Need some guidance please - I know the RX 8 has electrical power steering and mine is playing up!
I need to narrow down where the problem is so I can limit the cost of repairs by trying some of it myself (with mechanic son's help).
The steering has got noisy and goes clunk whir clunk etc while you are asking it to turn, additionally whenever starting to turn left just off centre it remains heavy then the assistance kicks in and it suddenly starts to turn easily. Now the assistance is faulting off (with warning light illuminated) - with it safely off, the rack is very heavy but is smooth and makes no noise. But...When I switch off and restart it resets itself and the faulty electrical assistance does it's usual noisy unstable job again until it fails completely and switches itself off again.
I'm picking that the electric motor that assists the rack is faulty because the rack works alright in "manual" (but heavy of course). I belive the rack has the electric motor bulit-in...so if I purchase a rack from a car being wrecked or an aftermarket supplier, I should be "away laughing" - can anyone advise me - similar problems? or is my logic faulty??
Thanks in anticipation

Andrew

 

Apart from searching the threads on google. One way or another most of us have had that light come on and a loss of power steering. The fault is mostly due to a short overflow pipe out of the header tank. The outflow pipe is directly above one of the main harnesses from the electrical steering system.

Pull out your intake box and on the right side and you'll see it. I just cleaned it and sprayed a bit of dielectric grease on the connectors, and extend the hose past the connector.

Hope that helps.