I noticed there wasn't one of these with pics so I figured I would make one.

1: Disconnect Neg battery terminal (just to be safe you will be working with Di- electric grease and electrical connections and no one likes to get shocked!)

2: Remove the air intake box

3: You will need connector cleaner and di-electric grease

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317489747


4: Locate the two connectors under the coolant reservoir, clean them, allow to dry, apply di-electric grease

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177

5: Locate the white connector on the battery harness, clean like step 4

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490177

 

6: Under the ac pulley there is a grey connector I believe this is the torque sensor, clean like step 4


https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490903

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490903

7: Directly under the main pulley is the power steering motor, with a connector on it. It is a lot easier to remove the connector with the Zip tie removed, so have a replacement available. Clean like step 4


https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490903

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1317490903

If these steps don't fix your power steering issues you more than likely will have to replace the harness.
There are two part numbers I found, F151-67-SH0A, and F151-67-SH0B, not sure which one is better

 

Thanks for that DIY. Maybe useful someday when needed.

 

This was very useful to me as my power steering went out a couple of weeks ago. I followed this guide and as of now everything is working fine. So thanks a lot for this.

 

Agreed. I forgot to post a thank you when my power steering went out. I followed this DIY and added a longer hose from the coolant overflow and I have been trouble-free.

 

Thanks for the guide

 

how hard would this be to do for a complete novice? my knowledge of cars is as low as it can possibly get :S

 

Easy man, the hard part for a noob would be getting the intake box out without breaking it but look for the DIY on that or the video for it on youtube.

 

Don't forget to extend the coolant overflow hose to exit at a point lower than the connectors. Coolant blowing out onto these things is a likely cause of the corrosion problems in the first place.

 

Thanks for quick reply guys, i drove the shop this morning only about 1.5 miles the power steering was still out, went an bought some shopping and when i got back in the light had gone off and the steering was back :S i have only had the car 3 days today it was my dads but it had been left on his path for about 6 months doing nothing so i had i bit of trouble getting the battery back to life it cost nearly as much in petrol to charge it as it would have to buy a new battery, a lot more fun though:P do you think this could be the electrics getting used to being used again or a faulty/ loose wire? he had had a £400 service done on it with lots of things changed on it before it was left on the path any ideas?

 

Hi I lifted up my intake box to check if i could do it watched a video on youtube seem easy enough after i put it back the power steering came back so was happy but then after about 2 miles my car has lost its power and started smoking i could smell a bad burning smell also the petrol gage went from 1/4 to 1 notch above empty no idea what has gone wrong but am not getting back in it it sounds awful and drives even worse i cant think what as gone wrong as i was careful and checked everything went back the way it was any ideas?

 

power steering light pops up this morning....jumped right on rx-8 site....and found this great thread....followed the simple instructions..cleaned up the connectors..and BANG...everything back to normal....thumbs up...n thanx for sharing the info Tampa1strotor....

 

this fix worked for me as well....for exactly one week. Then it started acting up on me again. Ordering a new harness today.

 

just for the record cleaning will work as long as your connectors has seen coolant for short period of time and you already reroute everything.

i dont even bother to clean mine, cuz it has been soak in coolant for too long. i got a replacement already and will replace it when i have the time.

 

Got this prOblem sorted 1 of the ignition coils had blow, still don't have my power steering fixed it comes and goes which is annoying

 

Hi pal how much was the new part an where did u get it from?

 

When I replaced the harness on my first 8, it cost 97 Canadian. Within 30 minutes, I had it changed out.

 

I replaced my harness after cleaning the connector fix only lasted for one week. Well the new harness fixed the problem for exactly six days. This time I took a yard stick and poked the connectors a few times and its worked great now for 10 days so far and counting. So I have had a longer period of relief from my power steering ailment by poking the connectors with a stick than I have by either cleaning them or replacing the harness, lol. If it starts acting up again I will solder the connection and delete it.

 

Sigh...so nice to have power steering again.

 

Thank you, thank you, and thank you! After replacing my radiator for a Koyo aluminum one (http://www.koyoradracing.com/), and the resevoir with its faulty sensor, and subsequently overfilling it and flooding everything, I lost my PS intermittently. After following this post and advice all is well now. Oh, BTW, did i say "thank you!"

 

I tried this today, but I didn't trust myself so I didn't finish the job.

I cleaned the two big grey connectors and put some grease (I don't even know if I did that right) but couldn't disconnect the white connector or the torque sensor connector. Didn't even bother with the power steering motor connector.

Needless to say, it didn't fix my problem.

I guess I'll try again some other day with a friend that's not handicapped like me lol

 

thank you very much !!!!! my problem is resolved !!! thanks :P

 

This fixed my problem! Thank you for the write up, now the question is how long will it last?!

 

I cleaned like you said but I also close the terminals for better contact because I already had problems with the terminals in the fuse box next to the engine. I closed all the terminals and my problem was solved. you could also add a copper-based grease.

 

I need to do this again since I had a MAZDA reman'-engine installed, my EPS acted up at least twice this week...