Weird Electrical Problem
 

Looking for help with an electrical problem I'm having with my 2004 rx-8. For the past couple months every now and then when turning the power to the car would cut out for a second and then come back. Even when parked and running if you turned the steering wheel it would cut power for a second or in some cases shut the car off all together. Today I hit a new snag with the problem where it drained the battery and I had to keep starting the car with a power pack. The new problem added today was that when I went to turn off the car it didnt cut power to it. Even with the key off and out of the ignition power stayed on and it kept clicking and the gauges were tweaking out. I finally got the car home cleaned off the crap on the battery terminals, checked inside under the steering column for any loose wires or clamps but found nothing. The only wire I moved was to the top of the steering column that looked like it might be pinched when moving the steering wheel up and down. After all that the car was back to normal, starting fine and no problems. Now its just sit and wait for it to happen again. Has anyone else had the same problems or any ideas on what it could be. I'm guessing its a loose connection some where in the steering column but have no idea where to start. any help would be greatly appreciated

Sounds like it was the wire you moved.

I would bring it into the dealer as it is dangerous.

You will break the plastic if you take apart the steering wheel.

They know exactly how to do it.

Sure does. That wire you moved(you say was pinched) may have had the conductors(the wires inside) actually break apart and the insulator(outside cover) is the only thing holding it together and sometimes allowing a connection and sometimes not.
Now that you've moved it, you say the car is acting normal, so you might get away with it.
FYI...moving the wire could have also make connection at the connector better as well and maybe it's not at the pinch location.



But...........if it shows up again, since it's really safety related, I'm not going to tell you what I would do, but I would suggest doing as Razz says and get to the dealer.