Power Steering problems - Water Damage. Please help
 

Ill make this post as short as possible.

On my commute today, I was forced to drive through deep water in a major highway (294 in Illinois).

The water was very deep, my guess is 8 inches + (It was above my foglights).

My car drove fine immediately after this terror for a few miles then out of nowhere my power steering stopped. The light came on the dash and the wheel became very difficult to turn.

I know these power steering motors are electric so my guess is it shorted out. Is there any fix? Do I need a new power steering motor Now? If so where do I get one?

Really disheartning considering I JUST got my RX8 back last night from my mechanic after its been sitting for a long time in need of a trans and diff.

12 hours later Im driving through a lake on the highway.

And my bumper has seen better days.

Any help with this issue would be great. I have no idea where the steering motor is even located or what Im looking at but if there's any connections I need to check for water or anything please let me know.

Im currently at work and I work at a dealership so if I receive some help relatively soon I may be able to crawl underneath and try to get my power steering on.

On a side note, I am grateful that this is the only damage my car received, I am very fortunate. Words cannot describe what my RX8 survived today......

It's probably just the connectors are wet, it's sort of a known issue......when the get really wet and or corrosion.
Give me a second and I'll link you up or show you a photo of it.


Okay.....here are the connectors you are after. You need to take out the air intake box(see 2nd pic) as they are down below that box.
Now, what you need to do is pull them apart(without breaking them) and get them really dry. Maybe then use some contact cleaner to get any crude off them, and after they are dry again, then put them back together making sure they click.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280001103


I'll now go find and actually picture of them, as I know there is one, but I gotta search.

Found it! I don't think Expo1 will mind.........here it is.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...2&d=1280001654

2 questions for you:

1) Can this wait until I get home to do? (30 miles) or will it mess things up more?

2) If this does not solve the issue, what's the next step?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

its pretty easy to get to tho. you just need a wrench and an hour, and some contact cleaner.
take out the airbox, remove the airbox tray and its right there.

No damage on the way home, just take it easy and becareful.

Actually, I'll bet you get it back once it dries off by itself and this could even be on the way home.

But................even if it does come back on and is functioning, you really still need to do this!
Take the time as Jason and I said, and get them clean and dry.


Just for the hell of it, take a look in the engine bay fuse box and make sure fuse #28 which is a 15A isn't blown, but if it was.....you'd have other issues as well.
You said you don't have any other problems right?

Only other problem is after the install my ABS and Trac control light are on (car with little squiggles). They didnt go off after a few drive cycles like normal after disconnecting and reconnecting a battery. We assumed they didnt connect a sensor correctly, we were going to tackle that issue next week.

Power steering was never an issue until after driving through the flood.

did you turn the steering wheel from left to right after reconnecting the battery? its a reset procedure.

Yeah, you need to turn the car on(but not start), then turn the wheel all the way to the right, then all the way to the left. Then turn the key off. Next time you start it up, you should be good to go. Remeber to not shut it off cold though!
If it doesn't go off after that proceedure, we need to know about it.

We attempted this procedure, no luck. I had my entire subframe replaced due to some pothole damage so more than likely, a sensor wasnt plugged back in OR a wire was accidentally cut.

BTW, you wouldnt happen to have a handy diagram of where those sensors or modules are would you :)

most likely your ABS sensors are not working properly. you probably dont have ABS too.

yea no abs/trac for now. It worked fine before the install, something was left out. We're tackling that issue next week.

And it looks like the power steering issue will be on that list as well.

I disconnected the connectors and they were dry and actually very clean on the inside, looked brand new. Took a detail brush and cleaned them up inside and out. Started the car, no power steering still.

Now that that's eliminated, any other thoughts/suggestions??

you checked all your fuses and relays right?

Yeah, with the new data, that's the next thing to check. You got a manual for your car? It will tell you which fuses(Engine Bay and Cabin) and relays(Engine Bay to check).
Check #10 in the Cabin(DSC) 7.5A
#7 in the Engine Bay(ABS/DSC) 60A
#13 in Engine Bay(DSC again!) 30A (some models)
#28 in the Engine Bay(Engine control system, Supplemental restraint system, ABS, Power steering) 15A
#34 in Engine Bay(Power Steering). 60A

If you do find one blown, especially related to power steering, you will still have to do that reset after replacement.

UPDATE!!

Took the car on 2 small drives after! First time the power steering worked for about 1/2 mile, then I stopped at 7/11, when I started the car up power steering worked for about a full mile.

an hour later, I took my brother for a quick spin and the power steering stayed on for about half the drive!!

I think whatever got wet is started to dry out, so we may be okay. It seems like time is healing the issue. My guess is itll be good by tomorrow if it follows this pattern.

I will definately keep everyone posted, and once again I appreciate the support from everyone!

UPDATE

Drove car to work this morning (70 mile commute one way). Power steering worked fine the entire time!!

However, lol, I went for a coffee run and it turned off just before I got back to work. So its still acting goofy but definately getting better.

Let's see how it does on the 70 mile trip back home this evening.