Power steering out again...
 

Yeah so I take the car in a couple of weeks ago because the p/s was inop. The dealer first tells me it's the p/s module, they order and replace it and that doesn't fix the problem. They then order a new rack. I had p/s for about a week and a half and yesterday I get this weird feeling in the steering wheel. It takes no effort at all to turn left but it is barely assisting on the right hand turns. When I say barely any effort it was at full assist on left handers.

I turn the car off to get gas and start it back up only to have no p/s again.

WTF???? The last time they fixed it they said that my lowering springs caused the rack to fail. B/S is what I call now.

Any ideas what could cause this. Anyone else had power steering issues?

My p/s went out as part of the DSC/TCS failure. Mazda replaced the DSC/TCS control unit and the problem has never recurred (8k mi ago). Never had an explanation as to why the p/s went out as a result of the control unit failure other than the tech figured the PCM freaked out and shut down the p/s.

Do you have DSC? Have you reset the steering angle sensor?

I haven't tried that yet. How do you do it?

Yes I do have DSC/TCS also.

I had the same symptoms when the torque sensor connector became loose.

To reset the ECU turn the key to the run position without starting the car. Then press the brake 10-15 times real fast, you should see the oil guage sweep.

Have the dealer check the connection near the radiator support. There is a splice in harness to fix this issue.

They will need to call the tech-line to get it shipped out to them

Clyde

That's the ecu, not the steering angle sensor.

To reset the steering angle sensor, turn the ignition on without starting. Turn the wheel full left to the stop and then full right to the stop. I don't recall, but the DSC symbol might flash a couple of times when completed. Recommend doing this on painted surface.

It's in the owners manual!

Hmmm, I have done this before then at a car show when the p/s light came on. It recalibrated. But it's good to hear that there may be other issues that went unchecked.

do what clyde said. i just heard a "rumour" about this the yesterday and was looking for this thread. there might be a wire harness "extension" that fixes an issue with the harnees and/or sensor- but they have to call the tech line for it. have that checked

Mine was exactly the same. Wheel felt funny while driving. I slowed down and noticed easy left and hard right. I turned the car off and restarted and the P/S would fail initialization and stay off all together. Then days later I might get P/S back but it would fail in the same manner. The failed connector was under the air box near the radiator. If it's not the connector in your case I would strongley suggest looking at the torque sensor circuit (i.e harness issue :( ).

thats it exactly ^^ wish we had heard of the issue already when you had your turn dosdog.

SHOWOFF: What code did the orig EPS throw?
Was it:
B1318 Battery Power Supply
B1342 EPS Control Module
B2141 EPS System (Neutral setting not performed)
B2278 Torque Sensor

My Rx-8 was just in for the EPS light coming on and it threw the B1342, so they checked the connection and then gave it back to me. The light came on again and threw the same code. They replaced the PCM (steering control computer) and then gave it back to me which still didn't work.
The light came on again and I just had it in today and as it turns out they are ordering a wiring harness for me. They detected a short to the torque sensor this time (after properly doing the diagnostic tests from the manual)
Basically, see what code is thrown then tell the service manager to troubleshoot it properly. The troubleshooting for the codes are located on pages 37-56 of the steering section of the manual.


P.S. - The lowering spring excuse is complete BS!
Hope this helps.

First of all sorry to reply to a 8 year old thread.

Yesterday I went to the bank to Withdraw some cash when i got there I pull the hand break on my 2004 rx8 and it popped like if it reset back to the bottom??? so I was like okaaayyyy.... And pulled it again nd it was fine??? I then turn off my car go inside the bank take out my cash then i turn on the car and when backing off my P/S locks...? So AAA arrives and the guy says "ah you just need to add some power steering oil" and i told him yeah it looks like it but i don't know where to add it... So he asks if I still want it toad, so I said yes... After reading this thread and figuring its an electric power sterring system and wishing not to pay 8k like the above "amigo" I went this morning to my car and the P/S light was lighting up so did the owners manual reset: with turning on the ignition but not turning on the car and turning the steering wheel all the way to the left then all the way to the right and i turn on my car and the light went away... :yelrotflm :bowdown:

Now to some explanation I just replaced my ratiator a few weeks ago during the Christmas weekend. It was leaking from the top nipple so it had to be reaplaced. I'm assuming coolant went into the plug-ins and caused the light to come up so I have to go back and clean those censors/ plug-ins.

So for now the reset worked for me. So guys please try this before taking it to the dealer... I also need to go back to read the owners manual to figure out what causes this... Or maybe one of you guys can help me out... Hope i wont have to replace the computer or something expensive.... If the light pops back on...:fingersx:

^.................yeah, most of the time it's actually coolant dripping on the power steering connectors. Do a search and you will find many a thread about it. Most of us have extended that overflow hose past the connectors. I have mine all the way down and just varely sticking out the slot in the undertray.

After reseting the P/S yesterday I was going to clean the connectors but decided to check first if the light came back up so I tun on my car to check and I had to wait until it warm up. After warming up a bit I took it for a ride and it was fine so I parked it in reverse to clean the connectors when it cooled down. So I turn off the car and I said hmmm let me check if the light doesnt come back on so I turn the car on again and No light:yelrotflmso I was ready to walk back in when I see my car parked a bit off so my neighbor would have trouble parking so I turn the car back on to move it and the light was ON AGAIN!:tear: I turn it off did the reset once againg and the light went away.

So now I'm waiting for my friend to help me remove the intake to clean the connectors and see if that works. If he doesn't come in later today I will have to do it alone tomorrow morning. It was a Biatch removing it last time we changed the radiator.

I still have't checked the fuse to see if it's going bad. I wouldn't want to take it in to the dealer and have them screw me over... I still have faith it's the connectors from the radiator leak or the over flow I had after changing the radiator. But if cleaning the connectors doesn't work I think I won't have another choice... unless I swap the P/S module myself?

By the way does the P/S light that comes up gives us a code to diagnose what's the problem when the light is on?

sorry to bring back an old thread, again.

im having the B1318 code, i tired both resets and my car wont even attempt to turn over. seems like there is no power from the battery, but the battery is new. i hear this clicking sound and my radio display of mazda goes off then back on. i looked up the possible outcomes and have tried a few. also looked up what others have said but this issue, doesnt seem power steering related. before this my old bettery was showing low voltage, 6.6-9 volts as i was driving home from work. so i figured losing Ps would be because lack of power. any help would be great!

Sounds like your alternator is shot.

6.6 volts will kill a battery real quick.