Power Steering Failure
12-10-2011, 04:29 PM
#301
12-10-2011, 07:17 PM
#302
what i found that worked for me:
remove the plastic connectors from the terminals.
connect the terminals and with pliers etc squeeze them together so they fit very snugly
use shrink wrap and GOOD electrical tape to secure the connections etc.
then wrap the terminals/wires in a heavy foam and mount them loosely with plastic ties.
I was suspecting that the radiator fan harmonics/car vibrations where eventually loosening the terminal connection causing the eps to shut off. It only takes a small voltage spike/etc to do that.
Since I have done this--i have had NP. Until I added the foam--it would still happen.
OD
remove the plastic connectors from the terminals.
connect the terminals and with pliers etc squeeze them together so they fit very snugly
use shrink wrap and GOOD electrical tape to secure the connections etc.
then wrap the terminals/wires in a heavy foam and mount them loosely with plastic ties.
I was suspecting that the radiator fan harmonics/car vibrations where eventually loosening the terminal connection causing the eps to shut off. It only takes a small voltage spike/etc to do that.
Since I have done this--i have had NP. Until I added the foam--it would still happen.
OD
03-06-2012, 11:46 AM
#303
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was hoping someone might know the answer to this question:
the dealership removed the connector a few months ago and directly attached the 3 green wires together. my problems started back up a few months later and cleaning the various connectors didnt really help. I am now replacing the entire wiring harness before probably having to see if its the rack thats gone bad.
since the original female end of the connector is no longer on the car, how would i go about figuring out which of the 3 green wires attach to which ones?
this may be a dumb question. haha
the dealership removed the connector a few months ago and directly attached the 3 green wires together. my problems started back up a few months later and cleaning the various connectors didnt really help. I am now replacing the entire wiring harness before probably having to see if its the rack thats gone bad.
since the original female end of the connector is no longer on the car, how would i go about figuring out which of the 3 green wires attach to which ones?
this may be a dumb question. haha
Last edited by telfo; 03-06-2012 at 11:48 AM.
03-24-2012, 11:12 AM
#304
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Bleh, I once again have power steering issues.
Back in the fall I lost my power steering. After that, I extended the coolant overflow tube and inspected, cleaned, and greased all the power steering harness connectors. After that, I didn't have any issues up until a few days ago.
It seems to fail after I let the car sit for more than 6 hours. What's weird is that I will drive the car roughly .5 miles, stop and clear out the B2278 code with my AccessPort and restart it and it works just fine until the next time I let it sit for more than 6 hours.
I think I will once again inspect the harness and this time I'll zip-tie all the connectors together and see what that'll do. If that doesn't do it, I think I'll just buy a new harness as I believe mine is still the original.
Back in the fall I lost my power steering. After that, I extended the coolant overflow tube and inspected, cleaned, and greased all the power steering harness connectors. After that, I didn't have any issues up until a few days ago.
It seems to fail after I let the car sit for more than 6 hours. What's weird is that I will drive the car roughly .5 miles, stop and clear out the B2278 code with my AccessPort and restart it and it works just fine until the next time I let it sit for more than 6 hours.
I think I will once again inspect the harness and this time I'll zip-tie all the connectors together and see what that'll do. If that doesn't do it, I think I'll just buy a new harness as I believe mine is still the original.
04-12-2012, 10:46 AM
#305
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Hi all. After suffering the same fate, lastnight I cleaned all the connecters (including relay beside the pcm) and it worked. However, the steering is heavier on the left. It felt this way before the failure light came on. Any ideas?
04-12-2012, 10:55 AM
#306
yep! Its still not fixed. You will need to replace the harness.
04-12-2012, 01:45 PM
#307
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I would go a step further than that, and solder the terminals connections together, as well as soldering both crimped ends to the wire. That way, there will be no possibility of it ever disconnecting due to vibrations.
04-12-2012, 02:45 PM
#308
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06-09-2012, 07:02 AM
#309
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I was told to post this here...
I have an 04 RX8 that I recently got and the EPS hasn't worked since I got it. I have pulled the wire harness and checked that and it is clean and looks good so it's not that.
I am not getting power to the high tension plug located at the top of the radiator. I checked the EPS fuse at the battery and that is OK as well.
I OHMed the feed that comes off the fuse with the + side of the plug and have no continuity.
So where could I be loosing cont?? Also should the high tension plug have 12v constantly to it????
HELP!!??
Gappa is offline Report Post Edit/Delete Message
I have an 04 RX8 that I recently got and the EPS hasn't worked since I got it. I have pulled the wire harness and checked that and it is clean and looks good so it's not that.
I am not getting power to the high tension plug located at the top of the radiator. I checked the EPS fuse at the battery and that is OK as well.
I OHMed the feed that comes off the fuse with the + side of the plug and have no continuity.
So where could I be loosing cont?? Also should the high tension plug have 12v constantly to it????
HELP!!??
Gappa is offline Report Post Edit/Delete Message
06-13-2012, 12:55 AM
#316
Last edited by Grace_Excel; 06-13-2012 at 12:58 AM.
06-13-2012, 08:27 AM
#317
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thank you grace.. BTW van i'm sure we all know how to use google, it's sifting through all the search results till you find what you need.. some like grace seem to know EXACTLY where to point.. thx
07-22-2012, 03:51 PM
#321
Buckle Up. I'm trying it
It sounds like this problem is interrelated with the alternator, the DSC control, and the EPS. My power steering started going in and out only upon ignition. Now, as of last night the alternator has gone bad. Car won't start. I'm going to try to clean the connectors and get the alternator tested and hopefully that will fix both my loss of PS and the car not starting.
07-23-2012, 02:22 AM
#322
lynnie
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Power steering problems intermittent.
Hi, I'm a newby here. From Queensland, Australia. Not sure where I'm supposed to post. But here goes ...
I have an RX8, produced Dec 2004, one of the classics (radiant ebony colour with tan coloured leather seats). The power steering has been playing up when I first start the car in the morning. It is hard to steer and the steering wheel shudders and jumps. Once it has warmed up the car seems to be fine, even when I start it 5 hours later. At one stage I had a coolant overflow problem. My mechanic is saying rexy needs a new steering rack but I'm a bit doubtful and it's quite expensive. Any ideas? And any suggestions on where to buy the steering rack if it turns out that is the only option?
I have an RX8, produced Dec 2004, one of the classics (radiant ebony colour with tan coloured leather seats). The power steering has been playing up when I first start the car in the morning. It is hard to steer and the steering wheel shudders and jumps. Once it has warmed up the car seems to be fine, even when I start it 5 hours later. At one stage I had a coolant overflow problem. My mechanic is saying rexy needs a new steering rack but I'm a bit doubtful and it's quite expensive. Any ideas? And any suggestions on where to buy the steering rack if it turns out that is the only option?
07-23-2012, 02:25 AM
#323
lynnie
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@ Braden, one of the problems I've encountered with the RX8, and have been told by other owners that they had the same problem, is that if you drive the car for a very short distance, eg back it out of the garage then turn it off, you should FIRST give it a few strong revs to clear out any carbon build-up. I backed mine out of the garage and the next morning it wouldn't start, so I get RACQ driver assist and they couldn't fix it, so I had to have it towed to the Mazda dealership. Sheesh. Who would have thunk it?
07-24-2012, 04:39 AM
#324
Buckle Up. I'm trying it
Hey Australia,
So there is two common problems to this happening with the powersteering in your "rexy". One is that the power supply gets contminated and stops making a good connection. When that happens, the torque sensor and some other sensor dont like the irregular supply of power and the powersteering disengages. This especially will happen if your coolant boils over onto the the plugs, becuase they are right underneath the boil over tube. I just cleaned mine 2 days ago and my power steering started working great. I'd do that first. After cleaning them, leave it disconnected for a little while. I think it'll also reset the system. If it is engaged, but working poorly, you may have a different issue on your hands. shuddering usually would mean the rack itself is failing, but don't rule out the cheap options before you go to the expensive ones.
So there is two common problems to this happening with the powersteering in your "rexy". One is that the power supply gets contminated and stops making a good connection. When that happens, the torque sensor and some other sensor dont like the irregular supply of power and the powersteering disengages. This especially will happen if your coolant boils over onto the the plugs, becuase they are right underneath the boil over tube. I just cleaned mine 2 days ago and my power steering started working great. I'd do that first. After cleaning them, leave it disconnected for a little while. I think it'll also reset the system. If it is engaged, but working poorly, you may have a different issue on your hands. shuddering usually would mean the rack itself is failing, but don't rule out the cheap options before you go to the expensive ones.
