Enzr

Power steering started out intermittent and finally stayed off, I know how to fix it(read about it anyway), my question is it ok to leave it off without harming anything..I'm accustomed to hydrolic based systems and it will kill a gearbox if you got no fluid, but electronic sounds logical it would be ok without it..but still wanted to ask, Ive never been a fan of power steering...
And so far the steering is awesome without it.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

You will get tired of this car without it very quickly. Lots of caster makes for a tough slog

Enzr

It's my first rotary, I picked it up with 500 miles on rebuild and everything(literally) fuse box hoses radiator, you name it it's new, wheels and tires, coil over suspension catalytic converter...fuel pump...it's a brand new car..$4500

I've had it for 5 months now and researched all the qwirks, common issues, everything I could find...and I can't imagine ever going back to a piston engine car lol...I've had faster cars 600hp being fastest...but there's no driving experience like it...I've ever had and I've owned and driven hundreds I liked some my other cars, but I love this car...rant over lol..

loit won't kill me to fix it, not a deal breaker...jwas just curious if I needed to...and by your response I suppose so.thank you
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MincVinyl

You try just hard wiring the 3 wires that run up the center of the radiator fan shroud? Takes less than an hour to just cut out the connector, crimp, and weather protect.

Even if you get continuity across the connector the power steering can have issues if it ever has any hiccups.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

I would diagnose it and fix it properly. Its not a fun car to drive with no power steering.

Also, imagine you're put having some fun and you're working the steering wheel through a corner and the power steering system decides to kick back in.. the extra effort that you're used to putting in could cause you to accidentally oversteer the wheel if the EPS comes back online and could get you in a dangerous situation.

CaymanRotary

I drove an RX8 with no EPS for over a year. It's perfectly fine to drive, but parking really sucks! If you are worried about it kicking back in, just disconnect the wires in the picture Minc put up.

EPS seems to be one of the most common issues this car has. Almost 60% of the RX8's I've seen or owned, has had to have the power steering rack replaced. It's frightening how common it is and definitely a flaw this car has.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

The rack or those power connections? Replacing the whole rack might be a bit overkill? I'd at least take the 20 minutes to clean and protect those connectors, might be all it needs.

CaymanRotary

Worth a shot but it may not work. If it doesn't, you could try a new EPS module located under the ECU. Generally though, it requires replacing the rack and pinion to properly fix. There is no way to service the torque sensor and when it goes out, only a new rack can fix it.

MincVinyl

If it appears to sometimes work, and then go out for weeks on end then there is a good chance it is just the connector. Again even if you get continuity across the connector it may still be bad enough that the edu module freaks out as mine did.

note: say it is the connectors and PS starts working again, it may take a while for the Left and Right turning to equal out. I just did tight figure 8s in a parking lot for a little bit to make it equal out.