Hicas And General Steering Problems

[Godzilla32]

if you can imagine having another steering rack or the rear, like you have on the front but smaller, and turning the wheels like the one does on the front but much less, only a degree or 2 thats how hicas works. When you opt for a lock bar you completely remove the rear power steer rack and put a hollow tube (HICAS lock bar) into its place to permanantly lock the wheels in a set position IE: however much toe you want on the rear.

[MacoStar]

I had the same issue in my 32, was electrical. All i needed to do was change the battery..... probably not much help there but give it a shot....

[siiick]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm still trying to get an idea of how my car will feel with the lockbar.

When the HICAS light does come on, my steering feels really sluggish, like there's no power steering, but when it's off (which is most of the time, thankfully), it feels beautiful.

I'm assuming the lockbar completely eliminates the sluggish feeling, because nothing will be happening in the rear end then? Just a nice solid rear wheel drive with power steering?

Sorry again...

Yes, i believe you are having the same problems as mine, i spotted your thread too. Mine feels same as you describe, however my light is constantly on. Im just gonna take a gamble and get the bar. they are cheap and i believe it will be an easy fix.

[oweban]

Yes, i believe you are having the same problems as mine, i spotted your thread too. Mine feels same as you describe, however my light is constantly on. Im just gonna take a gamble and get the bar. they are cheap and i believe it will be an easy fix.

Mine's kinda not all that often, fortunately (took it for a spin tonight, wasn't on at all).

Good luck with the bar

[markimak]

how did the bar go.

when u either unplug the hicas from under the car or from the ECU under the parcel shelf did it fix it?

Edited January 9, 2007 by markimak

[siiick]

how did the bar go.

when u either unplug the hicas from under the car or from the ECU under the parcel shelf did it fix it?

Bar fitted today. Car drives great. best it has felt. all problems eliminated. turned out being a very cheap fix, rather than spending heaps trying to determine the problem.

Btw markimak i just removed the electrics from the bar, not the ecu. if u get rid of the ecu ur steering goes to shit. but if you just remove the electrics from the bar, it wont fix ur problems, because it allows the tyre rod ends to slop around all over the shop, felt bad...

Buy a hicas bar they're a sweet fix:D

Edited January 15, 2007 by siiick

[fullo]

I got a problem with the HICAS as well, but it is a bit different than you guys.

It is ok when I am driving the car around. The HICAS light comes on after few minutes I entered the freeway( I was driving 100 only)and it started on until I restarted the car. Everything is ok when the light starts on, nothing wrong with the power steering, handling is the same. It is just a bit annoying when I look at it.

Do you guys know what is the problem? And do I need to get the hicas lockbar as well? How much will that cost?

Edited January 20, 2007 by fullo

[Godzilla32]

You need to do a diagnostic test on the HICAS system. Dont ask how you do it as ive posted it up lots of times already. Might have already said how in this thread! There were a few threads on the same topic so take a look.

[123456]

The steering seems possibly better since i cleaned the connectors on the hicas bar. hicas light still remains on all the time. The diagnostic test i found is as follows.

1.Start car in neutral.

2.Turn wheel left and right 20deg a few times

3.Pump the brake 5 times then once more. (all of this within 10 seconds of starting the car)

4.Put it in gear then out

5.Then drive 15 feet forward or backwards.

The hicas light is supposed to flash a code or something, is this the test you are referring to?

I've read one like this, the problem is as follows:

2. Turn wheel left and right 20deg a few times, i've also read turn it left and right 5 times.. does this mean left 5, right 5, or left,rightleftrighleftrightleftrightleftright, or is it infact just a few turns? The skys-the-limit- handbook says the same thing, i dont get it)

3. Pump the brake 5 times then once more.. wtf is with that, if it's 5 then once more, why not say 6? or do u do 5 then wait then 1 more? The skys-the-limit- handbook says the same thing, i dont get it)

4. Haven't heard of putting it in gear and then out

5. need to keep speed under 10km/h

Thats going by the tutorial in the skys the limit handbook and from what you've said

Anyways my problem is that no matter what i try i just can't get into it.

Can someone please go enter into it and write down, in here exactly what u did

Edited January 20, 2007 by 123456

[markimak]

Bar fitted today. Car drives great. best it has felt. all problems eliminated. turned out being a very cheap fix, rather than spending heaps trying to determine the problem.

Btw markimak i just removed the electrics from the bar, not the ecu. if u get rid of the ecu ur steering goes to shit. but if you just remove the electrics from the bar, it wont fix ur problems, because it allows the tyre rod ends to slop around all over the shop, felt bad...

Buy a hicas bar they're a sweet fix:D

yeah u cant control ur toe in or out if u dont lock the rear.. best not to remove the ECU

[Yidz]

No.

the steering wheel has HICAS sensors. i think left to right and speed.

my light was on and the steering became heavy after 80secs because hicas wasnt getting a speed signal from my speedo because it was spinning freely inside the cluster. Once i fixed that by removing the cluster and repairing a cracked piece of plastic, HICAS was getting its speed signal and everything is back to normal.

This sounds like what might be my problem, ever since I haven't had a speedo, my HICAS light comes on a lot, and steering becomes very heavy. As soon as I turn the car off and straight back on again its good for like ten minutes or so.

I have been told the speedo wouldnt have anything to do with it??? Its my actual speedo cable thats not connecting, I need a new one. Do you think by getting a new one this will solve my HICAS problem?

Thanks in advance

[Hardman69]

The HICAS computer needs a speed signal, and that comes around from the speed-sensor in a big loop, which passes through your speedo.

So yeah - no speedo = no HICAS. (My speedo's got a dodgey connection, and when it dies, HICAS soon follows)

Hope that helps.

p.s. the steering has speed-sensitive valving, so when the speed signal goes away, the steering goes into limp-home mode, which is minimal asistance.

This sounds like what might be my problem, ever since I haven't had a speedo, my HICAS light comes on a lot, and steering becomes very heavy. As soon as I turn the car off and straight back on again its good for like ten minutes or so.

I have been told the speedo wouldnt have anything to do with it??? Its my actual speedo cable thats not connecting, I need a new one. Do you think by getting a new one this will solve my HICAS problem?

Thanks in advance

[Ohh2Low]

bloody good information on this thread guys, my hicas has stuffed up (last night infact) i am hecking everything over tonight and if that doesnt work i will be getting the normal fitted bar in the rear. cheers guys.

[4drftn]

my problem is similar to most, my HICAS is always on most of the time, and while it is its very heavy, if i fit the lockout bar will my steering have the heavy feeling? will it eliminate power steering all together? or will it just eliminate movement of the rear and my p/s in the front will be normal?

cheers

[MicK51]

Ok heres one for ya's

I've just installed a new motor in my r32 and have removed the HICAS completely.

I removed all the lines, gutted the part of the power steering pump that provides fluid for the HICAS, installed a lock bar and removed the computer.

Now the HICAS light is on only when the ignition is off and the steering seems more heavy then usual

I assume that the HICAS is in limp home mode and causing my steering to be stiff, but how does it control the power steering pressure?

Cheers

[MicK51]

so after reading a few more threads from my search i think i've got a solution...

There is a solidnoid on the steering rack which controls power steering pressure, the factory setup controls it so u have light steering at low speeds for manovability (ie parking) and stiff steering at high speeds for stability (ie back straight at qr ).

So i'm guessing i need to hook that up to my haltech and program the same setup, something for my tuner to do i think.

What u guys reckon?

[GTRgeoff]

Mick, I would first get some caster adjusters and try that out. When the HICAS is disconnected it stops the slow speed light steering from kicking in, but with extra caster it allows easier steering so it isn't noticeable. Also pull the light from the dash and it should be fine. Try get about 7 degrees caster.

[MicK51]

yeah we used adjustable castor rods on the race car to dial the understeer with great results, but r they legal for street cars?

It would probably be cheaper to wire up the solanoid, but what speed do i set it at? 80kph?

[GTRgeoff]

Just use whiteline eccentric bolt urethane bushes in the standard arms. There are some rose joints you can buy that are sealed so would pass casual inspection.

[MicK51]

how many deg can u get out of the eccentric bolt?