Car shutting off whening turning steering wheel...
 

Does anyone have the problem with the car shutting off or the power dies for a sec
when turning the steering wheel? Does not happen all the time but when it does some of the lights on the odometer comes back on like when starting the car. and radio shuts off for a sec and so does my radar detector.

If anyone has this problem or knows how to fix it please let me know. Thank you

Car has about 19000 miles on it. Also I got a the lastest reflash and have no mods to the car.

Man that's gonna be a tough one to troubleshoot. First thing I would check for would be some sort of electrical short. Does this happen when turning in the same direction or either direction? Does a CEL accompany the problem? I'll have a look at the shop manual to see if there is anything related to your problem.

EDIT: Here are a couple of pages from the shop manual related to intermittent problems with the Electric Power Steering. It may or may not relate to your problem, but it's a start for troubleshooting. In the end, you will likely have to take it in to the dealer to resolve the problem.

This is when the car is idling? Check your battery, it provides stored energy for the electrical system for when the alternator is not rotating enough to provide it.

If it is occurring while moving, I'd say stop driving it and tow it to the dealer :) .

You have a charging problem of some type. When you turn the wheel the car uses electricity to turn a motor that helps the front wheels turn. Sounds like the power draw from the steering might be choking out the ignition system. It could also be a faulty connection that is interrupting power. You need to take it to the dealer ASAP.

it happened when i started the car b4 after a cold start and about 2-3mins of warming it up and when i have driven it for a good 10 mins

well took my car to the dealer and they couldnt find the problem but they said the battery was only running at 50 amps instead of 500 amps so they changed it with a new one.

i took my car for a drive and seems to be doing good.

thanks to all who responded.

If his battery was replaced it does sound like he had some sort of electrical problem, but I'm not sure your statement about the electric motor is correct. I thought the power steering assist was hydrolic, not electrical.

I remember specifically thinking how odd it was to read/hear that the power steering and brakes used a common hydrolic system. Zoom44, Go48, am I wrong about this?

Ahem!

+1 for quick reply Go48. :)

But spell it for me - I'm a simple electrical engineer and nothing in that picture jumps out at me and says 'electric motor' or 'hydrolic pump'.

The steering on the 8 is electric, there is no hydrolic pump for the power steering, if there was you would see the fluid it requires in your manual.

Maybe this will help? Also, see my PM.

Well I'll have to add this one to my list of memorable mis-information. Some nitwit told me the reason there was no hydrolic pump for the power steering was because the power steering and power brake hydrolic systems were combined. I'll have to think about it - might have been a salesman so my bad for not checking it.

I've only had 28 days (~2800 miles) of driving my RX-8 since I purchased it so I'm still learning the car.

Sorry if I came across badly, didn't mean anything by it, and you are probably right salemen are usually the people that give out all the wrong information.

Now if they would have put an electric water pump on the engine, the only drag it would have had was the A/C and the alternator.

im sorry, but i had a chuckle on this one ... as the title of the document is ELECTRIC POWER STEERING .... :mdrmed:

Maybe the source of that information was confused since the brake and clutch hydraulics are combined. Always like to give someone the benefit of the doubt, eh? :mdrmed:

EDIT: BTW, I LOVE the Corning glass museum up there. Pretty spectacular. Hoping to get up that way for a race or two at the Glen next summer. Maybe I'll see you there.

I also have to chuckle about this one. "Electrical engineer," and "hydrolic" instead of hydraulic. :mdrmed: Sorry. I'm bored...