Yup, it is a fairly common problem, but perhaps not widespread as to affect every 8 on the road so no global recall of any sort. Mine was also replaced by MM under warranty. I suspect the problem is the steering rack cannot take the heat of the rotary engine. It is Mazda's first vehicle featuring an electric steering rack afterall. Hope they solved the problem with the new steering rack that I'm running on now.

 

ive encountered the same prob. just happened recently, odo is 54k... sent it back to MM and they replaced the rack n engine mounts. mine is a 6MT '04 model

 

Is the engine mount affected too? They never changed mine though.....Like to get it changed too before warranty is up

 

changing mine next week as MM have to order the stock after 40k.

must say their service and their staff fantastic. no question ask.

so far change mounting, alternator, rear shocks, steering rack. the only problem is why this car so many issues, even new.

but dunno why....just love to drive it if it had happen to my sedan, would have dump it earlier

 

hi guys,

i'm a newbie here and i would like to enquire about this fault as well.

i've also experienced this painful ordeal...

i just bought a resale '04AT Rx8 and i've encountered this unresponsive steering everyday in the morning.....

so should i just change:

1. the whole Steering Rack?? (how much will it cost? where to change?)
2. the Steering Harness?? (how much will it cost? where to change?)
3. the R&R Steering Gear Assembly + R&R Combination Switch

pls advise....as this car is from a PI one....
really sian about this steering problem....

darnn

thanks, gentlemen!

 

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH my powersteering, figured it out though and i saved A LOT OF TIME!!!!!! UNDER THE AIRBOX RIGHT ABOVE THE RADIATOR ARE YOUR CONNECTORS, get some canned air( duster, or electronic cleaner) and clean out the connectors then put them back together and you got your power steering BACK!!!!!! it happens to go out cus of evaporation from the radiator!!!! it started to corrode the metal pieces in the connectors jus give a good cleaning and put some light bulb grease on em and your set!!!! mine went our 6 months ago and i havent had any problems with it since ive cleaned it out.....SUPER EASY PROCESS ONLY TAKES 10 to 20 MINUTES

 

since the powersteering cable connect right above the radiator, evaporation starts to corrode the metal connectors, all you gotta do is give em a good cleaning and youre set , a little light bulb grease should help with the corrosion...

 

Thanks Dozer... now can those who have this problem in SG try it out and let us know if it works? Just wanna show once and for all if this harness/wiring/connector solution actually works or whether our steering rack problem is different.

 

Hi Dozer,

Thanks for the info, let me try it out and see if it work ... then maybe I can save some money ;-)

Cheers !!! * keep my finger cross*

Drifter

 

Keep us posted if it works for you n if it does which is great news to a lot of us... maybe u could organise a DIY session to show the rest of us how to go about cleaning the connectors cos i'm sure there'll be others like me - i can read the words, but translating them into action is another thing

 

could be weak battery or weak alternator. Mine went away when they change alternator. But in my next servicing, they also change the steering rack as had to order, juz in case

Anyway, when i had this problem, the power steering will suddenly fail anytime of the day.

IMO, it is a safety issue. was driving down the highway and when i was abt to make a bend the Power steering become heavy and light and heavy..... have to guess how much strength to apply. if turn too much rite at the moment of heavy to light sequence, would probably turn too much on to the next lane!!!

 

^^^^ mine did the same thing and i got scared, but then again you only need PS during slow speeds(its a bitch not having it and tryin to parallel park).REMEMBER WHOEVER is gonna try this theres 2 connectors(your gonna see em right in front of your face), YOUR cleaning the one WITH the THICKER CABLES not the smaller connector cus i dont know what thats for

 

first i tried gettin a better battery, but no use, i still have my stock alternator,and it works fine.......damn REALLY hope this works for you guys!!!! cus i LOVE drivin my car AND i know what its like NOT to have POWER STEERING...and having to lose your car for a couple of days is a BITCH!!a waste of time and money,hopefully u guys get this figured out....CUS it worked FINE for me, my PS is perfect....

 

any results yet??????

 

why so loonnng the the reply people??????it only takes 30 mins to check if it works....

 

just cut off the connector(at the radiator) and resoldered the wires of the torque sensor signal together. I did not touch the power(thicker) wires. let see if it holds up

 

Hi, Bro. Could you post a picture to show whick connector and it's location. Appreciated

 

Hey you know what, why wait for them to corrode? I'm gonna grease mine rightaway!

And to think that during my ICT, I had so much grease easily available cos we use tons of the stuff for our tanks and AFVs...

 

dont know how to post pics, but yeah right under your airbox are 2 connectors i think the one to the PS is grey and looks like it has a thick ground cable....pull it apart and clean it with canned air and put a little bulb grease on the metal parts and plug em right back in and you should be good....

 

UPDATES:

That day I managed to remove the air filter box and also checked the connectors just above the radiator. Have cleaned the connectors although the connectors looks clean to me.

I have also tried to clean the connector right at the power steering unit itself, but unfortunately, I did not managed to remove it because this connector has melted thus stuck, I believe its due to the high heat.

Sad thing is my steering still give me the judder in the morning when the car is cool even after I have cleaned the connectors. - I guess I need to spend the money to replace the steering rack when it becomes worst..

Sorry for the bad news brothers ...................

 

hm...how much would it cost to change the steering rack???

mine from PI, warranty only 20k. Think have to fork out from my own pocket for the change.

Anyway to prevent or prolong the steering rack lifespan?

 

less than 2 k =p ..i think...

 

It does not work for every case... u may be lucky enough to have less severe case of PS problem, but many cases, what you did is considered only the tip of the iceberg.

 

Hey everyone -

1) any updates on this? more people with the problem? Any solutions?

2) Can someone please describe their symptoms in detail?? I am having this but it is only intermittantly. Maybe every minute or two during a turn, does not seem to vary by vehicle speed. My alternator and battery are pretty new and fine. I have a 2004 MT.

3) So far what have been the solutions? has anyone else fixed this by cleaning connectors? Is the problem with the connectors (and you can just replace those) or is it actually some problem with the rack itself, and the whole thing needs to be changed??

thanks so much....this just started 2 days ago and is worrying the **** out of me....