sxe1215

(probably belongs in a differnt area but im taking a trip out of town tomorrow so its kinda urgent.)

Since around Christmas time my power steering has been failing, the light would come on very seldomly and it would be impossible to turn (i assume the whole system was out.) But generally turning the car off and back on would fix the problem and the light would go off. I know i shuold've had it looked at but i was out of town working and needed my car 7 days a week. As of yesterday when i started the car my light would come on and the power steering would be completely out, i tried turning it off and on and no luck. Today the problem still persists so i assume something has finally gone out. I've been doing some searches and such and found a few people with the same problem but no solution.

Anyone else had this happen? Anyone else have a solution (please God let it be cheap) I'm going out of town tomorrow and driving a car without power steering is a giant pain in the ***.

Any help/advice/solution is MUCH appriciated...Thanks!


edit: realized i spelled steering wrong in the title...im dumb

Mazurfer

There is a connector down below where the coolant bottle overflow would drip if it had overflowed. It's actually kinda below the airbox around the radiator. This connector(the pins) can get corroded or dirty and is USUALLY the issue. Not always, but it's worth a shot. Do what you have to do to get at that connector and get the terminals and pins clean, then make sure it's connected back real well. I'll see if I can locate a decent picture to show you where it is.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

+1 to Mazurfer, the PS connector can often be the culprit.
go to search
click advanced search
type power steering
search thread titles

Mazdamaniac has a thread on it with lots of good info.

Mazurfer

also...................since it isn't working at all now, you should also 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 check this fuse but I wouldn't replace if bad until AFTER you clean the contacts.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I have some good pics of this connection that I can post tonight when I get home if you haven't found any worthwhile ones by then.

disclaimer: cleaning the connection does not ALWAYS resolve the problem, some have ended up replacing the harness (as I did) but cleaning it out is a good start.

CyberPitz

I think this is the picture some people were referring to.

Mazurfer

True! But...............if cleaning does it, then I would xxtend your coolant overflow hose and get it down below the harness. I had some left over hose from doing a catch can install that I used and now my overflow hose runs just about straight out the bottom of the car.......just in case!
I believe that the EPS module detects if the resistance is too high(which can result from crappy contacts) and it will shut off the power steering. This can come from driving through high water, coolant overflow issues, or anything that might get the connector wet.

Mazurfer

Thanks Cyber........now I don't have to go pour through my saved electronic manuals and do the old cut and paste!

And I like the highlighting........that's cool!

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

^^^ ABSOLUTELY take a few minutes to extend that coolant overflow tank. You can get the hose at any auto parts store for a few bucks.
Cyber: thanks for posting that pic. I ended up having to remove my intake box for easy access to the harness.

sxe1215

awesome thanks guys, ill check all this when i get out of this class. *fingers crossed*

sxe1215

bad ***! cleaned those 2 connections out and its working just fine, took it for a test drive turned it off and on a few times, everything is great. Thanks guys!

CyberPitz

RX8club has saved the day, yet again!

db_8

thanks for reminding us why we love this club

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

nice team effort guys!
sxe: now don't forget about that coolant overflow hose...

@!!narotordo

new sig?

Razz1

good picture.

Mazurfer

When you said you were going to do it after class last night, I thought.....oh crap....he's gonna try this in the dark! Would be tough!

Glad you got it......I still recommend extending that overflow hose even though that may not have caused it this time!

dynamho

I love this forum.

Rotary Mike

I've read up on here about this issue ever since my power steering would cut out and on when turning. My steering would be jerky when making any sort of 90 degree turn.

So I decided tomorrow I would clean my two connectors. I thought I had better do a search to make sure I was looking for the right parts and bam! There is the golden picture.

Thanks guys, this site is great! Let's hope this cures the issue. I am sure itis corrosion since Toronto loves pouring salt all over the road in winter

Mazurfer

^.....more than likely. Try to use contact cleaner if available at all.

I would still extend the coolant overflow hose down below the power steering connector(s). Actually, I fed a new length of hose all the way down just behind the radiator but in front of the power steering motor(?) and in front of the sway bar. There is a slit in the under tray right down there, so just leave it sticking out of there a very little bit.

If you do decide to run this hose down there, make sure that you clear the fan blades on the fan. You can look down beside the coolant bottle and battery tray in between those and the intake box and see where to feed it. You can use one of the fan brackets to guide it and keep it out of the fan.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Good effort guys.

ZOOM-I-DO

Awesome job guys!! I think I will be checking out those connections this spring with all the rain we have had here in SoCal. After cleaning maybe cover connections with shrink tubing?

Mazurfer

Only problem I see here is that I doubt you will find a big enough piece to fit over the connectors, yet shrink up enough to be really tight. Any water that would possibly work it's way in there will sit for quite awhile, and could/would be worse. Guess you could plug up the ends or tape them......maybe use a small squirt of that expanding foam stuff in the ends of the tubing??????
I'm in Florida, and believe me it rains here a lot! I think you'd be okay if you extend the overflow hose and then just don't drive through deep water!

Rotary Mike

So, I sprayed the hell out of the two connectors with connector cleaner yesterday, let it dry and hooked it all back up.

I did a test drive and at first nothing had changed. However, after awhile (15 minutes?) the steering started to come back to normal and now everything is 100% fine.

Great help guys

Mazurfer

Probably wasn't totally dry when you put it back together? Hope it stays that way, but it makes me wonder if it's gonna show back up?
Some have had to go with a "new" harness and some others have opted to just cut the connectors out all together and solder wires directly. I'm not saying people should or shouldn't do that, just letting others know what has been done.