So here is the dilemma I am facing...

Everytime I accelerate pretty hard and turn the steering wheel to the right (making a 90 degree turn; stop sign, etc), my steering wheel grabs and sticks and I pretty much have to forcefully bring it back to center. After I do that, I am able to turn the wheel left perfectly fine, but it is very hard to turn the wheel right (almost as if the wheel is grabbed onto something and won't let go). With enough force, the wheel kind of (for a lack of better words) 'clicks' back to the right and everything is good to go. It feels as though my wheel sticks onto something and then when forced hard enough unattaches and comes free. I can hear clicking going on when I try and force it back to when it turns both ways freely.

When I turn to the right going slower to the right, the wheel is fine. It doesn't show these symptoms. It always happens when I punch it harder than normal and make a turn ONLY to the right.

EDIT [ADD]: I have looked in the wheel well as well and I can't seem to see anything that would be causing it to grab. It more feels like its in the steering rod/column that goes from the steering wheel to the engine/axle.

Anyone have any ideas? Feel free to ask questions I will try and describe it better. Thanks in advance

 

well, all I can think of is check the power steering fluid, other than that Id take it to the shop

 

I'm curious as to where to look for this.

 

I too seem to be missing the 'power steering fluid' option....

However, there are documented electrical connection issues with the steering rack : https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...r+steering+tsb

 

Yeah, the deal is though, no lights come on in the dash EVER!

The weirdest thing that is making me wonder so hard is that it only happens right off the bat in a cold car (well the times I have tried it) and when I take it decently hard from a stop into a right hand turn (of about 90 degrees). I'm confused.

 

If your alignment is sufficiently f'ed up, it's actually possible for it to exhibit that kind of oversteer behavior. You mentioned speed as a factor is the reason I'm zeroing in on aligment.

Hit a curb or anything? Did it only recently start to do this?

 

Here is the thing. And I bet this is the reason, but I'll let you know why I still have doubts as well. I got my car back from the body shop after an accident about 3 weeks ago. It's only done this since then. They performed all the work there, no frame damage (only accident to front), and did a 4-wheel alignment when done. Also, it does feel like an oversteer, but also doesn't feel like an oversteer. Like it feels like something is causing this to grab and oversteer. Not just an f'ed up alignment. You may know more about cars than I do and this could certainly sound like alignment still. I trust what you are saying.

Second question, should I take this back to the body shop who did my work, or take it by Mazda to take a look at it?

 

I would take it to Mazda, not mention the accident at first, and tell them of the problem to see if they can figure it out. If they come back at you for some reason and ASK if the car was in accident then say yes (tell them the story) and plead ignorance if they question why you didnt say that in the first place. At the very least you can find out what is wrong with it and may even get it fixed under warranty if they dont prod you.

Only reason i would do this is because if you tell them up front, they may say due to the car being in an accident and you getting the repairs done somewhere else, that they wont be liable to fix the problem under warranty.

As far as taking it back to the shop that performed the repairs.....#1 i would be surprised if they could find out what is wrong with it and #2 even if they did, it prob would have had nothing to do with the body work they did, hence cost you more $ to fix it, or #3 they may wonder why you have waited 3-4 weeks to bring it back, figuring you hit some major pot holes or fu**ed it up yourself somehow in the meantime.

Just what i would do. There may be a better avenue, idk.

 

Ok, here comes another little turn. After the body shop got done with the work, Mazda also saw my car for the accident as they replaced my engine caused by overheating (radiator was punctured in accident; coolant got into engine). This is the only Mazda dealership relatively close, but maybe since they worked on my engine and know of the accident, then they may know even better what caused this.

 

Check you caster settings. 5 degrees or more should be good. Go too low and the steering doesn't want to re-center itself.

 

just found my new sig