Hi.

I startrd my 8 this afternoon and my power steering light was on and the steering was very stiff. It was on for about 5 minutes then it was fine after that. I know that 8's don't have a fluid reservoir. My 8 only has 19k and this is happening already?

Anyone came across this problem at such early milage?

I'm taking it to service Monday first thing.

Thanks for any comments!

PRmade

 

Have you had the battery dis-connected for any reason?

Check that the terminals are tight, the steering is very sensitive to loose connections....


S

 

Not that I did. Was in the serv. dept. about 3 weeks ago. replacing motor mounts and doing the flash thing.

 

Check the power steering connectors....especially if you have and radiator coolant come out of the overflow tube. It drips right on the connector. Follow that tube and you'll see the connector.

 

started happening to me as well. i bought an 03, 43k km, the car sat infront of the dudes house during winter, with battery taken out. when i bought it he put the batt back in, car started up, but PS light is on.... i disconnected and reconnected the torque sensor and PS module power cables, and still nothing. taking to Mazda next Tuesday

 

try cleaning out the PS connectors, theyre locate right under the airbox...pull em apart, clean it with some canned air, dab some anti-seize cream on the metal prongs and connect back together ...this happend to me too, got it fixed in 10 minutes and was on my way

see the thing is that the connector is right above the radiator, causing condensation to build up and get into the the metal prongs on the inside of the connector, makin them rust up, thus you dont get the right current running through it...clean it up and you should be fine

 

The RX-8 has electrical "graceful degradation" and one of the first things to go when marginal power is available is the electrically operated power steering (after all, you don't have to have power steering in this small light sprtscar). As others have said, check all power connections and the condition of your battery.

 

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

 

Finally Mazda figured out my PS problem. It was the PSM (Power Steering Module) was shot. Got a new one under warranty. Problem Fixed.

Thanks guys!