Rep Power: 0

My power steering is out and I've had two different shops tell me I need to replace the whole EPS system (the wires were chewed up by a rodent and short circuited the motor). After receiving both estimates, I have realized that the problem is too expensive for my budget and will have find a much cheaper solution (or just sell the car as is for a huge loss).

My question is: Can I remove the EPS control box/system in order to "loosen" up the steering a bit? A friend of mine said that the reason it was so hard to turn the wheel was because the system was not functioning and thought that removing it would help greatly, but I obviously would not have power steering.

Any thoughts?

Thanks a lot

 
Rep Power: 367

Try to see if you can get more caster angle in alignment.

 
Rep Power: 518

Caster is not adjustable, the factory gave no provisions for adjustment.

Fix the chewed wiring and see if it will work again.

 
Rep Power: 0

I fixed the wires and had both shops check them to make sure I did it properly. Still no power steering unfortunately, both shops said the unit was fried and needed to be completely replaced.

 
Rep Power: 518

Got the EPS warning light on? What codes are in it?
Did it blow the 60A fuse?


I'd believe a control unit could be toasted before the rack and motor.....but very few shops other than a dealer would have a scanner that can access the EPS data so naturally I have some reservation about your diagnosis.


Used parts can be much cheaper than new.

 
Rep Power: 128

The wheel may be hard to turn because you are moving hydraulic fluid in the rack against the resistance of the rest of the system. In other words, the fluid is resisting instead of helping.

On some cars, you can disconnect and loop the hoses from outlet to inlet, at least temporarily, while leaving the system full of fluid. The fluid circulates with less resistance, and the wheel turns more easily. Note that I have NOT done that on this car myself, so someone with more experience will have to chime in and tell you if its doable on this model. Just disconnecting a PS rack is generally not recommended.

 
Rep Power: 518

The power steering in this particular car is not hydraulic, it's all electric.

 
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Yes, it's definitely all electric unfortunately. I checked the 60a fuse before I took it in and it looks fresh still. It was getting a power reading on a meter before we connected the wires but it won't power the unit. It's a frustrating situation. I used to have an EG without power steering and it wasn't half as hard to turn around or get into/out of parking spaces. Is it possible to convert it to rack and pinion? Or something similar by removing the EPS completely?

 
Rep Power: 518

It's not something I would do.
Not for me, never for a customer.

I can picture stripping the rack to turn it into a completely manual unit, but surely you would devalue the car by doing so....and it may be considered dangerous as you are disabling power assist....altering a safety system..
Just picture yourself trying to explain why you did this to a judge and jury after someone crashes the car you altered.

Take the loss now and dump the car as is, or take the loss later because it's a hacked mess that needs a bunch of money to make it right, and no reasonably sane person wants to deal with it?

 
Rep Power: 128

No wonder I could not find the PS fluid reservoir...

 
Rep Power: 0

Yea, it's probably a good call, better safe than sorry really. Will hate to see it go after 13 years, but sometimes that's the things are I guess.