powersteering went out...

TonyDaTiger1990 · 11-07-2006, 10:01 PM

i got a 91' and my power steering just up and stopped working on me a while back. i took it to a shop and they said it was electrical so they couldnt do anything for it. so what should i do? take it to a dealership or sumthin?
oh yea, the powersteering will stay on for like almost a minuet after i start the car and then itll shut off

N8s93turbo · 11-07-2006, 10:03 PM

try replacing the ps relay?

TheAmazingDave · 11-07-2006, 10:29 PM

Power steering? WTF is that?

TonyDaTiger1990 · 11-07-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N8s93turbo

try replacing the ps relay?

is that like a fuse or what? lol

N8s93turbo · 11-07-2006, 10:40 PM

its sorta like a fuse but not really. its bigger and a square. www.r1200gs.info/howto/relay.html

TonyDaTiger1990 · 11-07-2006, 10:44 PM

can i get them at like advanced auto parts and stuff and is there a way to tell if the relay is messed up without putting a new one in?

N8s93turbo · 11-07-2006, 10:47 PM

should be pretty cheap. josh at chicoraceworks probably has one for you. only way i know is just swap them out and see if it works.

TonyDaTiger1990 · 11-07-2006, 10:51 PM

one more question, if it turns out to be the ps ecu do u know a website or sumthin were i can buy a new one?

N8s93turbo · 11-07-2006, 10:54 PM

new, other than toyota, no. josh at chicoraceworks can get you a used one prob from a low mile clip.

TonyDaTiger1990 · 11-07-2006, 10:56 PM

aight, thanks dude

N8s93turbo · 11-07-2006, 10:58 PM

no problem, let me know how it turns out.

Mister2.2 · 11-07-2006, 11:25 PM

You should AFAIK hear it make a click sound when it's turned on, if it is stuck you could try tapping it a bit.

bpburke · 11-08-2006, 12:32 PM

Got the same problem with my 1991 MR2 Turbo. Also having trouble understanding how to recognize the relay described. Find what looks like a large square 20 AMP fuse in the hood area fuse box. But, would believe the relay is different and housed elsewhere. Any help or additional info?

mr2much · 11-08-2006, 12:52 PM

wait! Before you go out and buy a part try this first:

When the PS is not working and the light is on. Turn the car off and leave the key in the ignition. Now, switch the key to the on position and then back to the off position about 20-25 times. Don't actually crank the motor just turn it as far as the on position (when all your dash lights are on) then back off again. Now, try starting your car. You should have power steering again. Doing this resets some electronic stuff, I'm not sure exactly what, but your PS relay definately gets reset.

If this worked, then it is in fact your PS relay. If this didn't work try it again with 30-35 clicks. If it still didn't work then its probably something else and I can't help you.

So, now you must ask yourself is it worth buying a new relay? Well for me, I've only had to do the clicking thing twice in the past 4 months so the answer is no. If it starts happening more often then i might look into buying the part. I learned this on another thread on this board and that thread said that the relay is expensive so I didn't want to buy one. Does anyone know how much it actually costs?

shavedturbo · 11-08-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2much

wait! Before you go out and buy a part try this first:

When the PS is not working and the light is on. Turn the car off and leave the key in the ignition. Now, switch the key to the on position and back of about 20-25 times. Don't actually crank the motor just turn it as far as the on position (when all your dash lights are on) then back off again. Now, try starting your car. You should have power steering again. Doing this resets some electronic stuff, I'm not sure exactly what, but your PS relay definately gets reset.

how far off do u let the key back off,do you just let it turn back by itself or do you turn back all the way as if you were going to take the key out. and how long do u hold the key when u turn it. ive tried a couple times and cant get it to work

mr2much · 11-08-2006, 02:53 PM

turn back by itself? you don't want to crank the engine just put it in the on position. The on position is the point right before you crank it. ie. where it falls back to if you're cranking it. I believe if you look, it actually says "on" but I'm not sure of that.

The off position is the point where you can take the key out.

You shouldn't have to hold it anywhere. just keep clicking back and forth between on and off.

shavedturbo · 11-08-2006, 03:06 PM

YES!!! it fixed my PS. my problem was that i was leaving the clutch out and turning the key all the way. you need to turn it from the "acc" position to the "on" position about 15 times and then it works

thanks!!!!!!!!

mr2much · 11-08-2006, 03:13 PM

No problem. It might happen again once or twice in the next couple of days but then after that it should stop doing it. At least that's what happened to me.

Good to know that it only takes about 15 turns i was told it was a lot more than that.

Cheers.

auto · 11-09-2006, 12:12 AM

I've had everything replaced on my power steering....PS pump, relay, and rack & pinion.

11-07-2006, 10:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
TonyDaTiger1990 No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	powersteering went out... i got a 91' and my power steering just up and stopped working on me a while back. i took it to a shop and they said it was electrical so they couldnt do anything for it. so what should i do? take it to a dealership or sumthin? oh yea, the powersteering will stay on for like almost a minuet after i start the car and then itll shut off

11-07-2006, 11:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mister2.2 Cheese it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,220 Thanks: 106 Thanked 107 Times in 92 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	You should AFAIK hear it make a click sound when it's turned on, if it is stuck you could try tapping it a bit. __________________ --Josh MR2Trader.com Free Accounts to Buy and Sell your MR2 Parts! Deal of the Week: MR2Only Magazine, Get it NOW! Click Here. Ask me about Web Hosting Solutions, starting at $5.95 a month. 'I am at two with nature.' 'Students achieving Oneness will move on to Twoness.'

11-08-2006, 12:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
mr2much '90 JDM RHD Turbo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Posts: 122 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	wait! Before you go out and buy a part try this first: When the PS is not working and the light is on. Turn the car off and leave the key in the ignition. Now, switch the key to the on position and then back to the off position about 20-25 times. Don't actually crank the motor just turn it as far as the on position (when all your dash lights are on) then back off again. Now, try starting your car. You should have power steering again. Doing this resets some electronic stuff, I'm not sure exactly what, but your PS relay definately gets reset. If this worked, then it is in fact your PS relay. If this didn't work try it again with 30-35 clicks. If it still didn't work then its probably something else and I can't help you. So, now you must ask yourself is it worth buying a new relay? Well for me, I've only had to do the clicking thing twice in the past 4 months so the answer is no. If it starts happening more often then i might look into buying the part. I learned this on another thread on this board and that thread said that the relay is expensive so I didn't want to buy one. Does anyone know how much it actually costs? Last edited by mr2much; 11-08-2006 at 02:55 PM.

11-07-2006, 10:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
N8s93turbo TEAM A.S.S. RACING Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mississippi/Pennsylvania Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 5 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (14/100% )	try replacing the ps relay?

11-07-2006, 10:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheAmazingDave Me gusta mi Volkswagen. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,100 Thanks: 14 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Power steering? WTF is that?

11-07-2006, 10:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
N8s93turbo TEAM A.S.S. RACING Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mississippi/Pennsylvania Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 5 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (14/100% )	its sorta like a fuse but not really. its bigger and a square. www.r1200gs.info/howto/relay.html

11-07-2006, 10:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
TonyDaTiger1990 No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	can i get them at like advanced auto parts and stuff and is there a way to tell if the relay is messed up without putting a new one in?

11-07-2006, 10:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
N8s93turbo TEAM A.S.S. RACING Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mississippi/Pennsylvania Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 5 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (14/100% )	should be pretty cheap. josh at chicoraceworks probably has one for you. only way i know is just swap them out and see if it works.

11-07-2006, 10:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
TonyDaTiger1990 No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	one more question, if it turns out to be the ps ecu do u know a website or sumthin were i can buy a new one?

11-07-2006, 10:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
N8s93turbo TEAM A.S.S. RACING Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mississippi/Pennsylvania Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 5 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (14/100% )	new, other than toyota, no. josh at chicoraceworks can get you a used one prob from a low mile clip.

11-07-2006, 10:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
TonyDaTiger1990 No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	aight, thanks dude

11-07-2006, 10:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
N8s93turbo TEAM A.S.S. RACING Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mississippi/Pennsylvania Posts: 2,472 Thanks: 5 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (14/100% )	no problem, let me know how it turns out.

11-08-2006, 12:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
bpburke No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bulverde, Texas Posts: 5 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Got the same problem with my 1991 MR2 Turbo. Also having trouble understanding how to recognize the relay described. Find what looks like a large square 20 AMP fuse in the hood area fuse box. But, would believe the relay is different and housed elsewhere. Any help or additional info?

11-09-2006, 05:14 AM	#20 (permalink)

11-08-2006, 02:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
mr2much '90 JDM RHD Turbo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Posts: 122 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	turn back by itself? you don't want to crank the engine just put it in the on position. The on position is the point right before you crank it. ie. where it falls back to if you're cranking it. I believe if you look, it actually says "on" but I'm not sure of that. The off position is the point where you can take the key out. You shouldn't have to hold it anywhere. just keep clicking back and forth between on and off.

11-08-2006, 03:06 PM	#17 (permalink)
shavedturbo numbchuck skillz Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 519 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	YES!!! it fixed my PS. my problem was that i was leaving the clutch out and turning the key all the way. you need to turn it from the "acc" position to the "on" position about 15 times and then it works thanks!!!!!!!!

11-08-2006, 03:13 PM	#18 (permalink)
mr2much '90 JDM RHD Turbo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Posts: 122 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	No problem. It might happen again once or twice in the next couple of days but then after that it should stop doing it. At least that's what happened to me. Good to know that it only takes about 15 turns i was told it was a lot more than that. Cheers.

11-09-2006, 12:12 AM	#19 (permalink)
auto Medium Bumper Damage Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 641 Thanks: 3 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I've had everything replaced on my power steering....PS pump, relay, and rack & pinion.