Diy:disable Hicas, Retain Power Steering. For Free!

[Severe R33]

I've just encountered a similar problem to this with my S2. Power steering seems to be heavier than normal but it's a constant not intermittent problem. HICAS is plugged in and no lock bar or dash lights. I'm going to check fluids soon but I'm guessing it's a pump issue or the speed sensor?

[paul_psi]

I've just encountered a similar problem to this with my S2. Power steering seems to be heavier than normal but it's a constant not intermittent problem. HICAS is plugged in and no lock bar or dash lights. I'm going to check fluids soon but I'm guessing it's a pump issue or the speed sensor?

Check your fluids first there should be a light on your dash unless the globe has already been taken out. Has your car got an aftermarket steering wheel? By memory my was low fluid or the pump

Edited January 26, 2014 by paul_psi

[Severe R33]

Ah OK, no my steering wheel is a tired looking stock one haha, no dash light on when car is running but I'll check the fluids when I get some daylight tomorrow, otherwise I'm guessing its the pump on its last legs

[paul_psi]

Its strange because I had aftermarket steering wheel on my car and the hicas light would come on when id go over 100kph roughly and didnt go out till I turnd the car off then once I put the bar in the light was on all the time when I put the bar in I also put coilovers tie rods lower control arms ect so it went straight on a tow truck to pedders and the aligned it all for me and they fould the no power steer problem and they told me it was the pump or electrical I drove around for a couple days before I checked the fluid to find it was bone dry I topped it up had power steering again but driving it with no fluid must had wrecked the pump so when I changed it everything was fine just the hicas light and when I put the gtr dash in I just took the globe out im not sure if having a microtech or any aftermarket computer makes a differance

[Severe R33]

Yeah I don't have an aftermarket ecu or hicas delete so I can rule those out too, car is fairly stock (for now ) apart from exhaust fmic and coilovers.

[Lamsr334door]

Hey guys new to forum and I was just curios due to my car has a lock out bar (not lock out kit) and my car still has hicas ecu plugged in and all I have done also is remove dash bulb and still retain factory sexy and I have never had an issue and have never had to do what blk94r33 did to fix he's issue, but in saying this my mates 33 power steering pump works on start up but stops working when you start to drive, he has lock out bar and ecu is still plugged in but has this power steering issue

Any advice will be very great full and both cars are S1 33 sedans

Sent from my iPhone using SAU Community

[Severe R33]

Does both you and your friends car have abs? Because the hicas ecus are different apparently and that may be why. Also does your friends car rev slightly when turning the wheel when stopped? Because if so it could be the speed sensor for the power steering, its working when stopped but not when moving? I am an amateur myself so I am just spit balling here, perhaps the experts on here can shed some light.

[Lamsr334door]

Hey dude both our cars are series 1 which don't have abs, andim not sure if it revs higher when u turn steering wheel, and speed sensor what does this have to do with power steering issues, but I was told by him that he's speedo has stopped working and at same time that's when he realised power steering was not working, but I've read up and not really finding anything about speedo affecting the power steering due to the power steering lines have one solenoid which is controlled via hicas ecu and as I said all my loom n hicas ecu is plugged in and works mint no steering problems and he's is same yet steering issues could it be he's speedo is f**ked and if yes please explain as to in like confused to y it would

[Lamsr334door]

And yes power steering works when he first starts car but when u get 50m down the road it stops

[Severe R33]

My best guess is something to do with the busted speedo, as I've read on these forums that the sensor which controls how stiff the power steering is at which speed, is usually to blame for a problem like that, especially seeing as it works to begin with but soon stops once you start driving. I reckon fixing the speedo will fix the power steering too. Good luck!

[Lamsr334door]

Ok thanks heaps man, I wouldn't of thought speedo would be an issue but will suss it out with another cluster

[RoyRoy]

Sorry to bring this alive again but THANK YOU SO MUCH SEVERE!!!
Joined up to SAU just to say thanks you to severr33
This solved my 12 month problem of no power steering. Tried so many other things (besides Hicas Ecu replacement)
But now that ive done this i can rule out the Hicas ECU. Solder those wires back together and try order one somewhere and hopefully it will fix it.
My forearms thank you again.

[Severe R33]

No problem mate, I am fairly new to the forum myself too so I'm glad I could help!

[LerchR33]

Hi all i tried the method of connecting pin 5 to pin 14 by simply unplugging the HICAS ecu, then getting a small wire and bridging those 2 sockets on the plug.

To my surprise it actually turned on my ignition and dash as if i had turned my key to 'accesories'. (my key was NOT in the car)

I started the car and the power steering was uneffected by this method.

Is the pin relating to the power steering solenoid in a different hole?

[xanavinismo]

On 12/23/2013 at 6:25 PM, blk94r33 said:

14 months on still functioning 100% and i've had no problems with any steering components.

Hi Paul, reviving an old thread here (hopefully).

Just wanted to check in and see if after all this time if you still never had any issues with the steering?

On a side note, does anyone know which pin is the speed input into the HICAS ECU?
According to the wiring diagram for the HICAS ECU, pin I see that pin 12 says "Engine Speed" and pin 31 goes to the "ECM", 'Data link connector" and "Vehicle speed signal (in meter)", but I'm not sure which is the input.