the left, and then starting the car. This seems to work in most cases (at least for a short time) but today it stopped helping.
So... I pulled up this thread, pulled out the air box and cleaned and treated the connections as indicated in the top of the thread. On first re-assembly, after cleaning, the PS warning light was on, and I had no power steering at all.
So I took it back apart and tried again, and now the warning light is back off, but the power steering is still sporadic in its assist. It is better than it has been in the last week, but still hesitant to come off center when I start to turn.
I checked the U joint and it seems ok, and there does not seem to be any binding issues.
I guess the next step is to go ahead and replace the wiring harness... but I thought I would go ahead and post what I had done so far, and what was occurring, and see if anyone had any other suggestions.
-Someone on here said that owning an RX-8 with over 110,000 miles was like being married to a stripper... and I am starting to agree. Since 110,000 (two months ago) I have had an O2 sensor fail, the power steering fail, and a serious degradation in braking.
I hope I am not just seeing the tip of the iceberg here. My last car was a 1990 Integra, and when I sold her to the teenager next door she had 525,000 miles on her, and he is still driving her.
-Shadow
No warning light (and the light is functioning) but very sporadic operation of the PS, which is worse than having none at all in my opinion.
The problems started about 2 weeks ago, and have been becoming more frequent as time goes by. The primary problem is that the power steering really doesn't want to come "off center" when it goes bad, so changing lanes is a rather sketchy thing right now, as I never know if I will have power steering or not when I move the wheel off canter.
For the last couple weeks I have been trying the "Manual Calibration" technique of turning the ignition to accessory, cranking the wheel all the way to the right, then all the way to the left, and then starting the car. This seems to work in most cases (at least for a short time) but today it stopped helping.
So... I pulled up this thread, pulled out the air box and cleaned and treated the connections as indicated in the top of the thread. On first re-assembly, after cleaning, the PS warning light was on, and I had no power steering at all.
So I took it back apart and tried again, and now the warning light is back off, but the power steering is still sporadic in its assist. It is better than it has been in the last week, but still hesitant to come off center when I start to turn.
I checked the U joint and it seems ok, and there does not seem to be any binding issues.
I guess the next step is to go ahead and replace the wiring harness... but I thought I would go ahead and post what I had done so far, and what was occurring, and see if anyone had any other suggestions.
-Someone on here said that owning an RX-8 with over 110,000 miles was like being married to a stripper... and I am starting to agree. Since 110,000 (two months ago) I have had an O2 sensor fail, the power steering fail, and a serious degradation in braking.
I hope I am not just seeing the tip of the iceberg here. My last car was a 1990 Integra, and when I sold her to the teenager next door she had 525,000 miles on her, and he is still driving her.
-Shadow
#50
Rotary Evolution
Addendum: It wasn't mentioned in this thread, but if the EPS still act out after cleaning all the three connections, check the fuse which is located on the positive terminal of the battery marked EPS 60 A. And make sure your terminals are clean and tight; if the positive terminal is loose, a slight bump may cause to cut off your EPS' electrical continuity.
this should be added to the original post as most people apparently are not addressing this important area.