snkpkp

Ok guys there was a post about this some time back, but i think everyone is ready for this one now, I didnt quite think of this as a problem but cant igonore it. for the past 5000 miles (have 19000 total), and more so after changing my tires, sometimes when I start in the morning the steering wheel would turn on its OWN very fast anti clock wise without the wheel movement. and would shake for a second. then it would be very hard to steer for about 1 min, and then everything would be fine. The steering wheel doing jedi mind trick would come about once a week and the steering wheel hard for 1 min after start is everyday. I don not have a CEL nor do I have the Steering wheel sighn. no sighn of problem in high speed or sharp turns etc. Also my dealer here does not know jack about RX8 or EPS. So any idea guys? this is what i have worked on my car in the last 5000 miles

Change of Engine Mounts
Change Of tyres to 245/45/18 Yokohama AVS 100 i guess not sure
Change of Clutch + Pressure Plate

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

Seriously, you are in Bangladesh? That is rare, if not a first (here on this board, I have no idea if RX8s are rare in your country.)

I will admit that I dont know what our EPS looks like on the inside, so i dont know if what you are saying is even possible. I would suggest that you video tape what you are seeing, so that when you go to the dealer to get your power steering unit changed they wont give you crap.

In any case, I would suggest that you get that unit out before it fails on a hard, high-speed corner.

snkpkp

yea i am in Bangladesh, and yes RX8's are not that common probably about 40 of them in my city and which is basically only where most cars are lol. And NO official Mazda dealer here, suprisingly we have lexus, merc, bmw , bently etc dealers but not mazda. Anyway I am sure I wanna fiddle with the system unless it gives me a error code. There was someone last year in the forum saying the same problem , just wanted to check if anyone has this issue or not. But seems like its fairly uncommon.

snkpkp

ok now i am worried guys. I started the car this morning and after 3 mins of warm up (not enitrely warmed up) when i turned the steering to the left FINE, but when i tried turning to the right it was like as if it was jumping clocks or something and stiff = seemed no power when turning right while stationary. I pulled up the car and turned it was fine. NO problem drove around for 20 miles no problem. Left it at home went to work with another car , came back home started the car same thing turning right clunk clunk turning left fine, pull out the car everything is ok. No CEL or Steering wheel sign, and my dealer here knows jack cause they don know anything about the RX8 so ......... HELP!!!!!

snkpkp

Sorry for the new topic, wasnt getting much from the ghost in the EPS title. here goes again..

ok now i am worried guys. I started the car this morning and after 3 mins of warm up (not enitrely warmed up) when i turned the steering to the left FINE, but when i tried turning to the right it was like as if it was jumping clocks or something and stiff = seemed no power when turning right while stationary. I pulled up the car and turned it was fine. NO problem drove around for 20 miles no problem. Left it at home went to work with another car , came back home started the car same thing turning right clunk clunk turning left fine, pull out the car everything is ok. No CEL or Steering wheel sign, and my dealer here knows jack cause they don know anything about the RX8 so ......... HELP!!!!!

yiksing

Try recalibrating your Power Steering, if possible let the dealer do it under warranty. And don't start a thread just because noone replies, just "BUMP" the existing thread.

snkpkp

sorry new to forums , how do you bump a thread?

snkpkp

Today morning at 9am. took my digital camera, set it at video. Went down to the car, turned REC on and started and VOALA, the wheel turned fully anti clock wise and shaked for a second as if it wants to go more to the lef. Got out and saw the wheels are TURNED also to the left. So my previous opinion was wrong, the steering wheel does turn but not without the wheels. No problem what so ever driving after vehicle is warmed up, steering hard to the right is still dodgy until vehicle fully warmed up and then everything is fine. NO error code. So i have two options take the car to the dealer with no error code and ask them to look at it or wait for the error code or something ....guys here don know much about RX8's so without an error code they would looking for a needle in a hay stack. And I also dont want to spin out on the highyway when i am doing 145km/h.

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

You aren't going to get a CEL. Ever. Check the list. There is nothing for steering. If your rear view mirror fell off or if your radio took a dump, you wouldnt get an error code for that either, yet the dealer should fix those under warrenty. What is your fixation with no CEL? Take the video to your dealer and show them. Dont wait for the issue to arise at the dealer. Tell them to replace the EPS. Dont leave until they do.

momo

Quote:

Originally Posted by yiksing

Try recalibrating your Power Steering, if possible let the dealer do it under warranty. And don't start a thread just because noone replies, just "BUMP" the existing thread.

Thats a problem, because there are no Mazda dealers in Bangladesh. How did you get your RX8 then? Hope you get it fixed.

irq5

It sounds to me like theres something wrong with either the sensor inside the steering column or with the electric motor that actually gives the power assistance.

The RX8 EPS system is built inside the actual steering column which assists in giving more feedback through the steering which is what most people complain about when if comes to power assistance (no feedback through the steering wheel). Anyway. There must be some form of pickup or sensor inside the steering column which is not working properly which would explain both the "steering all the way to the left" and "lack of power assistance to the right".

If the sensor was loose or something, and was causing it to pickup and you are steering to the left, that would cause the electric motor to provide assistance to the left and would cause the steering wheel and wheels to turn - remember that the wheels are connected directly to the steering wheel - if the steering wheel turns, the wheels turn. period.

This would also explain the lack of assistance to the right in that if it was only picking up left steering input, it would not provide assistance to the right or even worse you'd be fighting against the assistance that it is providing to the left.

I agree with carbonRX8 though - get it to the dealer and have them sort it out - I doubt there's anything you could do, or that we'd be able to help you with, that would fix it.

09Factor

The sensor is actually on the steering unit it self. If you remove the air box and look down under the air box platform and look at the steer unit you will see a sensor.

I'm not going to advise you to unhook and re-attach the connector. If you do make sure the car is in the OFF position.

Also the EPS relay is located under the ECU.
Sorry I don't have availble to post.

snkpkp

All your inputs are very helpful so thanks to all of your. to answer some of the questions, RX8's come to Bangladesh under grey market import. There are about 40 of them where I live. We have great technicians but almost none experienced with rotary and also most of them never saw an electric power steering system only hydralics. If can explain the scenario and advice them they can work on it. So to begin with I think I will advice to check all the connectors , then check the sensor connections. But what makes me confused that why does the problem only happen on cold start and NEVER after its warmed up. Also isnt there a sign with the steering wheel with a (i) next to it if the EPS malfunctions? The ECU is next to the battery right and under the ECU is the EPS relay? Where is the EPS controll board or controller? thabks for your support.

snkpkp

can anyone verify where is the torque sensor?
what is the way to calibrate the eps? not the DSC thing....
where is the location of the EPS power harness thing? someone mentioned the under the radiator or around it?