Someone please help me...

[juicedlime]

So i recently purchased a salvaged 08 Mazda 3i with 91,000 miles. Unfortunately the front right side was crashed, as im pretty sure MANY of you know the electric power steering pump is on that side. This was damaged and i had to get it replaced. I purchased the pump and reservoir on ebay. unfortunately it is not working and i have a very strong feeling that it may not be the actual pump but in fact something else. By this, I mean I have tried 2 different pumps, neither of which actually engage to begin to work, though one starts to spin for a minutewhen directly hooked to a battery so Iknow the motor is working.. also have replaced fuses related to power steering in both outside fuse box as well as inside, the steering angle sensor is receiving juice however is not putting it out..and the power steering light is on, have a test light as well and am not sure what more to test can anyone PLEASE let me know if this pump needs to be installed a certain way or something I haven't thought of that I can try? Unfortunately it is the only thing holding me back form enjoying this beauty! If there is anyone that may have ANY info on this i would greatly appreciate it. Please help me someone...

 

[juicedlime]

anyone...?(uhm) i'm desperate

 

[DarkRyder]

the power steering is actually 80/20. as in 80% is from the electric motor. either way, even if its trying to engage if the power source for the pump is damaged, as in the power cable supplied from the battery; it might not be engaging because of that. Its the only idea i have man, sorry i couldnt help more.
i'd suggest calling a dealer and seeing if they have experienced this problem before.

 

[juicedlime]

I'm actually a girl! LOL That's okay though no big deal.. lol. Thank you for the reply.. I have postedon 8 different Mazda forums NO exaggeration and no help yet.... I have called dealers, more than one, probably about 5, all say the Power Steering has to be brought in and re-programmed by them and they want $200 just to do this... however, my issue with this is, the person I bought the power steering pump has replaced many and has never had to do this procedure they are saying it requires therefore I'm not sold on it.. I will list everything I have tried, in case someone may look at my post again and help..

I have tried 2 different pumps, both of which confirmed working prior to the wreck, checked ALL fuses both inside and outside, tried to "relearn" the power steering angle by doing full turns left and right, bleeding air from the pump (air bubbles were coming up, but it still didn't work tried this with BOTH pumps), took a test light to wires coming to/from the pump and steering angle censor, all that are hot are and pump is grounded, have took the battery cable off numerous times, even bought the computer diagnostic offline and have turned the power steering and check engine light off, it still keeps coming on, though not always together the power steering light stays on... there is obviously something wrong somewhere and I feel I have exhausted all I know to try and I am sincerely hoping someone else out there may have another idea to try.. PLEASE help me.. I have posted on many different Mazda forums with no answers, I don't have $90 to hand the dealer just to pull it in there please someone... I am sorry this is so long but I feel it's necessary I list everything I have tried in order to receive proper help.. Thank you for reading

 

[juicedlime]

the power steering is actually 80/20. as in 80% is from the electric motor. either way, even if its trying to engage if the power source for the pump is damaged, as in the power cable supplied from the battery; it might not be engaging because of that. Its the only idea i have man, sorry i couldnt help more.
i'd suggest calling a dealer and seeing if they have experienced this problem before.

I do also want to add, none of them really want to take the time to hear me out, they just want to insist I bring them my car, of course, so they can make their money, one even refused to let me speak to the service floor about my issue stating it was against their rules!!..yet the other 4 allowed me to speak with them.. I'm very frustrated, and the power steering pumps aren't cheap by any means, so I'm sure you can understand I can't really afford to haul it to the dealer for them to charge me out the rear end when I am more than capable of trying things that may resolve the issue, I have just personally ran out of ideas... Thank you

 

[DarkRyder]

if the pumps really need to be reprogrammed (which sounds silly to me) then the dealer might know more about it than i do. Which makes me wonder how the person you got the ps pump replaced them in the past if the previous was the case. So i am left with 3 observations/insights.
1.) damage due to the crash has wires pinches somewhere causing a grounding fault, or it caused a relay somewhere to fry.
2.) the power steering pump is possibly controlled by the computer to where the pump and computer need to communicate and need to be reprogrammed by the dealer.. or..
3.) the computer is bad; it possibly got shorted somehow and damaged during the accident and now it cannot talk to the pump at all, therefor the check engine light and why the new one doesnt work.

Hopefully one of my ideas seem sound to you. Good luck, and let me know if you come up with anything.

 

[juicedlime]

if the pumps really need to be reprogrammed (which sounds silly to me) then the dealer might know more about it than i do. Which makes me wonder how the person you got the ps pump replaced them in the past if the previous was the case. So i am left with 3 observations/insights.
1.) damage due to the crash has wires pinches somewhere causing a grounding fault, or it caused a relay somewhere to fry.
2.) the power steering pump is possibly controlled by the computer to where the pump and computer need to communicate and need to be reprogrammed by the dealer.. or..
3.) the computer is bad; it possibly got shorted somehow and damaged during the accident and now it cannot talk to the pump at all, therefor the check engine light and why the new one doesnt work.

Hopefully one of my ideas seem sound to you. Good luck, and let me know if you come up with anything.

I wish I could say I have... I am absolutely stumped.. as I'm sure everyone else is on the other forums I have asked for help on. I have wondered about something I saw on YouTube where they put a normal belt power steering pump system on the 3's... apparently the motor set up in the 3 is very close to the Speed 3's, which come with a normal power steering system not the electronic.. as far as the bolt holes are there and whatnot.. Anyways, in the video they are putting these regular power steering pumps on Mazda's like mine that originally had electric ones and I am very curious how hard it would be to do something like this and come out with it actually doing as it should or as it shows in the video...I am so run down on idea's about this one and not sold on taking it to the dealer that this sounds tempting enough to try, because I'm obviously not getting anywhere with this... I haven't looked far into it, just watched the video where they perform this swap on multiple 3's..

 

[DarkRyder]

if you need any help let me know, appears we are both in ky so might be a short drive if you need.
or, if you fix it... let me know what fixed it, you definitely have my curiosity going.