Unique Power Steering Situation
 

The other day I noticed my battery terminals were loose after getting a new battery (i was getting flickering dash lights while coming to a stop). I was getting ABS lights that would go away after a while. And so I went to autozone to get the charging system tested. I ended up getting a battery terminal shim and anti corrosion grease to put onto the terminal and shim.

After I started to drive, and then suddenly I had no powersteering. My instrument panel showed the powersteering, ABS, traction control warning lights and to top it off, the speedometer was reading 0.

I go home and take off the grease and make sure the negative is secure, but all the warning lights came back on, but now my speedometer works.

I got my cig port battery tester and noticed that with all the electronics on, I could press the brakes and the voltage would dip to 10V and sometimes goto 15V (for split seconds). However it usually held around 14.2V on average. So I replace my original alternator with a Mazda remanufactured one, but still had the warning lights.

It turns out I left a couple speed sensors loose when I reinstalled my coilovers. After tightening the sensors, the ABS and traction control lights went off and the speedometer works, but the EPS light remains! (I've already replaced the PS wiring harness a few years back)

Is there a way to "reset" the EPS system? Or is there a minimum miles to drive before it resets??

Unbolt your negative battery cable for 30 minutes, then reinstall and see if the problem comes back

Ok, I left it off for the day but still get that EPS light.

I should mention that I checked all the fuses (engine & driver side) and performed the "20 brake pedal" reset.

The light is a generic indicator. What actual code is it?

I have to goto the dealer for this code right?

The PCM logs and stores DTC codes for the EPS the same as any other problem.

Went to an Advance Auto Parts and they (Actron) couldn’t read any codes... so I guess to the dealership.

Do you have DTC and if so did you do the steering lock to steering lock reset procedure?

No DTC light, but I previously had already done the clockwise and counter clockwise reset. I also checked the fuses too...

I figured you would know all that, just avoiding assumptions

Any recommendations on what to do next? Dealership?

Without being there in person it’s hard for me to advise you on this. If you don’t have the tools and skill to go through everything in the service manual on your own, or know someone who can, then that would seem like your only option. That said, I never recommend or use a stealership myself. There’s a chance you might luck out and find someone that has a clue how to diagnose and correct it properly, but there’s no shortage of the opposite that will try to rob you blind while they waste hours of labor fumbling around in the dark and even misdiagnosing the problem resulting in multiple trips and trying to rack up charges (no pun in ntended :) ) each time too.

PS doesn't really trigger CEL, because it doesn't effect powertrain, it's just assist

with a proper scanner you should be able to tell if the ECU is at least seeing "some" signal from the PS rack

if u seeing some signal/feedback, the rack is bad, yep, it's bad

if u don't see a thing, check the wiring.

the front harness can cause funny issues as well. check that.

Define “proper scanner.”

search Mode 9 capable OBD2 scanner