Lose Power Steering on Hard Lefts :s

[RBeatty]

Hey everybody,

I have no idea what's happening here so maybe someone can help me out.

When I make a hard left turn I lose my power steering (gets really heavy), my stereo shuts off and some lights on the dash come on, (only for a second so I can't see what they are) then everything is back to normal.

I first had this happen a month ago and it's becoming more frequent now, had it happen 3 times in the last couple days. So far it's happened:
-Turning around in a parking lot and dead end
-Making a quick lane change
-Making a standard left turn at a light or another road

Details:
08 Mazda sedan, auto trans
Power steering replaced on recall last year
95,000km

[TheMAN]

you probably want to take it back to the dealer

[bluemazda3]

you probably want to take it back to the dealer

+1 definetly not safe to drive

[boyracer]

+2, I definitely would want to get that checked out, with winter coming the last thing you want is to get stranded. + stalling while lane changing could become a hazard to you and others.

[Kevin@nextmod]

Maybe your alternator?

[peterm15]

Maybe your alternator?

thats what i was thinking..

power steering sucks alot of power.

[zoso]

This happened to me, and it was the alternator. however what happened on the hard left i had all the same issues, but then as i kept driving the power steering cut out, then my lights, and stereo but the car was still moving and running. I stopped in a parkinglot turned the car off but had a hell of a time turning back on

If it is indeed the alternator the car would up and die no to long after. Me thinks there is some type of connections that is lose that's causing the power to be disconnected as when i first got my 3, i was going over a bumpy patch of road when my power cut out, apparently the battery cable was not tightened and was moving around and disconnecting.

[Cab0oze]

It can also be the battery connections or battery. In my case it was the battery the first time, and the second time was because my -ve terminal was a bit loose.

Get a voltmeter and check to see that you're hanging out around 14V with car on and the batt is over 12 with the car off.

[RBeatty]

I've checked the battery connections and they are nice and tight, however I grounded my throttle body a while back. I may undo that and see if I still have problems. Just trying to get a fix until I can get it into the dealer.

Thanks for the responses guys!

[krimsalt]

i doubt its an alternator. sit and turn the steering to the left while not moving (car running and all). If it does what you describe it still may be alternator, if not it may be many other things.
My opinion is something in your electrical system is loose and tilting around when you drive. Check fuse box to ensure everything is connected properly, as well as check the ECU from the dealer. That's where I'd start. Ensure your alternator connectors are properly secure.

A good way to test the alternator is to run the car, and unplug the battery. The power from the alternator should continue to run the car.

I'm going to go with ECU or fuse box as my best guess as when it happens, other lights turn on (most likely fuse box)