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Power steering failure?

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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:02 AM
  #1  
Pink Flea's Avatar
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My <3 rotates.
 
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From: Norfolk, VA
Power steering failure?

This all started last week, the check engine light came on and the code was for the EGK valve? The radiator light will come on when I get over 65. I went out 2 dyas ago and the car would not turn over, I disconnected then reconnected the battery and got it to start, that afternoon the power steering failure light came on and I lost steering, I did the battery thing again and the steering was fine. It happened again yesterday and then the car started stalling out every time I stop. I tightened the alternator which was loose and tightened the connectors on the battery. Checked for a vaccum leak then reconnected the hoses, its not stalling anymore but the steering is still out. Im assuming my computer is going???? Any other suggestions on what would cause it to go out. I just think its odd all these random lights are going off within the past week all of a sudden. I have them all off now except for the steering.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:07 AM
  #2  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
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From: Planet Earth
Its probably electrical, there is a short somewhere in the harness.

I could happen, ask me how I know

and its a pain to track them ...
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:16 AM
  #3  
dozer's Avatar
on his 3rd rx8
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From: santa ana, ca
quick and easy fix...your power steering connector is under your airbox, right about the radiator

youll need some die-electric greas and a can of electronic duster...disconnect the connector and clean it with the duster, dab the grease on the two prongs, plug back in and it should work ...i have two good guy threads and thats what i did to fix the problem
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:26 AM
  #4  
Pink Flea's Avatar
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My <3 rotates.
 
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From: Norfolk, VA
Sweet, thanks, I will try that today when I get out of work. Funny you said its under the airbox. I probably knocked it loose or something. I was messing with the airbox a couple days ago :/
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:36 AM
  #5  
dozer's Avatar
on his 3rd rx8
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From: santa ana, ca
couldve been that...also the placement of it is right above the radiator, moisture can build up and and leak in there and start to corroded the metal prongs, thus not giving you a good connection
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:38 AM
  #6  
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From: New England
LOL Listen to nycgps, as he's had about every '8 problem it's possible to have. (j/k)

edit: similar thread today: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/pulling-out-my-hair-already-someone-help-177950/

Originally Posted by nycgps
Its probably electrical, there is a short somewhere in the harness.

I could happen, ask me how I know

and its a pain to track them ...

Last edited by Huey52; Jul 9, 2009 at 11:50 AM.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 01:30 PM
  #7  
Pink Flea's Avatar
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My <3 rotates.
 
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Norfolk, VA
So I went out on my lunch break and realized its under the bottom pan of the box??? I will have to wait til I have some tools with me to look at it.
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 01:31 PM
  #8  
dozer's Avatar
on his 3rd rx8
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From: santa ana, ca
yeah
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 02:25 PM
  #9  
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Out of NYC
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From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by Huey52
LOL Listen to nycgps, as he's had about every '8 problem it's possible to have. (j/k)

edit: similar thread today: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=177950
Whenever my friends try to call me out, I almost always reply them with this line

"I can't man, I am fixing my car"

and the next line will be :

" Fixing car? Again ? "

*shurgs*

about every '8 problem it's possible to have.
... well, I had probably 90% of the TSB done to my car ... even engine has been replaced ... Hmm, lets see ... I think Mazda has swapped about 40% of my car with new parts ...


Originally Posted by Pink Flea
Sweet, thanks, I will try that today when I get out of work. Funny you said its under the airbox. I probably knocked it loose or something. I was messing with the airbox a couple days ago :/
I thought u know about the P/S connector and clean it already ...
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 01:33 PM
  #10  
otakurx's Avatar
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From: Manchester,NH
Hey, just had mine fail on me today. No shaking or stuttering, in fact was working fine with 0 issues. I stopped to get gas turned car off for about 5mins and when I started back up power steering light came on. I did get it to work briefly by wiggling the harness off the battery but then it failed the next day. I've read several threads on the power steering rack and it would seem mine is simply the harness since the rack seemed to operate with out issue when it was working. We had a few days of up and down temps going above freezing (40*'s) and then below freezing at night (20*'s). This weekend I plan on tearing into it to look at the harness so I just want to know what to look for and if there are any tests that can be done while I have it apart.

I also heard mention of soldering some part?

I feel pretty confident that it's just the wiring since the wiring in my pass seat just went out, I can wiggle the wires and get my seat heater to work and airbag light to go out so that is also on the list for the weekend.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 01:43 PM
  #11  
expo1's Avatar
He's as bad as Can
 
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Manchester, NJ
Originally Posted by otakurx
I also heard mention of soldering some part?
That is mentioned in THIS thread.

After 139,000 miles I had this issue effect me. Went to start up the car last night and the steering light was on. It wasn't that bad driving with totally manual steering but with the help of this and other threads I was able to fix it by cleaning the contacts of the grey connectors in the attached photo. I wonder how much $$$ I have saved over the years on car repair using this forum.
Attached Thumbnails Power steering failure?-100_5425_900x600.shkl.jpg  
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Old Mar 12, 2010 | 04:02 PM
  #12  
rx8it's Avatar
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OMG!!!! This exact same thing is happening to me. Literally this past Tues. the 9th. same issue started to happen. Intermittent power steering failure and a "creeking" sound come from the from axle. I am not a mechanic or no way near one so how do I take the air box off?
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 06:44 AM
  #13  
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Charles Bundy
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From: Sherman Oaks, CA
I experienced seeing my radiator light on and the power steering harder to steer four months after I bought my 2004 RX-8. I replaced my radiator and tightened the power steering electrical connection at the same time six months ago. I still have the radiator light coming on when I accelerate, but that's due to the sensor in the reservoir. You need to disconnect and remove the battery and the air filter box to reach the harnesses. Once you've cleared the area, look over the space and it's the harness on the left directly below the inlet pipe that connects to the reservoir. You can fray and solder the wires together or nylon tie the harness tight, which I did with mine... Good Luck!

















Would you believe this, CALSONIC in a MAZDA? I thought they only made parts for NISSAN as I've seen it in 180SX/SILVIA's and SKYLINEs!








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