1994 MAZDA MX-5 wheel

MANUAL STEERING TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE Problem Steering heavy Posslble Cause Poor lubrication, foreign material, or abnormal wear of steering ball joint Stuck or damaged lower arm ball joints lmproper steering pinion preload Damaged steering gear Malfunction of steering shaft joint lmproperly adjusted wheel alignment Malfunctioning steering gear Replace Replace gear Replace Replace Adjust Replace ~ction- Lubricate or replace section R N-12 N-12 N- 9 section R N-12 ~i&d~ection N-13 General instability while driving Steering wheel pulls to one side Shake (Steering wheel vibrates upidown) Worn or damaged stabilizer and/or suspension arm bushings Dragging brake Loose lower arm lmproperly adjusted wheel alignment lncorrect tire pressure Damaged or unbalanced wheel Worn or damaged steering joints lmproper steering pinion preload Weak front coil spring Worn or damaged stabilizer andlor suspension arm bushings Malfunctioning shock absorber lmproperly adjusted wheel alignment Excessive tire and/or wheel runout Loose lug nuts Unbalanced wheel(s) Incorrect tire pressure Incorrect tire pressure Unevenly worn tires Weak front spring Replace Repair Tighten Adjust Adjust Adjust or replace Replace Replace gear Replace Replace Replace Adjust Replace Tighten Adjust or replace section R section P section R section R section Q section Q N- 9 N-12 section R section R section R section R section Q section Q section Q Adjust Adjust Replace Replace section Q section Q section Q section R I Cracked or worn transmission mount I Cracked or worn engine mount 1 ~e~lace I section B lncorrect tire pressure Unevenly worn tires Malfunction of shock absorber Shimmy (Steering wheel vibrates circumferentially) Excessive steering wheel play Cracked or worn steering gear mount Loose steering gear mounting bolts Stuck or damaged steering ball joint Excessive tire and/or wheel runout Loose lug nuts Unbalanced wheel(s) Adjust Replace Replace Replace Replace Tighten Replace Replace Tighten Adjust or replace section Q section Q section R section J N-12 N-12 N-13 section Q section Q section Q I Loose shock absorber mounting bolts 1 Tighten I section R Stuck or damaged lower arm ball joint Cracked or worn suspension bushings Damaged or worn front wheel bearing lmproperly adjusted front wheel alignment Worn steering gear Worn or damaged steering joints Worn or damaged suspension arm bushings Loose steering gear mounting bolts I lmproperly adjusted front wheel alignment Poor steering wheel return Replace Replace Replace Adjust Replace Replace Replace Tighten Replace Adjust Replace Adjust Worn linkage &-tie-rod ball joint lncorrect tire pressure Stuck or damaged steering joints section R section R section M section R N-12 N- 9 section R N-12 N-12 section Q N- 9 section R Abnormal noise from steering system 25UONX-00! Improper steering pinion preload Ball joint not operating smoothly Steering shaft contacting something Loose steering gear Malfunctioning steering gear Obstruction near steering column Loose steering linkage Worn steering joints Replace gear Replace Repair Tighten Replace Repair or replace Tighten or replace Replace N-12 N-13 N- 9 N-12 N-12 N- 9 N-12 N- 9 Gartner Banana

N MANUAL STEERING BOOT Replacement 1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts. 2. On level ground, jack up the front of the vehicle and support it on safety stands. 3. Remove the wheel. 4. Remove in the order shown in the figure, referring to Removal Note. 5. Install in the reverse order of removal, referring to lnstallation Note. 6. After installation, check the steering angle and toe-in, and adjust if necessary. (Refer to section R.) Nm (kgfm, ftdbf) 1. Cotter pin 6. Tie-rod end boot 2. Nut Removal Note ................ page N-7 3. Tie-rod endfsteering knuckle Installation Note .............. page N-7 Removal Note ................ page N-7 7. Boot clamp J 4. Locknut 8. Boot wire Removal Note ................ page N-7 9. Steering gear boot 5. Tie-rod end Installation Note .............. page N-7 Gartner Banana

N MANUAL STEERING STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN Obtain the code number and deactivate the audio anti- theft system before disconnecting the battery. (Refer to section T.) On-vehicle Inspection Steering wheel play If the play exceeds specification, either the steering joints are worn or the backlash of the steering gear is excessive. With the wheels in the straight-ahead position, gently turn the steering wheel to the left and right and verify that the play is within specification. Play: 0--30mm (0-1.18 in) Looseness or play of steering wheel Move the steering wheel in directions a, 0, and @ to check for column bearing wear, steering shaft joint play, steering wheel looseness, and column looseness. Steering wheel effort 1. On level ground, jack up the front of the vehicle and sup- port it on safety stands. 2. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right at least 5 times. 3. Move the steering wheel to put the wheels in the straight ahead position. 4. Attach a pull scale to the outermost point of the steering wheel spoke. Then, starting with the wheels in the straight-ahead posi- tion, measure the effort required to turn the steering wheel to the left and to the right. Steering wheel effort: 5.0--29 N (0.S3.0 kgf, 1 .l--6.6 Ibf) (during one turn of steering wheel) 5. If not within specification, check the following: rotation starting torque of pinion, rotation torque of each ball joint, and steering joints. Gartner Banana

MANUAL STEERING , N Removal / Installation 1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. 2. Remove in the order shown in the figure, referring to Removal Note. ,, 3. Inspect all parts and repair or replace as necessary. 4. Install in the reverse order of removal. 5. Tighten all necessary nuts and bolts to the specified torque. 6. After installation, check if the horn sounds. If the horn does not sound, remove the air bag module and connect the module connectors. (Refer to section T.) 1. Air bag module 6. Lower panel Removal 1 Installation .......... section T 7. Key interlock cable (Automatic transmission) 2. Locknut 8. Intermediate shaft bolt 3. Steering wheel 9. Steering shaft w ............... Removal Note page N-10 Disassembly 1 Inspection / 4. Column cover Assembly .................. page N-10 5. Combination switch Removal / Installation .......... section T Gartner Banana

N MANUAL STEERING Removal Note Steering wheel Caution '. Do not try to remove the steering wheel by hitting the shaft with a hammer. The column will col- lapse. Remove the steering wheel with a suitable puller. Disassembly 1 Inspection 1 Assembly 1. Disassemble in the order shown in the figure, referring to Disassembly Note. 2. Assemble in the reverse order of disassembly, referring to Assembly Note. L 1. Steering lock mounting bolts and bracket 3. Steering shaft ................... Disassembly Note ............ page N-1 1 Inspection page N-1 1 Assembly Note .............. page N-11 4. Intermediate shaft J 2. Steering lock assembly Inspect universal joint for looseness, abnormal noise, and sticking Gartner Banana

N MANUAL STEERING STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE Removal / Installation 1. Turn the wheels to the straight-ahead position. 2. Loosen the wheel lug nuts. 4 3. On level ground, jack up the front of the vehicle and support it on safety stands. 4. Remove the wheel. Note Turning the steering wheel while the steering gear is removed will make reinstallation difficult. Do not turn the steering wheel while the steering gear is removed. If the steering wheel is turned in that condi- tion, the clockspring connector may have to be adjusted. (Refer to section T.) 5. Remove the undercover. 6. With the wheels in the straight-ahead position, remove in the order shown in the figure. 7. Install in the reverse order of removal. 8. Adjust the front wheel alignment. (Refer to section R.) 1. Cotter pin 4. Intermediate shaft bolt 5. Mounting bracket bolt .i 2. Nut 3. Tie-rod endlsteering knuckle 6. Steering gear and linkage Removal Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page N-7 Gartner Banana

N ENGINE SPEED SENSING POWER STEERING TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE Steering feels heavy - - Poor lubrication, foreign material, or abnormal wear of steering ball joint Stuck or damaged lower arm ball joints lmproper steering pinion preload Damaged steering gear Malfunctioning steering shaft joint Problem I lmproperly adjusted wheel alignment Possible Cause 1 Malfunctioning steering gear lncorrect tire pressure Loose or damaged oil pump drive belt Low fluid level or air in fluid I Leakage of fluid I Insufficient oil pump pressure Steering wheel pulls lncorrect tire pressure to one side Unevenly worn tires ( Weak front spring General instability while driving Worn or damaged stabilizer and/or upper or lower arm bushing Dragging brake Loose lower arm lmproperly adjusted wheel alignment lncorrect tire pressure Damaged or unbalanced wheel Worn or damaged steering joint(s) lmproper steering pinion preload Weak front coil spring Worn or damaged stabilizer and/or upper or lower arm bushing Malfunctioning shock absorber Cracked or worn engine mount Cracked or worn transmission mount Shake (Steering wheel vibrates up/ down) Shimmy (Steering wheel vibrates left1 right) lmproperly adjusted wheel alignment Excessive tire and/or wheel runout Loose lug nuts Unbalanced wheel(s) Excessive steering wheel play Poor steering wheel return Cracked or worn steering gear mount Loose steering gear mounting bolts Stuck or damaged steering ball joint Excessive tire and/or wheel runout Loose lug nuts Unbalanced wheel@) lncorrect tire pressure Unevenly worn tires Malfunctioning shock absorber Loose shock absorber mounting bolts Stuck or damaged lower arm ball joint Cracked or worn suspension bushings Damaged or worn front wheel bearing lmproperly adjusted front wheel alignment Worn steering gear Worn or damaged steering joints Worn or damaged lower arm bushing Loose steering gear mounting bolts Worn linkage or tie-rod ball joint lncorrect tire pressure Stuck or damaged steering joints lmproperly adjusted front wheel alignment lmproper steering pinion preload Ball joint not operating smoothly Steering shaft contacting something Action Lubricate or replace Replace Adjust Replace Replace Adjust Replace Adjust Adjust or replace Add fluid or bleed air Repair or replace Replace Adjust Replace Replace Replace Repair Tighten or replace Adjust Adjust Adjust or replace Replace Adjust Replace Replace Replace Adjust Replace Tighten Adjust or replace Replace Replace Replace Tighten Replace Replace Tighten Adjust or replace Adjust Replace Replace Tighten Replace Replace Replace Adjust Replace Replace Replace Tighten Replace Adjust Replace Adjust Adjust Replace Repair Pagelsection N-25 section R N-32 N-25 N- 9 section R N-25 section Q N-37 N-21,22 - N-34 section Q section Q section R section R section P section R section R section Q section Q N- 9 N-32 section R section R section R section R section Q section Q section Q section B section J N-26 N-25 N-25 section Q section Q section Q section Q section Q section R section R section R section R section M section R N-25 N- 9 section R N-25 N-25 section Q N- 9 section R N-32 N-25 N- 9 Gartner Banana

ENGINE SPEED SENSING POWER STEERING N TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE (CONT'D) Possible Cause I Problem Abnormal noise from steering system Loose oil pump Loose steering gear Loose oil pump bracket Drive belt loosettight Air in system Malfunctioning steering gear Malfunctioning oil pump Obstruction near steering column or pressure hose Loose steering linkage Worn steering joints Action Tighten Tighten Tighten Adjust Bleed air Replace Replace Repair or replace Tighten or replace Replace PageISection section B N-25 N- 9 N- 9 25UONX41 AIR BLEEDING 1. Check the fluid level. (Refer to page N-22.) 2. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right several times with the engine not running. 3. Recheck the fluid level. If it has dropped, add fluid. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the fluid level stabilizes. 5. Start the engine and let it idle. 6. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right several times. 7. Verify that the fluid is not foamy and that the fluid level has not dropped. 8. Add fluid if necessary, and repeat steps 6 and 7. Gartner Banana