elfking

I have been having issues with power steering ever since I got the car.. I am trying to locate the problem... I have a couple old threads about the problem. I am wanting to inspect the Power Steering Relay.

I can't figure out which one it is. I see a row of relays between the head lights in the front bumper area. I saw one next tot he coils. The one next to the coils are marked on the bottom with 'coil' and 'coil' on two of the pins so I assume thats for th coils.

So Im pretty sure its one of the front ones in the bumper area, but I can't figure out which... and I can only find the test procedure for the power steering relay in the idle/emissions section of the FSM. No mention of location...


Cliffnotes: Where is the power steering relay location?

Thanks,
-Brian.

NZConvertible

The power steering relay has no effect on the power steering itself, it's just part of the idle-up control. If you still want to find and check it, look in the wiring diagrams chapter of the FSM. It's shown on the ECU pages.

HAILERS

It's the most outboard of the four large relays, I think. I don't have pwr steering, just looked in the manual.

So? What part of the pwr steering does not work?

elfking

Damn, well thanks for the info.. I was hoping it might be a solution to look into.. I am getting pushed more and more into the 'rip out the P/S' mode... Its the only thing I have problems with. The rest of the car is perfect. So I can't really complain that much.

Long story short: Car is cold, PS works. Drive car for 20+ min, come off freeway to a light, try and turn the wheel. It wont move without full body weight or the car moving...

Let the car cool off, same story over and over.

Things I have tried swapping: 3 different pumps.
2 PS Computers
I swapped the power steering computer from a 87 N/A with perfect power steering into mine to make sure 100% that was not the problem. (He didn't want me taking his pump unfortunately. )
Re-Soldering the joints on the Power Steering computer. All of them on the board... I did this on both power steering computers.
Flushed the fluid until it was proper colors. (The previous owner had it looking black/dark brown...)
I also tried adding in a small cooler inline with the low pressure side of the power steering (I think they even sell them as power steering coolers.. Alot of Jeeper's use it when their p/s overheats.) just getting desperate. Since I had it laying around... Didn't make a change.


My previous post on this same problem:
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/power-steering-does-not-work-when-warm-392170/

So as you can see ive been at this a while...Thanks both of you guys for the info about the relay/locations etc. I am hoping to fix this some day.....

NZConvertible

Perhaps a power steering specialist could help you.

YearsOfDecay

I'd say the control solenoid thingis in the pump is shot and opening up when it gets hot.. your best bet is to replace the pump...

elfking

I thought the same thing, but I have tried 3 pumps now... So I really think its something the rack or electrical. I tried different switches on the bottom of the pump (which tells the ps cpu im turning) No change. but I can't figure it out for the life of me. If I get the time I will try and swap it with my friends perfectly working one. (One finger spin the wheel at idle...)

I figure I fix his car, he can let me use his as a Pick N Pull sometimes right?!?!?!

I am starting to think the same thing. I need to find one around here. Sadly most of the shops I talk to are all heavy into Auto X/ whatever types of tracking and love to strip the ps/ac units out... Sounds familiar to these board in that respect. Maybe if I had the ratio of a manual rack I would be fine without PS but then again... I wouldn't be in this situation in that case!!!

Haha well thanks for the insite on the switch, I will definately update if I find a solution to the madness...