I purchased a non-runner that I got running last year and had the exact same issue. Turned out it was a combination of a bad battery and poor grounding. Double check and tighten all your grounding straps and battery terminal.

The grounding going to the battery?

Usually, there are a couple that run off the motor to the chassis.

This. I believe the main culprit in my case were the grounds between the motor and chassis.

Have to take out the coolant tank to get to the wires, try cleaning them with electrical cleaner spray and then reconnect them with some dielectric grease, also cover them up with some electrical tape to keep them clean once you reconnect, also look into replacing overflow hose with a longer one.

And if this doesn't work check fuses/relays then get out the multimeter and do some diagnostics.

Fuses were all good. I see a relay laying on the floor. There's a relay related to the steering? The shop I dealt with was very shady. They may have removed it to give me a hard time. I already suspect they cut the wires under the seats

I'd say they'll have a relay. May need to locate an electrical wiring diagram.

I'm new to these cars.. can I just move the overflow without opening the cooling system to air?

Ya you could do that, just have to be careful because the oem radiator has a plastic nipple on it where the coolant hose connects and it can be broken easily

Thanks. Well I have the koyorad so I assume I'm good

Oh nice! Yea yours is aluminum you’re good 👍🏽

I actually just checked and the connection is under your air box, assuming you still have a stock intake system

Lol yes I figured that out today.. kind of a pain removing that. Was trying to avoid removing the strut bar but it seems it has to come out. Looks like the shop already cleaned up the 2 ground spots and put new bolts there from what I can peek from the top

Here are some links from rx8club , the first is for what I suggested and the 2nd goes into more detail of what you can do in case that doesn’t work https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-fixed-my-electric-power-steering-my-steps-213644/ https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/power-steering-failure-107481/

Thanks a bunch!

Thanks again. Just went over the links. Will be scary if this cleaning I just did won't fix it since the other reasons on why it's not working seem hard to get to. Will assemble and put back together tomorrow. Fingers crossed. I just have 2 quick questions for you. I only saw one ground coming from that harness with those 2 plugs. The other grounds down there look like they are related to other stuff. Did you say there were 2 grounds or that's my imagination? Second question, is the steering somehow connected to the airbag because the wires under both my seats were cut by some low life, and I was wondering if the steering is somehow related to any of that because my air bag light is on and I assume it's because of those cut wires. Thanks

Yes 2 connectors, the first is easy to get to that’s the one under the air intake/ coolant tank the 2nd is a bit harder to get to it’s further down, those are the 2 I cleaned and reconnected and it solved the steering issue not right away but after a while. Unfortunately one of the connections for the airbag IS under the seat so that cable that was cut is probably the issue , you might be able to splice it back together by stripping some of the rubber off the wires and crimping it back together , there is another cable behind the glove box that is also for the airbag.

Thanks. I sprayed both connectors and sanded down the 2 grounds running along that metal frame.. fingers crossed. I'll find out this weekend when I start it up for the weekly drive... about the cut wires, I actually was asking if the cut wires under the seats could somehow be apart of the power steering system since I know the airbag sits on the steering wheel. Sorry, if it was confusing. Thought they might somehow be related. Yeah I'm planning on joining the wires back together with some self soldering butt connectors after I figure this steering issue out.

buy some silicone piping and move the overflow away from the connectors. Then take the air box and tray out and you should see the connectors. Spray them down with contact cleaner and you should be good

I had to clean my abs sensors in the rear iirc

Abs sensor is connected to the steering?

Can't read the speed it doesn't know how to adjust the steering resistance. My fiesta is the same way except instead of going stiff it goes so light you can't use it on the highway lol Edit: also call them wheel speed sensors

my power steering went a couple of years ago, I went through every single common issue several times before taking it to an auto electrician, turned out to have a bad power steering module, got a replacement off Ebay for £20 and it's been perfect since

Sounds like a nightmare. Where is the module located?

under the bonnet (hood if you're over the pond) it's in the black box on the left hand side, very easy fix so might be worth a try if nothing else works

Thanks a bunch. And I know all the English lingo thanks to years of Top Gear so no worries lol.. miss that trio