Driving with no power steering
 

So, my power steering has been going on and off since as long as I can remember, did all the cleaning I could do to all the connecters. I refuse to replace anything because I've already read about members spending so much off warranty for parts just to have it go off again, sounds weird but I feel more secure when its not working, and i actually got so used to it, that when it comes back on it almost feels weird not having to try so hard to turn the wheel lol. But if I do fix it there's that fear it might stop working again especially while driving at high speeds...My question is, is there anything wrong with driving without power steering? Will my car get damaged in any way?

Nothing wrong with driving without power steering, I did that for three months two years ago before I finally cleaned the harness and all connections; parallel parking and slow cruising will be a bitch, though!

As far as damages to the steering rack? I don't know if it will cause any due to stress having no EPS :dunno:

Kinda like driving those older vehicles without power steering...very hard!

I would expect that forcing the electric motors to turn without power running through them will accelerate their wear, though to what degree I have no idea.

Got so used to all kinds of parking without power steering u would be suprised. Lol sucks tho..that's just what I was thinking... I haven't had any issues so far tho. Doesn't mean something isn't happening.

And if the electric motors get damaged, having the EPS working again after long periods of wear that the stress caused would probably not make a difference (may be a little) to the feel on steering.

Addendum: OP, I just saw that you are in Whittier. You should check the SoCal/South Bay RX-8 discussion thread, may be someone near by could lend you a hand, I'm in Sherman Oaks just north of Westwood/Beverly Hills.

Ill keep an update if something goes wrong, if anybody else has any input, by all means...meantime thanks for the quick replies....

Well I've actually attempted to talk to people around my area, and I've had no luck. Dunno what's up with that. But thanks for the suggestion. Might make it out to the every 3rd saturday of the month meeting over here in hacienda heights at the mazda dealership. Just gotta get sometime off work.

It will put extra stress on the shaft coupler.Not sure if it's designed for prolonged periods of no power assist.

if the power steering works when you start the car it is almost guaranteed to work throughout the drive cycle. mine does the same thing as i haven't had time to try and repin the connectors but i have never had it go out after it was working when i start the car.

most of the problems seem to stem from the battery connection at the battery itself or the large gauge connector off the side of the battery. a weak battery could also cause the system to fail to initialize correctly when cranking.

I can honestly say that I agree, as well. However, when I had the issue the connectivity cuts out whenever I hit a bump. What was causing it besides the common dirty harness connections? Loose negative(red) terminal clamp that has the EPS fuse. The clamp would twist around the battery terminal that a simple bump on the road will cause my EPS to turn off while driving.

I hate how there could be so many reasons for this issue, I envy those who have never had this problem. Karak and grace excel couldn't be more dead on with what I am going through, I'm about to get brand new terminals, mine don't hug so well and look worn, ill also look into the battery, I know everyone favors the optimas maybe one of those two could be the answer. If not, its back to the drawing board.

Same thing happened to me then it stopped working all together took it to mazda i still had a 3 month warranty on it ended up being the power steering module.

I've been fighting with this for the last couple months. I'm dropping it of tomorrow to have the rack replaced. Hopefully that clears it up.

Been driving mine with it out for about 2 months and I agree - I've grown used to it. I have same issue in that if it works when the car starts it works till I kill the engine. But it's pretty much just stopped completely. I've cleaned all the connectors with no luck. Mine is an 04' so it's long out of warranty. I only have 76K miles on the car though but I'm sure the power steering is not covered under the extended warranty they gave all us 04' guys. I'll check the battery connections and the couplings again.