2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Steering sensor

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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 06:05 AM
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From: I-55 @ I20
Steering sensor

So I've been getting the 5 beeps. This time though, I was fooling with it while the car was idling long enough for the beeping to begin. I forgot what was going on, but when I was medling the beeping became constant (maybe I was turning the endluss plastic washer insert doodad).
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Old Dec 16, 2007 | 12:00 PM
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From: Rohnert Park CA
did you change or remove the steering wheel recently?
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 04:28 AM
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Yes, many times. It has been beeping since I got it. But this time the car was running while I tried and that is what happened.


My first step was to remove the ps fluid since I goofed and put power steering fluid in instead of atf F. That just seems impossible to drain. Or I could drain what little bit is in the resevoir, just don't seem worth fooling with.

I'll keep at the archives.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 07:25 AM
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Now the cover is off and the black ring w/arrow is visible. Stupid me moved it before noting its position.


I got a 87 manual. Is this the wrong one for the car? It show's a different steering wheel style on the diagram. LIke the MAZDA cover is round on my car. DO I have a different wheel or is there a 87.5 specific shop book.

I will check FAQ
thanks
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 07:32 AM
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BTW, when I started the car to see what kind of beeping I was going to get. There were constant beeps (no more 5 time pause). Is the CPU just telling me that I'm stupid. No warning lights lit up. The gauges showed normal temp and psi.

Now there is a coolant leak
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 07:40 AM
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I believe you want the arrow at (let me check the FSM...) - you want the arrows to lign up. Both parts should have the arrows ligned up at 9 o'clock. Any 86-91 (I would exclude the convertible's Airbag wheel but it may be alright also) RX-7 wheel should be fine. The 86-87 wheels are two spoke (around 4 and 8 o' clock). The 88 is the three spoke. But it doesn't matter anyway.

edit: I should probably add that the part that goes against the steering wheel should have two plastic pins/tabs that should go into holes at the back of the steering wheel. You've probably already noticed. Oh, some people screw up these tabs, so they may be chewed.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 07:55 AM
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Hey I got the harness and sensor assembly on my table now.

I greased it and don't know if that is bad since it is plastic.

sorry for all the posts





see, I'm just not all that smart. I cut the wire surround to get the first part of the sensor out, when all that was need was to remove two more screws, then I could have properly removed the part that holds the spinning cancel switch and not have broken the clip.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 08:42 AM
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From: YYZ
Post a pic. of what you've got...shouldn't be working on it on a Monday this early, btw.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 12:26 PM
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sorry for no pics. I've never bought a digicam.

I put it back on and plugged the harness in and with all the arrows at nine o clock I now got a constant beep. THen I undid it and made the arrow on the turn signal cancel(the black washer on the back of the assembly) and made that arrow face right in the 3 oclock position.

Cranked it back up and let it sit for 5 minutes and I got no beeping. Maybe I got lucky and everything is cool, or didn't give it enough time to resurface yet.




Yeah, them tabs were pretty smashed up until I tried to straighten them then they just broke.

Thanks,
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 10:09 PM
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From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally Posted by 03/08/87
Yeah, them tabs were pretty smashed up until I tried to straighten them then they just broke.

Thanks,
The tabs need to line up with the back of the steering wheel, if you just smashed the steering position sensor (which you did from your description) then it will continue to beep, until you fix the sensor by replacing the nylon bushing that the tabs are on.
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Old Dec 19, 2007 | 12:26 PM
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From: I-55 @ I20
When I idled my car today the steering wheel wasn't on but the sensor was and it was pronouncing a constant beep, not the usual 5 times. I think i realized that the arrows should all be pointing at a point, not inline like I earlier believed.


So, got that taken care of and got my front end up and would like to know how to align the alignment so I can have the wheel in perfect position and maybe, just maybe, will solve the speed sensing power steering system speaker, buzzer, beeper, horn, siren w/e it is that it is.
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Old Dec 19, 2007 | 01:28 PM
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......we can't put PS fluid in our PS pumps, only ATF?
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Old Dec 19, 2007 | 08:34 PM
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From: I-55 @ I20
it calls for atf type f
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Old Dec 20, 2007 | 12:04 AM
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has anyone tried using PS fluid?
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Old Dec 21, 2007 | 07:57 PM
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Just letting you know it is now working fine.


I ran it today and got no beep. Once I got the wheels somewhat straight and put the steering wheel back on, it was either a notch left or a notch right, it wasn't perfectly straight. I tried it one way and got beeping, then going for broke I moved it one notch the other way and left out with no disruption from the warning systems.
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Old May 10, 2008 | 03:04 AM
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Originally Posted by pfsantos
I believe you want the arrow at (let me check the FSM...) - you want the arrows to lign up. Both parts should have the arrows ligned up at 9 o'clock. Any 86-91 (I would exclude the convertible's Airbag wheel but it may be alright also) RX-7 wheel should be fine. The 86-87 wheels are two spoke (around 4 and 8 o' clock). The 88 is the three spoke. But it doesn't matter anyway.

edit: I should probably add that the part that goes against the steering wheel should have two plastic pins/tabs that should go into holes at the back of the steering wheel. You've probably already noticed. Oh, some people screw up these tabs, so they may be chewed.



They were chewed and did work until now. Is there a way to screw into the chewed up tabs and use the screwhead to fit into the 2 wheel-holes?
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Old May 11, 2008 | 10:11 AM
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Sure, do it. The tolerances aren't so tight that it should be a problem. Let us know how it goes.

The FSM (I think Body Electrical Section) shows the angles that cause sh*t to happen as you turn the wheel. See link in my sig. It's worth a look. GL.
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Old May 11, 2008 | 11:06 AM
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have a 87 and i removed my factory steering wheel and nothing is beeping i had to remove the piece that turns the turn signal off but it has never beeped at me so i would try to undo what you have done and see if the beeping stops.
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Old May 12, 2008 | 08:09 AM
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bbailey4 - so your turn signal doesn't cancel anymore? Also, you're probably not hearing beeps because either your P/S CPU is unplugged, or something else wrong. It needs to see the Turn Angle Sensor.

Removing the sensor causes the Engine speed variable assist power steering system to not work properly. The best is to keep all the parts in, and have a steering wheel hub wich has the holes at the back. These holes is where the part of the turn angle sensor which turns with the wheel go into.

There is an arrow on the part that turns and the part that doesn't in the turn angle sensor assembly. When installed, they should align (I *believe* they lign up at 9 o'clock position).
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Old May 12, 2008 | 04:35 PM
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From: indianapolis
then you tell me if that is why i drifted into my parking spot last night at a high speed and it killed my power steering untill i applied the e-brake
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Old May 15, 2008 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by pfsantos
bbailey4 - so your turn signal doesn't cancel anymore? Also, you're probably not hearing beeps because either your P/S CPU is unplugged, or something else wrong. It needs to see the Turn Angle Sensor.

Removing the sensor causes the Engine speed variable assist power steering system to not work properly. The best is to keep all the parts in, and have a steering wheel hub wich has the holes at the back. These holes is where the part of the turn angle sensor which turns with the wheel go into.

There is an arrow on the part that turns and the part that doesn't in the turn angle sensor assembly. When installed, they should align (I *believe* they lign up at 9 o'clock position).
so the arrows have to be pointing at each other?
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Old May 15, 2008 | 08:12 PM
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yes at 9PM THIS IS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS POINTED STRAIGHT *I believe*
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