Mazda RX-8 steering wheel icon is on Dash Steering wheel hard to Turn electronic steering problem

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Help, above light went on last week and dealer tightened up two connections and all was well -- for a day. Light back on (& no steering ability) and it's back at the dealers. Dealer thinks it needs new "control box". Anyone else heard of this? Otherwise, car is a gem and I LOVE IT. Thanks, all.

UPDATE: dealer is ordering a power steering control computer module to the tune of $1056....this had better work.

Have you done a search on the EPS Problems.. Seems the major headache is the plug going down to the rack.. IE the Sensor tends to go bad...and need soldering to tighten it up. I went to the Dealer to diagnose mine and they recommended replacing both the main cable harness and the minor one that is used with the EPS. They quoted me only 3K. LOL

Tightening up may not be enough(wonder what is meant by that? did they squeeze the pins, bend the contacts???).

They should be pulled apart and cleaned really good. I would say that the majority of the time, this will solve the issue....but not always.
There have been some that have had to splice(bypass) the connectors all together. This of course only works if that is the issue and not with the module or the steering rack itself.

Some have also replaced the entire harness................but not sure if they had tried everything else first, or just chose to change it.

Unless still under warranty, it's really worth cleaning them really good yourself and making sure they are making good contact.

BTW.......when it is the connectors its' usually(I said usually) caused by the coolant overflow bottle overflow hose dripping down onto the connectors.
Reply

Now that we're into hotter weather and therefore potential coolant overflow, we're seeing more power steering failures due to the connectors being immediately below the overflow hose. As cited, ensure you clean and dry the connectors and usually it will be fine thereafter.

As a preventive measure many of us have extended the overflow hose.


I read MazdaManiac's posts on the EPS issue.. Real good info. (soldering the connector) (PLUG EPS Sensor) sorry Torque Sensor. On my Nightmare I have checked and cleaned and inspected all the wiring under the hood..ALL Good.The I Cluster is next. The local Dealership charged me 168 Bones to solder 3 wires ...But once I check the wiring under the dash...Then I will be thinking about the EPS Module being replaced or the Rack... my torque sensor ohm's out good. But it seems that the Dealership in Northen VA is trying to rip her off on a brand new EPS Module.

Just for some background on my RX-8 just got her in Jan...Bad Engine...but had Kevin at Rotory Ressurection rebuilt the engine...Great Job by the way. Only thing that does not work is the EPS and the Cruise Control. The dealership would not check the Cruise Control because they thought it was related....I thought they had procedures instead of just guessing.


I heard there was a way to reset the eps by stepping in the brakes while the battery is disconnected for about a minute and the reconnecting the battery? Is this true?






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