[Mk2] [Generic] HELP!! Power steering stopped working!

[Steve Horrocks]

Coming home from work thurs night and quite randomly, about 200yards from home, the car cut out stopping at a junction, and when I restarted it, my power steering light has come on and I've no assistance whatsoever now.
Now, I know it's an electric system, but I can't seem to find any fuses for it so firstly, where would they be and secondly, is there any way of checking anything on the system?

Cheers guys!

[Slarty]

Have you tried the usual ignition on / off 15-20 times in quick succession?

Someone (I think it might have been Toxo) put up a test procedure for the PAS system a little while ago, might be worth a shot if the above doesn't work.

Edit : Got it,

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... hlight=ecu

[Steve Horrocks]

Top stuff! Cheers fella, I'll have a good look through that pal.

[Steve Horrocks]

Just been out to check the car, did diagnostic check and said code 11. No power. So tried this.....

Have you tried the usual ignition on / off 15-20 times in quick succession?

And it's fine now! Never even knew about this trick, even after 8 years of MR2 ownership, stuff still surprises me!
Dude, you're a hero!!!!

[Slarty]

Good stuff, glad it's sorted

[esty112]

Good stuff, glad it's sorted

Hi Slarty,
I've just had the same problem this mornin when the PS stopped working.

How exactly did you fix your motor?

Is it simply a case of turning on and off the iginition or do you have to disconnect the battery first etc.

Sorry to ask such a stupid question, but just trying to fix my wheels ;-(

[Slarty]

It was Steve who had the problem, not me! Although ironically, a few weeks after I had the problem lol.

With the battery connected as normal, just turn the ignition switch to ACC and back off again about 10-15-20 times quickly. You don't need to go mental otherwise you risk breaking the key, just do it quickly.

[esty112]

It was Steve who had the problem, not me! Although ironically, a few weeks after I had the problem lol.

With the battery connected as normal, just turn the ignition switch to ACC and back off again about 10-15-20 times quickly. You don't need to go mental otherwise you risk breaking the key, just do it quickly.

Excellent it worked!

What does turning the ignition on/off do?
Are there any other secret switchs/etc you can do to fix/improve your car?

[Slarty]

No, esentially what happens is the contacts within the power steering relay corrode in time, not allowing the current to flow to the pump motor. Quickly energising/de-energising the relay cleans the contacts up again. In the 4 odd years I've owned my car it's only happened once, about 6 months or so ago.

The only "proper" cure is to replace the relay, but they're rather expensive from what I can remember, over £100....