Just bought 2015 GS - steering question!

[billyphatu]

Came back to my CX-5 today in a parking lot to find a trail of light reddish fluid coming from under the engine. Watery but greasy. I immediately jumped to assume it was power steering fluid, which would explain heavier than usual steering, but its location under the engine has me worried it's transmission. Any thoughts? All of this adds to my paranoia about why the previous owner gave the car up after 8 months and 20k km...



I've got an appointment at my dealer tomorrow, I'm hoping it'll be okay to drive until then.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

From the picture doesn't look like trans fluid (blue, brown after used), actually it looks a lot like the motor oil except for where it piles up I can see some red. Makes sense about the PS.

 

[SystemDesigner]

I thought the CX-5 had electric motor power steering assist rather than hydraulic fluid. Perhaps check your engine oil level to see if you’ve lost any.

Les.

 

[MikeM.]

Came back to my CX-5 today in a parking lot to find a trail of light reddish fluid coming from under the engine. Watery but greasy. I immediately jumped to assume it was power steering fluid, which would explain heavier than usual steering, but its location under the engine has me worried it's transmission.

If I saw that coming from my vehicle, I would not move the vehicle until I identified the path using a flashlight from the glove box. A hot engine and wind from driving can make it more difficult to trace.

Any thoughts? All of this adds to my paranoia about why the previous owner gave the car up after 8 months and 20k km...

Hard to say with so little to go on. It could be as simple as an over-filled reservoir or damaged brake line. It's difficult to guess what kind of idiotic things the previous owner or service monkey did to it. Please forgive my use of the term "service monkey" because I know there are still a few good technicians out there.


Let us know what you learn.

 

[bmninada]

First of all CPO certification means zilch. Second although I am new here I have a Rolly and check me out with same username in Toyota nation.

CX5 uses electric power steering. I would also check the tie rods for play. Jack up the car and try to flex the front wheels. There should be no flex. Steering drag could be electrical motor issues.

Your issue would be convincing dealer there is an issue. Even if you a comparison they will tell you a 16 is different than yours.

 

[Rarebit]

My 2015 came with the standard Toyo A23 tires (225-55-19). My steering felt heavy and the car felt somewhat "dead" handling. I replaced them with Continental TrueContacts in the same size, and that made a very big difference in the feel. The steering feels noticeably lighter and the car feels more "zoom-zoom" agile.

 

[SystemDesigner]

Perhaps you could ask the dealer to perform the Steering Force Inspection:

Steering Force Inspection

1. Verify that the equipped tire size and tire air pressure is as specified.
2. With the vehicle on a hard, level surface, put the wheels in the straight-ahead position.
3. Remove the driver-side air bag module.

(See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM].) (See DRIVER-SIDE AIR
BAG MODULE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION [STANDARD DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM].)
WARNING:
Handling the air bag module improperly can accidentally operate (deploy) the
air bag module, which may seriously injure you.Read the service warnings and
cautions before handling the air bag module. (See AIR BAG SYSTEM SERVICE
WARNINGS [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM].) (See AIR BAG SYSTEM
SERVICE WARNINGS [STANDARD DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM].) (See AIR BAG
SYSTEM SERVICE CAUTIONS [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM].) (See
AIR BAG SYSTEM SERVICE CAUTIONS [STANDARD DEPLOYMENT CONTROL
SYSTEM].)

4. Start the engine and idle it.
5. Verify that the power steering malfunction indicator light is not illuminated or flashing.
6. Inspect the steering torque using a torque wrench.

If it exceeds the reference value, inspect the steering gear and linkage. (See STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE INSPECTION.)

Steering wheel steering force (reference)
7.8 Nm {80 kgfcm, 69 inlbf} or less


NOTE:
Comparing another vehicle of the same model under the same conditions is an
acceptable inspection method.
The steering torque varies with the conditions indicated below.
Road conditions: Such as dry, wet, asphalt, or concrete
Tire condition: Such as brand, wear, and tire pressure

 

[billyphatu]

So the service department were helpful about some things but less helpful about others.

Got my bluetooth module replaced - still won't let my iPhone download SMS to the screen.
Got navigation installed and I was pleasantly surprised with its ease (I'm coming from a very old TomTom unit).
They agreed to fix my drivers mirror which suffers from vibration at high speeds, part is coming in next week.
They didn't want anythung to do with my remote starter because it's not a Mazda part. NOT what I was told at point of sale but whatever. Looks like I will need to poke at it myself.
Since the leaking fluid in the parking lot I haven't noticed anything else, and they confirmed no signs of leakage today. So it must have been there before I pulled into the space, and it's some other poor soul's problem...

Pretty much unhelpful aboute fuel consumption. They blamed it on the time of year and driving short distances from cold. I am not convinced but will give it some more time to average out.

They took my concerns about steering seriously but found nothing irregular about mine. So right now I am going on the lines of just needing to get used to the CX-5's heavy steering and blame it on not doing a sufficient test drive (not that it would have dissuaded me from buying). The heaviness isn't actually annoying me, it's the constant tiny corrections I'm having to do on the highway.

My 2015 came with the standard Toyo A23 tires (225-55-19). My steering felt heavy and the car felt somewhat "dead" handling. I replaced them with Continental TrueContacts in the same size, and that made a very big difference in the feel. The steering feels noticeably lighter and the car feels more "zoom-zoom" agile.

Thanks for this insight. I have still got the original Yokohama Geolandars. 75% tread remaining. Having read various reviews I am now considering saving up for some replacement winter and/or all season tires, which I hope will give me the zoom-zoom feeling I'm so far similarly lacking.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Got my bluetooth module replaced - still won't let my iPhone download SMS to the screen./QUOTE]

There are other things to check but do you have a passcode setup on phone? If so, turn it off, re-pair, see if works and then turn back on. Also delete any MMS message in your Inbox.