ahzr2

I recently developed a steering issue that I don’t believe to be linked to the common intermittent connector issue. As I turn the wheel to either direction there are 3 or so “bumps” or hard spots before lock where it is difficult to keep turning the wheel. They occur again in the same places in the rotation as I return the wheel to center. They feel almost as though power steering is momentarily stopping at these spots. If I am moving with the wheel turned past one of these “bumps” it will stop on it and not return to center. Any ideas on the cause? Bad Rack? Controller?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

I had a thread around here for that, but I don't know where it went.

If you have already replaced the extension harness (and had it soldered and the coolant line rerouted), it is a failure in the torque sensor on the power steering rack.
Get under the driver's side, unbolt the steering column (mark the splined location so you can put it together correctly) and remove the 3 10mm bolts that hold the sensor coil to the rack.
Shoot the whole thing with a ton of electronic parts cleaner (the cap and the rack and the connector - everything) then spray it all down with lithium grease and reassemble it.

szym0n

My car did this in the morning, It was warming up and when i jumped in to drive off I turned the wheel right and it beeped and moved back byitself, turned left beeped and went right...So i kept turning and would keep doing this so I turned car off and than back on and it fixed. Also my dsc and tsc lights were both going off when the beep would go on.

Any suggestions? Would like to know what to do if the problem dosen't go away.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

^try putting your car in the ON position, and turn the steering wheel all the way to the left then all the way to the right then back to the middle, and make sure your battery connections arent loose

RotaryTherapy

iTrader: (1)

Where can I get the torque sensor ? Should it be replaced ? My buddy's '04 just measured a little over 5 ohms of resistance. Specs are 12-15 ..

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

It is not available as a separate part - you can only get the complete steering rack.
A junk yard may be willing to sell you just the sensor.

Did you check the value across the sensor AND the harness?

RotaryTherapy

iTrader: (1)

No. Only checked the sensor, I'll check the harness as well. Thanks. If the issue still persists after dozing it in electric cleaner, I think he'll have to get a complete steering rack which I dont believe will be necessary. (crosses fingers*)
Any other tips or suggestions other than the splicing of connectors and electric cleaner ?