Ok, Something f-king weird happened tonight (Power steering related)
 

Story :

Nothing special, every weekend I usually just drive to my gf's place, leave the car there, and drive the Mazda3 to go around(city roads are too shitty) and when Im done for the night. I usually park the Mazda3 back into her garage and drive my 8 home(oh yeah)

but tonight, something never before heard/seen happen.

Im 10 feet away from home, trying to park in front of my garage. when I try to turn my steering wheel it seems that it will drain whole car's power !! up to the point that every light dimmed and engine about to die off. I was like wtf just happened and stopped.

Then I try to steer slowly, its still happening(because the P/S unit draw max power at low speed)

I totally freaked out

I guess Im lucky this shit happen in front of my own garage, so I went in and grab the Multi Meter, I thought my Alternator is defective (cuz its new 130 AMP unit from Advance Japan, installed couple months ago),I hook it up and its pumping juice at 14.2-.14.4 at idle, that sounds alright.

I hope back into the car, try to "touch" the steering wheel again, as soon as I try to "move" it, lights dimmed if I move too much, it will kill the radio (shut down due to low power) and gauges (power cycling)

I was like W@)*#!)@##@)E)U#@!$*

Then I shut the car off ...

I said to myself "ok, what the FUXK is going on? I guess I am lucky this shit happens right in front of my doors, if it happens on my way home Im pretty much fucked."

I was pissed and about to move my ass out of the driver's seat, I decided that "Why don't I just start it again and see what happens?"

*crank* ---- Restart ---- *zooommmmmm*

Ok, *steer* *steer* ...

the problem disappeared ! no matter what the I did.



Anybody got any idea what could've cause this? I mean hmm my power steering has been "acting up" lately.

Any below 35 degrees cold start, the steering wheel shakes as I try to turn it.

it stop shaking after its "warm up" I think.

...

ok I am confused, mad, whatever.

Battery 's power is at 12.63 when the engine is off, so I guess the Alternator works fine, and I have Gauges that draw a bit of power so it sounds about right.

Ideas anybody? PS rack going bad? PS wiring dead? PS unit going nuts ? Alternator can't take load ?

Argh.

sounds like an offshoot of the power steering issue people have had before.

really? so is it the wire going bad or the rack is going bad ?

I never seen anyone had this issue before (or maybe Im blind and missed the post)

Likely the rack i'm afraid :(..........

If this ever happens far from home couldn't you just unplug the motor or pull its fuse?

You'd think the extreme draw in energy would pop a fuse. There's got to be a fuse... right?

I can test the rack(torque sensor) tomorrow morning, just pull the airbox out and I should be able to see it ... I forgot.

I think it draws power directly at the battery with a 60A fuse ? (correct me if wrong)

grrrr :(

okie, took the stuff apart, cleaned both connectors, let it sit for a bit, reconnect, and clean the MAF when its raining outside :(

hmm. plug everything back, start, so far so good.

Will keep an eye on this in the upcoming days ....

PS does draw a lot of current when the car is just idling. my S2 would dim the lights a little when just turning the wheel when idling.