Thanks to RIWWP
Sorry my english not so good,

Okay.

I have a used 2005 Rx8 with extended warranty coverage. Now this is my first rx8. Now she has caused a lot of issues and repairs but I am just loving that car too much. So on to my story:

2 days ago I came home from work, parked my car. Then on Thursday morning it was raining like mad. Now mind you I have taken this car through car washes and so forth and I never had issues. So I start my car, start to drive, and as I am driving and I am making a right turn, my freaking power steering dies. I lost control. It was unexpected. Thank god I was able to get it under control and avoid 3 little kids that were right in my path since the car just went to the right. I slammed on the brakes

So I called Mazda Canada and told them what had happen.

Do you know what they told me? "Oh thank god they are okay" and they said: "Sorry we cannot do anything for you," so I told them: "Please do not make any decisions on the behalf of vp of Mazda Canada. If I do not hear a call back, I will contact the media and release the police report, and inform the media that Mazda fails to relook into this power steering issue."

So he says: "Too bad, no," and that’s it.

Okay, so not even 10mins later I get a call back from him and he says: "My manager listened to the call," and says "Did you call the police?" I said: "Hell ya. You guys do a recall for the 2006 or 2007 mazdas and dont bother to do the same for rx8s." And then he said: "Please send us the police report"

So is this what it takes? Someone to die before Mazda really looks into this, or a police report? It is very sad.

So now my car is at the dealer. The rep calls and tells me that my power steering eps needs to be replaced since this was coming from the computer. He said something about 3 eps boxes or something, though I have no clue what he meant by 3 boxes. Hopefully someone can tell me what he is talking about Then he said: "Look I am going to clean all the posts as well." There are a few corroded wires coming from the power steering cable, so he wants to cut and rewire to see if that is the case before he has to change these 3 boxes, but now I am waiting on Mazda Canada to see what they will do since now the police are involved.

 

What does your "Extended coverage" cover? There are several mazda extended warrantys in the US, the ones that cover only a few major things and then ones that cover almost everything. Is it the same in canada?

 

First thought is:

Holy hell spelling and punctuation! That was painful to read.


2nd thought:
If you have an extended warranty that covers power steering then they should fix it without issue. If your "extended coverage" reference is for the 100,000 mile engine core warranty (the only factory warranty left for your car), then that DOES NOT cover power steering issues.

Power steering issues are common with our car, but not because of actual part failure. Those are actually fairly rare. Nearly all of our power steering issues are caused by the power steering connector getting dirty. In your case that corrosion is almost certainly the issue. Disconnect it, clean it thoroughly and/or rewire it properly, reconnect, reset the ECU, and you are probably going to be fine without any out of pocket cost.

3rd thought:
Why would you lose control from a power steering loss? The steering wheel still controls the direction of the turn. Don't let go of it?




And here is the editor's version for anyone else reading:
________________________________________________
Okay.

I have a used 2005 Rx8 with extended warranty coverage. Now this is my first rx8. Now she has caused a lot of issues and repairs but I am just loving that car too much. So on to my story:

2 days ago I came home from work, parked my car. Then on Thursday morning it was raining like mad. Now mind you I have taken this car through car washes and so forth and I never had issues. So I start my car, start to drive, and as I am driving and I am making a right turn, my freaking power steering dies. I lost control. It was unexpected. Thank god I was able to get it under control and avoid 3 little kids that were right in my path since the car just went to the right. I slammed on the brakes

So I called Mazda Canada and told them what had happen.

Do you know what they told me? "Oh thank god they are okay" and they said: "Sorry we cannot do anything for you," so I told them: "Please do not make any decisions on the behalf of vp of Mazda Canada. If I do not hear a call back, I will contact the media and release the police report, and inform the media that Mazda fails to relook into this power steering issue."

So he says: "Too bad, no," and that’s it.

Okay, so not even 10mins later I get a call back from him and he says: "My manager listened to the call," and says "Did you call the police?" I said: "Hell ya. You guys do a recall for the 2006 or 2007 mazdas and dont bother to do the same for rx8s." And then he said: "Please send us the police report"

So is this what it takes? Someone to die before Mazda really looks into this, or a police report? It is very sad.

So now my car is at the dealer. The rep calls and tells me that my power steering eps needs to be replaced since this was coming from the computer. He said something about 3 eps boxes or something, though I have no clue what he meant by 3 boxes. Hopefully someone can tell me what he is talking about Then he said: "Look I am going to clean all the posts as well." There are a few corroded wires coming from the power steering cable, so he wants to cut and rewire to see if that is the case before he has to change these 3 boxes, but now I am waiting on Mazda Canada to see what they will do since now the police are involved.

 

Have you previously relocated the over flow tube from the expansion tank ? Parts fail, nothing lasts for ever.

 

sorry my english is not that good, but thank you,
Yes my manufacturer warranty had ended on Sept of 2010 but when i bought the car i was offered extended warranty,

 

I would lay money that the wire corrosion is what caused your issue.

And Mazda doesn't warranty parts against corrosion.

 

I am hoping that is the issue, and hopefully they can fix my starter issue,
where it takes the car 5 secs to start, mind you that the starter is new

so when my tech advised to me that there is three ecp boxes that control my power steering and that it might need to be replaced does the ecp come in a kit or sold separately?

thanks

 

A long crank time with a new starter means either you have failing ignition or failing compression.

Possible an e-shaft position sensor dirty, but usually that issue shows up much more while driving.

 

Extreme, as RIWWP says, its more than likely the corrosion on the connectors, its an easy fix if you want to tackle it yourself.

 

Technically, there is only 1 EPS module (I think). I am fairly certain he was just referencing one of the 3 control modules. You don't want to have to pay out of pocket for one. They are expensive, and buried under the center console. Quite a bit of work to get to it. (If it's the one I'm thinking of from when I helped disassemble Zelse's wrecked 8)

If it's the one under the ECU, that is quite a bit easier labor, but still an expensive part. I believe over $1,000 USD.

 

okay thanks well i had my compression test a month ago i will ask for them to try another test for me thanks, if i put my old starter back on it starts fine weird, thats all

 

Compression won't change much in a month, so if you passed before, you are probably still fine.

It starts fine with your old starter? That makes it sound like your current one does have something wrong with it. Why not just switch back to the old one?

 

well i just got off the phone with my extened coverage company and they said
that they will cover it since it is part of the electronic control unit,

 

I will as soon as i receive my car back thanks for your help RIWWP

 

well my dealer callled this moring, to explain to me that my EPS module needs to be replaced
after my tech spent 4 hpurs cleaning and repairing everything. it comes down to this

 

So just an update looks like eps module was not the cause of my power steering issues.
Now they say its the rack and I have no clue becuase the dealer had no clue now i'm asking my self what
Could be the issue. The code was given was the same code for the eps what do you guys think

 

The wiring and connectors.

I'm standing by this diagnosis. We have quite a few stories of the same thing, where the dealer plays 'pick a part' with power steering components trying to fix it when all it ends up being is that blasted connector.

I wired mine solid, no connector, no problems. The other parts rarely fail. Possible, but rare.

 

Thanks from what my tech had said he cleaned up all my connections
So.I am.just wondering what is next.ill have the rack replaced but does the torque sensor come with the rack
As well I'll have the full wiring harness replaced hopefully that will help

 

If it's all under warranty, then sure, have them replace everything.



I'm still betting it's those wires/connector.

 

thanks again yes i have extended warranty

 

Have you checked your ignition coils?