2006 IS250. Car starts And the power steering is working, I drive around for a little bit and the power steering goes out. I park the car and turn it in and off and power steering comes back. Sometimes power steering doesn’t come back until after a few restarts.

Ive checked the connections to the P/S ECU and cleaned with MAF sensor cleaner. Problem persists.

No Engine Light and No Codes are present.

anybody have any ideas what it could be ?

 

I would lean towards a bad P/S ECU. I would find a known good, used unit and see if that helps. Ebay has some for $100+.

 

How many miles?
How close are you to saltwater / road salt?
How is it used? Freeway car or lots of short trips?

With the OBD Fusion App and Lexus PID pack, you can see the rack motor temperature, steering input angle, and current draw.
You might load the app and monitor what changes when it acts up.

Also get your battery and alternator tested. It has an 80 Amp fuse so the PS can draw a lot of current.

 

I have 270k miles
I am not near any salt water . Hasn’t snowed here car is used as a daily to and from work. At least 50 miles a day mostly highway .

The problem is occurring more frequently now .

Power Steering is off when I start the car 75% of the time . Alternator is a little on the low side but battery is charged .

 

Bad alternator