Power steering problems! gets super stiff when driving in higher rpm range

mx6marc · 6-27-08, 17:45

so i've been having this problem for years and its finally bothered me enough to fix it

basically the power steering gets super stiff (stiffer then no power steering at all lol) when i drive the car semi-hard (4500 rpm and up) and it doesnt become soft again for alteast a couple of minutes. also it only seems to happen when i go full throttle.

after doing some research i found that mx6's and rx7's use adtaptive powersteering where it will get stiffer as vehicle speed increases and softer when you slow down. i tried the local mazda dealership, but when i spoke with there technicians they had no idea the mx6 even came with this feature, when they checked the shop manual for our car it was in there but they also said that they would have to charge me diagnostics fees just to locate the problem and they wouldn't let me look at the shop manual

now i've already tried bleeding the powersteering rack but it made no difference.

has anyone else experienced this? is there another powersteering rack i can swap in that doesnt have this feature?

any help would be awsome cause i wanna take my 6 to the autocross but if i cant steer it'll be a gong show lol

**Chefsp0t** · 6-27-08, 23:30

Mine does the same thing occasionally. It also seems to do it when I am driving the car pretty hard and taking corners.

I haven't had a chance or the extra cash to get it checked out yet. For now I just baby the car most of the time. I've got creaks, rattles, and clunks coming from my front end at slow speeds. My car probably needs pretty much everything in the front end replaced.

mx6marc · 6-28-08, 23:44

ouch sounds like exactly the same problem!

**RisenDevilz'6** · 6-29-08, 1:35

If you plan on autocrossing or tracking the car.. get rid of p.s. altogether. I have the same problem too and am about to bypass it because I circuit race quite often.
Its a fwd car so the bypass is not much noticeable once its moving.

**jarnold** · 7-1-08, 13:26

Maybe the belt is slipping? But I am sure you ahve already checked that.

Alternative: Get some weights and get those pencil neck arms built up! LOL!

mx6marc · 7-1-08, 13:51

yah ive checked the belt and replaced it too

lol its actually easier to steer with the power steering disconnected, by driving the car like this for so many years i now am built like donkey kong! no weight lifting required! lol

**Ryan** · 7-2-08, 0:07

I've expereinced this problem several times in the last few years autocrossing, on two different '94 LS's.

The only difference for myself, it only occured at very high RPM's, IE 6500 and above, and only with quick back and forth transitions. Car would steer fine one way and then be stiff the other, as in a slalom.

The one thing I found that would help alleviate, and in most situations solve the problem was Redline power steering fluid. Expensive, yes, but the problem rarely shows it's head

Ryan

6-27-08, 17:45	#1 (permalink)
mx6marc Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: calgary, Canada iTrader: (0)	Power steering problems! gets super stiff when driving in higher rpm range so i've been having this problem for years and its finally bothered me enough to fix it basically the power steering gets super stiff (stiffer then no power steering at all lol) when i drive the car semi-hard (4500 rpm and up) and it doesnt become soft again for alteast a couple of minutes. also it only seems to happen when i go full throttle. after doing some research i found that mx6's and rx7's use adtaptive powersteering where it will get stiffer as vehicle speed increases and softer when you slow down. i tried the local mazda dealership, but when i spoke with there technicians they had no idea the mx6 even came with this feature, when they checked the shop manual for our car it was in there but they also said that they would have to charge me diagnostics fees just to locate the problem and they wouldn't let me look at the shop manual now i've already tried bleeding the powersteering rack but it made no difference. has anyone else experienced this? is there another powersteering rack i can swap in that doesnt have this feature? any help would be awsome cause i wanna take my 6 to the autocross but if i cant steer it'll be a gong show lol

6-27-08, 23:30	#2 (permalink)
Chefsp0t I carry the Ban-Pan. Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: near Philly, PA, USA Age: 24 iTrader: (2)	Mine does the same thing occasionally. It also seems to do it when I am driving the car pretty hard and taking corners. I haven't had a chance or the extra cash to get it checked out yet. For now I just baby the car most of the time. I've got creaks, rattles, and clunks coming from my front end at slow speeds. My car probably needs pretty much everything in the front end replaced.
	My car is going to be the bastard love child of a JDM, ESPEC, and USDM Mx6 threesome. It's getting there. Garage Cardomain

6-29-08, 1:35	#4 (permalink)
RisenDevilz'6 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woodbridge, NJ, USA Age: 23 iTrader: (0)	If you plan on autocrossing or tracking the car.. get rid of p.s. altogether. I have the same problem too and am about to bypass it because I circuit race quite often. Its a fwd car so the bypass is not much noticeable once its moving.
	KLZE in its prime. All Motor and just the way I like it. __Leon. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/821067

7-1-08, 13:26	#5 (permalink)
jarnold Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kansas City Age: 51 iTrader: (0)	Maybe the belt is slipping? But I am sure you ahve already checked that. Alternative: Get some weights and get those pencil neck arms built up! LOL!
	93 LS- KLZE, Underdrive pulley, SS Autochrome Headers, CAI, R-R Poly mount inserts, Probinator ECU mod, Test Pipe, Dodge Stratus R/T 17"wheels. Toy: 64 VW bug, Building a 2017cc Stroker motor. Should be low 14 second car.

7-2-08, 0:07	#7 (permalink)
Ryan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Age: 25 iTrader: (0)	I've expereinced this problem several times in the last few years autocrossing, on two different '94 LS's. The only difference for myself, it only occured at very high RPM's, IE 6500 and above, and only with quick back and forth transitions. Car would steer fine one way and then be stiff the other, as in a slalom. The one thing I found that would help alleviate, and in most situations solve the problem was Redline power steering fluid. Expensive, yes, but the problem rarely shows it's head Ryan
	Carmen likes to play with CONES PhotoBucket

6-28-08, 23:44	#3 (permalink)
mx6marc Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: calgary, Canada iTrader: (0)	ouch sounds like exactly the same problem!

7-1-08, 13:51	#6 (permalink)
mx6marc Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: calgary, Canada iTrader: (0)	yah ive checked the belt and replaced it too lol its actually easier to steer with the power steering disconnected, by driving the car like this for so many years i now am built like donkey kong! no weight lifting required! lol