jakefish

So I know from searching, this topic has been discussed at length, but I can't find anything that matches up with my situation. The car has been in my garage for just over a year as I have not until recently had time to work on it. So about a month ago I got all the mechanical and suspension issues worked out and the car is running great. The last thing I had to do before getting state and emissions testing done was to get new tires. So I put the car on jack stands and removed all 4 wheels. When I put the wheels back on the power steering malfunction light was on. Now I started searching the forum and I tried cleaning all the connectors, tried putting the key to the on position and turning the wheel left to right. I checked the 60 amp fuse it was good. Checked and cleaned all earth ground, they were fine. Can't figure this one out, don't know how the power steering can go bad just from lifting the car to remove the wheels. The only thing I can think is maybe the alternator is getting weak and that kicked it out, but the alternator is still charging the battery. Any help would be greatly appreciated. So close to putting this car on the road until this came up.

johnwalter1044

Very interesting issue. I myself had no power steering when i bought my RX8.
I too tried cleaning the connectors, removing the connectors and connecting the wires directly.
Nothing. Lastly i replaced the power steering module and it worked.
I know it might not be related to your issue, but perhaps it could be the PS module went bad somehow?

CaymanRotary

Could be a few things that cause it but it sounds like you checked the major ones. I've had power steering issues in nearly all of my RX8s so I've also tried different things to fix them.

Have you also check the EPS module? Sometimes they can short out. You can also try to disconnect battery power and turn light on and let sit for a few minutes for the system to reset. Just taking off the wheels wont cause this problem. Something else must have gone out on you. Make sure you double check wiring, fuses and the module.

jakefish

Thanks for the replies, I haven't checked the eps module yet but I will. The things that go wrong with this car are almost comical. One day after I installed the new cat and o2 sensor me and a friend were standing in front of the car wathing it run. Then he said "Hey you're leaking oil." That was the time I replaced the cat and ended up replacing all the oil lines... I hope this one doesn't turn into replace the tires, swap out the rack and pinion.

Red line envy

Mine was resently acting up and I did the usual clean and grease connections. It worked but eventually went out again. Now about two weeks driving without steering. I was ready to solder the connections together straight but realized there is another connector right on the batt. Pop the black cover off the + side and there is another bolt and another connector in there so I removed sanded and greased and my steering came back. Glad I found that little hidden connection.

jakefish

Nice. I actually tried that one this morning, thought for sure I had found the problem because it was green and there was no continuity from the plug side to the fuse. Cleaned it up, checked it with a meter, thought, good to go. Put it back in, the malfunction light is still on.

jakefish

Checked and cleaned the connections at the eps module. I turned the lights on after disconnecting the battery just to make sure everything was drained. Put it back together. No effect, light is still on. This weekend when I get back home, I'm going to check continuity at the angle sensor. If my memory is right it should be between 12 and 15 ohms between the outer pins and the middle pin.

Does anyone know if there are any fuses in the fuse box that are for the eps system? I would think anything on there would affect traction control also.