Power Steering

[Fitzgerald]

I was lining up one Sunday evening recently in my 2008 Mazda3, waiting to cross the USA/ Canadian border (bad timing!) and for an hour or more was inching my way forward, all the while trying not to doze off. I was in one of six parallel lanes.
I noticed that the line to my right seemed to be moving more quickly and that there was a momentary gap just alongside me. I started to turn the steering wheel to join the more attractive queue, only to find that it required a very considerable effort to turn the wheel. I then spotted a warning light on the dashboard and, as the line had stopped moving as soon as I had joined it, got my manual out to interpret the warning light. This confirmed that my power steering was defective. I stopped and restarted the engine several times and eventually the power came back on again.
When I visited my dealer the next day and told him my story he said that they would replace the pump and some related ancillary components and that the work could be done immediately. He seemed very familiar with the problem and surprised me by indicating that the necessary components were in stock. This suggested to me that this is a recurring problem with the 2008 Mazda3 and I wonder if other folks have had a similar experience?

 

[mjstew]

i know the recalled power steering on certain 09s so maybe they will be expanding the recall...ive never heard of any issues, but i dont have an 08 so thats probably why

 

[mazdafrank]

Your car is probably included in a recall. Had mine done yesterday at the dealers. No problems.

 

[Rhon]

Our 08 is included in the recall also. Just waiting for the dealer to get back to us.

 

[tschin]

I'm a newbie here so I did my homework on the power steering thread and I don't think I will be repeating anything.
Here's what Mazda USA is saying: 2007-2009 Mazda3 and Mazda5 power steering recall --"On August 16, 2010, Mazda announced that it would recall more than 200,000 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles because of the faulty power-assist steering pumps and pipes. According to Robert Davis, Mazda’s senior vice president of product development and quality, the vehicles’ power steering system can shut down when sensors in the steering pump become contaminated with rust from pipes that connect the power steering pump to the steering rack. The power steering pump is supposed to shut itself down as a failsafe measure to prevent the pump from overheating."
I watched their web site video which seems bogus to me since none of the circumstances depicted involve a vehicle that has actually lost power steering.
I have lost power steering twice; the second time involved three hours of bumper to bumper traffic from Gary In to Rockford Il. In both instances, loss of ps occurred in hot weather and slow traffic. Such incidents apparently come as no surprise to Mazda since the owner's manual describes such an occurrence and outlines a procedure for restoring ps. My question: Is the fix really a fix? If the pipes have been corrupted by rust, has my M5 somehow managed to "fix" itself? There are several thousand miles of perfectly normal steering between each incident (last one at 37K, 50K currently). Isn't this a closed system? I didn't think rust can occur without oxygen. I have never had to add ps fluid; there is no discoloration that one might expect from a fluid contaminated with rust. I'm neither a mechanic nor an engineer, but in my book, the problem is heat associated. Rust? I'm skeptical.

 

[R242]

Just got back from the dealer. I figured best to go ahead and get it done, looks good on the carfax that I did the recall. Took 2 hrs like they said, they tried to upsale services to the two other guys there, but left me alone. Probably due to my modifications, and I'd never been there since I bought it 3 years ago. Ha