Any interest in an electric power steering controller (EPSC)?

[BRagland]

I'm very interested!

[Daox]

Glad to see there is some interest.

If you'd be willing to help me develop and/or test the controller, PM me and we will get to work. I've already collected some info from the service manual, but I need assistance with the actual car bits. The electric power steering unit has its own ECU that must be purchased as a unit, thus its not really much info on the ECU and its sensors.

[Cani Lupine]

Personally, I'd just rather delete the power steering. I converted my first car, a 1991 Ford Tempo, to manual steering by swapping in a rack from an Escort, since the power steering was dead and I didn't feel like actually repairing it. Freed up some power and improved the steering feel, and was actually a bit easier than a dead power rack. My Aspire came with manual steering and was about 70 lbs heavier than the Mirage.

[BRagland]

Personally, I'd just rather delete the power steering. I converted my first car, a 1991 Ford Tempo, to manual steering by swapping in a rack from an Escort, since the power steering was dead and I didn't feel like actually repairing it. Freed up some power and improved the steering feel, and was actually a bit easier than a dead power rack. My Aspire came with manual steering and was about 70 lbs heavier than the Mirage.

I don't know what you could put in it place.

Taking out a gear or the motor would cause some serious longevity concerns, as there IS grease in that unit, despite it being electric. Messing stuff like that means messing up seals, getting dirt in her, and taking out too many things.

Honestly, as it is controlled by an ECU, it is worlds easier to just plug a device into the wiring harness and dial it down. You would get some assist when you need, but could dial it down from the over-assisted state it currently exists at.

I would agree with you: taking it out would be optimal, but we have nothing to put in it place, and pulling it apart to tamper with it will not only wreck the seals (likely) but could void a warranty (for sure).

It's a lot easier to dis-connect said device and claim it was never plugged in, and play dumb to get warranty repairs than it is to open the rack up and put back the gear or the electric motor, leaving behind evidence of you messing with something.

-Brandon

[Daox]

Looking at the service manual, it will send an error code to the car's ECU if certain parameters aren't met. I didn't look it over amazingly well as I was just looking for wiring diagrams, but it isn't a thing where you can just pull the plug and its turned off I don't think. Perhaps if you kill power to the entire PS system so it stops any errors from being sent? That could possibly cause an error too though as the communication between the EPS ECU and car ECU is a can bus, and if no communication is detected it might throw a code too...

[Jimmyess333]

Has anyone tried disconnecting the assist?

[Cani Lupine]

I just want to pull the electric assist completely out. Dead power steering is harder to turn than full manual, because you're also forcing the electric motor and gearing to turn. Full manual would be a breeze in these cars, my 1996 Ford Aspire had it and I had zero trouble in parking lots.


... I didn't even realize I replied to this thread 5 months ago. Oops!

[Jimmyess333]

I just want to pull the electric assist completely out. Dead power steering is harder to turn than full manual, because you're also forcing the electric motor and gearing to turn. Full manual would be a breeze in these cars, my 1996 Ford Aspire had it and I had zero trouble in parking lots.

That's what I was thinking.
My 01 Suzuki Swift was awesome with manual steering.
Although I am glad the assist on the mirage is located on the column.
This means the rack it's self is manual and the u-joints on the steering shaft are engineered to turn it.
I hear on cars with the assist or power steering at the rack that the u-joints on the steering shaft may not be engineered for the extra load of manual steering.
I'm so close to buying one of these but I'm still researching the steering and CVT trans.
I can always go manual with the trans.
Now If I could just find one with manual windows.....

[MightyMirageMpg]

I'm so close to buying one of these but I'm still researching the steering and CVT trans.
I can always go manual with the trans.
Now If I could just find one with manual windows.....

I've had about 90% of door components out, and the window setup is pretty light. only a few pounds. without doing lexan slim stationary windows, you won't save any real weight. I'm not positive but i don't think they offered manual Windows?? i suggest the manual transmission. fuel economy is significantly better. I'm averaging well over 50mpg (usa) and with a low powered car, do you really want to drain anymore power from it??



Doax, I'm rather unfamiliar with the power steering system, but can i ask how you were planning to accomplish this? slowing the motor down, or changing the hydraulic pressure? something else?

either way, I'm sure almost any code can be defeate

[Daox]

There are torque sensors in the steering column that give feedback to the EPS ECU. The plan was to fool the sensors into reading less torque input than is actually there to reduce the amount of assist it puts out.