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We are considering buying a Mazda Protege 2002 with rack and pinion steering/auto trans. When my husband and daughter (who we are buying the car for) drove it yesterday, they both found the steering VERY tight and touchy...to the point my 19 year old daughter felt scared because it has almost no normal give and when you turn corners, the wheel has to be brought back to center manually...does this mean the Rack and Pinion is going out or that the auto transmission pump is faulty, as suggested by another website on the subject...Can anyone help me out?
Year: 2002Make: MazdaMake (other): ProtegeModel: LXEngine: 4 Cylinder Already Tried: Nothing...in the process of buying this model and want to make sure we can either require the seller to fix the problem or how much it will cost and if it is fixable and safe to fix
HelloCustomer this can be caused by a few different things on this vehicle. It may be a bad steering rack and pinion or another loose steering component. It may also be that the vehicle is out of alignment. You would need to have a shop check these things out. I would ask the seller if you can have this checked before purchasing the vehicle.
I have been told this same thing, but I was wondering how Rack and Pinion steering operates when it is fully functioning...is it VERY tight when driving 60 miles an hour? When you touch it, it seems to really cause the vehicle to swerve and when you turn a corner, you have to almost manually bring the wheel back to center...is this normal? I have been told that the Rack and Pinion steering is a more sporty feel, but does that mean that it responds to the slightest touch and sends the car swerving...it felt scary to my daughter and we want to know how it is suppose to feel. Also, if we do need to replace it, can you replace just portions of it, or the whole system?
It is common for the steering to feel touchy on this vehicle. It really depends on what your daughter is used to. This car will steer quicker than most due to it's compact design and the fact that it is supposed to be sporty. If the rack is worn out then you would need to replace the entire thing. Only the rack tie rods can be replaced seperately.
Technician/Advisor
AA DEGREE AUTOMOTIVE/DIESEL TECH