m108kos

recently bought an 04' rx8. it was involved in a deer hit. when it came in to my garage for repairs everything was working. now after the repair the power steering malfunction light is on. i scanned it with a SOLUS and ran the codes. it said to check connections and air bag module. any ideas? i had the battery disconnected for about a few days. i also had the left front wheel off. i put a MS CAI on too during the repair so when i had the stock airbox out i moved the tray and those connections were good. what other connections should i check? how about fuses? any suggestions are greatly appreciated. thanks

Outkast187

Does the tach work correctly?

ken-x8

I don't have any first hand experience with this, but I know there are various resets that have to be done after the battery is disconnected. Hopefully someone with specific knowledge will pipe up.

A title search for power steering light turned up half a dozen threads that may be useful. One talks about a PS connector under the airbox. Try that search and see if it leads anywhere.

Ken

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

turn on ign...turn wheel all the way left...then right....

Shut off ign..and restart car...DSC light should go off

Mazurfer

Connector for the power steering is kinda know to be a weak point. Might want to check that.
Go here http://smrmicro.com/rx8servicemanual/ and then down to number 8 and you'll see where the connector is.

RotaryFiend

It probably just needs to be reset by doing the turn all the way left then all the way right. It usually goes away after you drive it a little too.

Is the airbag light on too?

Mazurfer

What am I missing?
Where in his post did it say anything about the DCS/TCS being an issue?
That reset isn't going to help him if it's truly the power steering indicator.
True it needs the reset since he disconnected the battery, but that's just for the DCS/TCS.

m108kos

yes only the power steering light is on, i did however use that right to left reset to turn those lights off but the power steering remains on and i have no assist at all but i have not driven it yet outside the shop just in an out - first gear and reverse only.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

did you replace any of the modules...if you did they will need to be initialized.

You could have defective module, rack. wiring, etc...you will need to do a bit more sleuthing to figure out where to start

swoope

iTrader: (5)

check the connectors under the air box.

beers

Mazurfer

^+1.......that link I provided above will show you where to look.

m108kos

thanks guys im gonna start looking today.. will post later with results

dozer

iTrader: (3)

yeah you gotta check the connectors under the airbox....this happend to me once and i got rid of it right away, just clean out the connectors with ELECTRONIC CLEANER (canned air) then put i lil light bulb grease on the metal parts of the connector then connect back and there YOU GO! just like new...

m108kos

checked all connections and cleaned them......no luck. some more details that may help pinpoint- had the fusebox disconnected to edge fender, checked all fuses and all are good. did not replace any modules. cant get much more frustratingggggg

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

The CAN bus can have communication errors that require them to be re-initialized.

When they replaced the module in mine it was a bitch to get it talking to the iDS.

You may have to hook it up to the iDS and see if it can communicate before you can do much else. I'm not sure if there is a "ghetto" way to get it to relearn??

m108kos

took it to the local mazda dealer this morning around 9. still no word.

m108kos

dealer called and said they couldnt find the problem. my diagnostic scan says "faulty control module"

dozer

iTrader: (3)

are you sure you cleaned em out GOOD??? i had the same problem, and the dealership said they couldnt figure it out either, then i got a tip from one of the threads on here and i did it myself, and it workd just fine.....

m108kos

apparently i need the new eps module. they didnt give us a reason and it is not covered by warranty due to the accident but the insurance company is going to cover it. one thing i remember is when we disconnected the battery i heard a zap. could this have shorted out the module? that is what im leaning towards..

dozer

iTrader: (3)

^possibly.....imo i dont think you need anything besides a good cleaning, remember the connectors are right above the radiator, thus creating moisture and when moisture gets into the metal connector it start to rust over time....you get where im going with this?

m108kos

yeah 100%.. we did have to spray water under the hood to get most of the sand residue from the repairs off. and the airbox was removed including the tray.

m108kos

finally got the car back today and it does turn out that the dealer knew their business. the eps burnt up and with the replacement it functions perfectly. props to dean patterson of altoona, PA.

m108kos

the other day after i let my car sit in the sun for around a half hour after i had driven it for a while i went to start and the power steering was out wiht the light on again. i drove to my destination, popped the hood, and removes the 60A fuse for the EPS next to the battery. i also unplugged and re-connected the 2 connections to the bottom right of the EPS module. started it up - perfect. parked it for the night then the next morning after i drove it a little and shut it down it wouldnt work upon restart. pulled the fuse.. wiggled it.. played with those 2 wires.. good to go.. now its every time i shut it down i have to pull that fuse and wiggle the wires.. suggestions?

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/power-steering-failure-107481/

Welcome to the power steering failure club

m108kos

-incredible cleaning of connections with electric cleaner and then pressurized air
-some die-electric grease to the connection prongs
-new fuse

*took apart the fuse housing for the EPS (60A) and all its components and cleaned vigorously then added some grease.