I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Heavy / Stiff Steering
My issue seems to have resolved itself??? - please see below.
I recently purchased an immaculate low mileage ND Arctic with full main dealer service history. The car has the Mazda approved used 12 month warranty.
Before I took delivery of the car it had new Kumho Tyres all round and set at 29psi when cold. Tracking checked an set. A new 12V battery as the original was still fitted to the car.
Having owned the car for a couple of weeks I was concerned the Power Steering was feeling heavy and notchy and and not self centering correctly, it was difficult to keep the car running straight without continuous steering inputs. It did not feel like this on the test drive prior to purchase.
The tracking was checked again and found to be set to Mazda specification.
I have the car booked into the Mazda Dealer for investigation on 23rd July.
However last weekend I did a 120 mile round trip, the power steering still feeling heavy and notchy. I got home switched the car off, went back to the car after a couple of minutes to move it into the garage and the power steering was operating correctly - the heavy feeling had gone and it felt smooth in operation with no notchy feeling and is self centering correctly.
I have taken it out on multiple runs since then and the power steering is working perfectly. Is it possible the 12V battery change upset the power steering control module in any way and it has now re-set itself??
Any thoughts regarding the above issue would be much appreciated.
Not really sure what to do now regarding taking the car into my Mazda dealership for investigation.
Stuff happens with cars sometimes which seems to defy logic. I had one before which seemed to throw up a stop/start thing whenever I wore particular trainers lol
Maybe take it for a few more spins, and if it’s okay, ring them and explain, saying you’ll keep an eye on it. Even though late in the day, they usually are okay with this stuff, given you were only taking it in for an investigation, which wouldn’t have made them any money, anyway. If it returns again, you can re-book it, and even if it corrected itself again, still go in as it’d probably just keep yo-yoing.
After a battery disconnection the steering needs to learn the left and right extremities, normally this is done by full left, full right lock. Whether that’s connected is unknown.
If it’s now working how you expect then taking it for investigation may be a waste of time and money, you have 3 or 4 days to finally confirm that you’re happy with the car before cancelling the appointment.
Luckily it will not cost me anything, the dealership has confirmed the checks with be FOC plus a loan car for the day. This is due to the fact I have had the car for less than a month, plus the Mazda Approved Used Warranty.
I just don’t want to waste their time, but they may be able to analyse what has happened by plugging into the OBD port. It would be interesting to know.
Took the car out for a drive yesterday evening and the steering has reverted back to feeling heavy, notchy and no self centering again.
So the car will definitely be going into the dealership for checking on 23rd July. That is within the first 27 days of purchase.
Depending on what is diagnosed I may exercise the consumer rights act 2015 - Short Term Right to Reject faulty goods within the first 30 days.
Had to do this once before a few years ago on a used Hyundai i30n performance, 5k miles on the clock that developed a gear box problem after one week of ownership (porous gearbox casting - causing a large oil leak). To be fair to the Hyundai dealership I received a full refund within four days and they collected the car. My first and last Hyundai.
I was always a Ford man during the 1970s and 1980s. I bought my first MX-5 in 1997, from that point on I have always bought Mazda, Honda or Toyota. Apart from the Hyundai i30n performance which was a disaster.
The car went into my local Mazda dealership today regarding heavy, notchy steering.
As per Rodders post - it was diagnosed as a stiff universal joint on the steering column. A new universal joint will be fitted under the Mazda Approved Used warranty scheme.
A big thanks to Rodders for pointing out the possible cause of the issue.
Great result. Good one to Rodders too, with that pointer. I imagine you mentioned that to them in advance, and they found it. It might have been a rabbit hole if Rodders hadn’t offered his advice.
I agree, a good shout by Rodders. In my experience, a lot of “mechanics” nowadays have difficulty diagnosing problems if they can’t plug in a computer to tell them where to look or what it is.
Had to wait for the new UJ on the steering to be delivered from Europe to my local Mazda dealership.
The new UJ was fitted today under the Mazda approved used warranty, the steering now self centres correctly and there is no longer a notchy feeling to the steering.
The service manager has recommended having the alignment re checked following the UJ fitment. The alignment will be carried out at a local specialist, the cost for the alignment will also be covered by the Mazda approved used warranty.
So good result all round, thank goodness for the Mazda approved used warranty.
Following on from my previous post on 8th Aug. I recently did a 150 mile round trip in the car and the stiff, notchy steering has raised its head again.
I called my local Mazda dealership last week and the car went in on Tuesday this week for further investigation.
The dealership contacted Mazda UK to obtain advice, it turns out to be a problem with the steering rack. A warranty claim is being processed by the dealership to replace the steering rack under the Mazda Approved Used Warranty.
I note from the USA owners club website a few owners have experienced the same issue with stiff, notchy steering on early cars.
I have to say my Local Mazda Dealership in Peterborough have been very good with communication regarding this issue
I didn’t buy the car from my local dealership, I bought it from a dealership 30 miles from where I live, however the Mazda Approved Used Warranty allows you to take the car to any Mazda dealership.
We have the same issue but we are well out of warranty from where we bought the car. We are now at the stage of replacing the rack as its looking at an internal mechanical rather than electrical. The only thing I’m trying to find out is does a replacement rack need to be programmed to the car or just calibrated once fitted? Anyone Know?
TIA
Yeah, saw this Youtube Video and its quite entertaining. I’m sure that there is an issue with the rack components that Mazda know about but have done nothing. I just need to find one
