mannydrummer

Hello everyone I have a 2005 Mazda rx8 6 speed manual. So I have a problem that when I rev past 2000 Rpms my battery light comes on and the power steering light comes on and I lose my power steering.. We have a feeling it could be the alternator goin bad? Please help

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Follow these steps:

1) Disconnect the negative battery cable clamp
2) Disconnect the positive battery cable clamp
3) clean the corrosion from both clamps
4) clean the corrosion from both battery posts
5) Reconnect the positive battery cable
6) Reconnect the negative battery cable

See if your problem is gone.




This is typical of a corroding main ground since the power steering is pulling more power than anything else when driving, and an unstable current can cause issues.

mannydrummer

Thanks for th quick reply.
As a matter of fact I replaced the battery one week ago and took good care of wire brushing the positive and regative contacts.
The positive terminal is kinda pink after brushing and using a chemical that I purchased from autozone.
Anyway I cleaned everything thoroughly, added a shim for the positive terminal, otherwise there was no way to tighten the terminal.
Car starts fine but I rev steady at 2000, the battery indicator comes on and then the power steering goes hard followed with the PS light on the panel.
If I drive the car and I have to make a turn I have to do it on neutral so the steering will work.
In other words with low rpms the steering works.
On another unusual note, I measured the battery and on idle is at 15 volts and if I hold at 2000 rpms it shows close to 18 volts along with the failure described above.
If I shut of the engine then the battery reads 13.4 volts approximate.
It is like if the alternator is giving overvoltage to the entire vehicle.
Along with this problem my headlights burned.
Is there a regulator or everything is handled by the alternator?
Can the overvoltage make the electric steering fail this bad?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Ah, yes, if you are reading 18 volts at any point, that is definitely your alternator failing. I'd stop driving until the alternator is replaced. An alternator that is overcharging can fry LOTS of the electronics in the car. One guy had his alternator fry $4,000 worth of electronics, including ECU, ESM, powersteering, and the gauge cluster.

mannydrummer

Thank u very much, we changed the alternator, problem solved!