4WS no go :-(

nutshell · #1 03-03-2006, 02:33 PM

The story so far:

Recently taken possession of a burgundy 91 with 4WS and all the good bits.
It has been regularly maintained.

The previous owner just paid mega to have the steering rack overhauled by the local agents in Auckland (Winger Subaru) at the beginning of Feb.

HOWEVER...now the 4WS dash indicator is on almost permanently!

Winger have been servicing the vehicle since 2000 and (surprise, surprise) say they never even knew that it had 4WS!

Obviously the steering rack work has upset something.
But what?

I need to be able to intelligently advise the agents where to poke their probes so they can unravel and rectify their handiwork.

Any assistance gratefully received.
Thanks,
Ian

Earthworm · #2 03-03-2006, 03:16 PM

Have you pulled the 4WS codes yet?

Instructions in the SVXipedia.

b3lha · #3 03-04-2006, 08:46 AM

Hi Ian,

Got your PM. I'll reply here in case the answers help anyone else in the future.

When you say the rack was overhauled, presumably they just replaced the seals etc in the existing rack, rather than swapping in a rack from another car? I'm asking this because the front rack on the 4WS car is a different ratio to the 2WS SVX rack. Turning the steering wheel from lock to lock should be about 2.16 turns (two and one sixth).

The steering angle sensor is inside the car. Put your head down in front of the driving seat and look behind the brake pedal where the steering column passes through into the engine compartment. You should see a round metal thing on top of the column and a little black box underneath with a bunch of wires coming out of it.

As far as I know, this is the only interface between the front wheel steering and the rear wheel steering, so in theory replacing the rack shouldn't have affected this. However, the steering angle sensor needs to be syncronised with the front rack.

What I mean is that the centre position on the sensor must match the centre position on the front rack. Maybe the steering wheel was moved one or more turns while the rack was disconnected. Even though the steering wheel now points ahead, the sensor could be telling the control unit that the wheel is two turns left or right of centre. This impossible steering angle would certainly cause an error code.

I'm just speculating at present. As Earthworm said, pulling the codes is the way to start diagnosis. Try that and let us know how you get on.

This diagram may help you:
http://www.geocities.com/jamsvx/trans4ws.html

b3lha · #4 03-04-2006, 08:58 AM

One final thing. I notice that you are in Auckland, NZ. There is an SVX guru called Trevor Sheffield and he lives in Auckland too. I'm sure I remember him saying that he had some technical notes on the 4WS system. Unfortunately he doesn't come to this site anymore because somebody was rude to him (long story). I'm sure that somebody here must have his email address or contact details.

dwolfe71 · #5 03-04-2006, 12:12 PM

Do the american version have 4ws??? I once read that my 94 has passive 4ws. Is their anyway that such a system can be added to the car if it is really just passive for american versions???

immortal_suby · #6 03-04-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwolfe71

Do the american version have 4ws??? once read that my 94 has passive 4ws. Is their anyway that such a system can be added to the car if it is really just passive for american versions???

just passive 4ws on the american models. its a suspension trick.
I haven't heard of anyone adapting the system for active 4ws.

nutshell · #7 03-07-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b3lha

I'm just speculating at present. As Earthworm said, pulling the codes is the way to start diagnosis. Try that and let us know how you get on.

Thanks guys. I am sorting out the legacy (no pun intended) "park-by-feel" dings at present, and I have spoken with the agents. Once the body is up to speed they have agreed to put it on their diagnostics.

I have identified the two sensors and think it's likely they moved the wheel and reset the steering incorrectly when they did the re-alignment.

lf the 4WS fail-safe comes on before traveling too far the steering wheel is perfectly aligned for the duration of the journey. But if the light stays off for a while, then when the failsafe bites, although the vehicle apparently tracks fine, the steering wheel is cocked to the left about five degrees.

If I knew exactly what I was looking at in the wiring down by the internal fusebox I am sure I could run the codes, but a brief examination of the bird's nest wiring loom reminded me why I am not an auto-electrician.

Ian

b3lha · #8 03-08-2006, 04:26 AM

Checking the diagnostic codes is easy. Have a quick look of the two documents below.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/How-To/33055.pdf

http://www.svx-iw.com/svxiw/article/?article=83

svxistentialist · #9 03-10-2006, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b3lha

One final thing. I notice that you are in Auckland, NZ. There is an SVX guru called Trevor Sheffield and he lives in Auckland too. I'm sure I remember him saying that he had some technical notes on the 4WS system. Unfortunately he doesn't come to this site anymore because somebody was rude to him (long story). I'm sure that somebody here must have his email address or contact details.

Make it your business to find Trevor. He is a real nice guy.

As Phil says, he was upset by some intemperate comments, and is not too enamoured of the [probably very young] gung ho brigade, who know very little, but are arrogant in their ignorance.

Trevor knows his stuff, and is sorely missed on here.

Joe

floatingkiwi · #10 03-11-2006, 03:27 AM

Hi NUTSHELL, and welcome to the best kept secret on all sides of the Tasman.. (the car and this site of course!)

My family has two of these beauties down south of you in the King Country, but unfortunately neither of them have 4WS, so I can't help you much! (then why am I posting??)

Matt

floatingkiwi · #11 03-11-2006, 03:40 AM

By the way Ian, (hopefully I'm not trying to teach you to suck eggs here) but your comment about the birds nest at the fuse box leads me to think you're slightly in the wrong place. You've got to pull off the triangular shaped, carpeted panel just to the right of where your right foot lies. It sortof comes off in a backwards-ish direction after pulling towards the transmission tunnel first to pop off the little button that holds it in place. Once you're in there the right connector is fairly apparent. You'll see the two blue wires/probes taped up to some other part of the loom. Use either one... The large connectors are the same colours for us as they are for the yanks If I remember rightly (I'm in Europe right now). Certainly the Orange one is not the right one...

How is the 4WS (when it's working)? My next will be a 93 with everything I think. Currently a 92 with the usual Jap options - no sunroof.

Matt

floatingkiwi · #12 03-11-2006, 03:43 AM

AND (sighs..) a final post: Don't forget to register yourself on the SVX map of the world. Us kiwis are sorely represented in the downunder section.
Follow the link..
http://www.frappr.com/svx

Matt