Speedo and HICAS problem

[geordie]

On a long drive from sydney to canberra last night, half way down the hum e my speedo stopped and flicked back down to 0km....cant find loose cable etc.....

At this same point in time (one would think connected to each other, ossibly just freaky)

My HICAS light comes on, and the steering got very heavy.......

No idea if they go hand in hand, or if its the same problem.

Any help, much appreciated.

Cheers

G

[R32Skyliner]

I had this problem about 2 months ago. The problem with mine was a small plastic connector which basically links the speedo cable to the speedo was crackes and as such wasn't gripping the cable. I tried taping the connector up as I couldn't source the individual component by itself, so I used some araldite and tape to attach the connector to the cable.

I'd suggest you pull your speedo out (It's not hard, I got my time down to under ten minutes ) and check if this is the problem, the connector sits in the 'funnel' shaped bit at the end of the speedo cable, behind the speedo itself. It comprises of three parts, a spring, and outer casing and a plunger type thingy. Good luck with it, and if it's the same problem as what I had, pm me, mine has worked fine ever since.

[improvin]

On a long drive from sydney to canberra last night, half way down the hum e my speedo stopped and flicked back down to 0km....cant find loose cable etc.....

At this same point in time (one would think connected to each other, ossibly just freaky)

My HICAS light comes on, and the steering got very heavy.......

No idea if they go hand in hand, or if its the same problem.  

Any help, much appreciated.

Cheers

G

hey im not to sure about the speedo but i had a similar problem with my steering....the pumped worked you could hear it but my air con didn't work either.

it was just a fuse the blew and stopped everything

[geordie]

Hey the steering problem is a weird one, it works then after maybe.......30secs of driving it drops out and the HICAS light comes on and the steering coz really heavy.

As for speedo....just about to go pull it out.

Weird they that happen in the same instance of time!.

Cheers

G

[Shaun]

The problem is connected. Im sure there is a speed sensor for the power steering and hicas in behind the speedo in the dash. The same thing happened to me when my speedo cable broke.

After you pull your cluster out and fix the problem, can you post your findings so we can all know whats going on; i think the problem is inevitable for all of us.

Shaun.

[R33S2]

I can confirm that hicas and powersteer are linked do a search theres a post the same as this about a day ago

[R32Skyliner]

The problem is connected. Im sure there is a speed sensor for the power steering and hicas in behind the speedo in the dash. The same thing happened to me when my speedo cable broke.

After you pull your cluster out and fix the problem, can you post your findings so we can all know whats going on; i think the problem is inevitable for all of us.

Shaun.

No doubt the problems are related, I think if you run the HICAS diagnostic then it will tell you that there's a problem with the speed sensor.

A question for people who have had and fixed this problem before: did anyone else have the little plastic connector that I mentioned in my previous post? When I was trying to fix the problem with my car, nobody seemed to be able to get me this piece without giving me the entrie sppedo cable, even then I couldn't be assured that the connector would be attached.

[jwah]

My hicas is stuffing up, but my speedo is still working.. But not as well as it should, its a bit .. loose? I also know that my speedo is out, due to bigger wheels and a dodgy tyre job.. i think? Its a bit dangerous to drive especially since the problem is a on off problem. Hope someone can give us an insight into fixing shitty hicas.

[geordie]

Yeah at first i thought my powrsteer pump had shit its self, but its not that because if i turn the car off, and on again it works again for maybe another 30secs or so then steering gets heavy and the hicas light comes back on

[Ant]

HICAS, power steering 'weight' and the vehicle speed sensor (VSS) are all related....

Basically the ECU and HICAS/Power steering controller get a VSS input from the dash in a R32. So if the dash sensor isn't working then the HICAS controller will show a fault - from reading the R34 manual it is something like if it sees the RPM over 1500 for a certain period of time without seeing any speed input it throws a fault code, hence the time delay you are seeing.

Also by the looks of things when the controller detects a fault it defaults to no power assistance, which is why the steering suddenly goes heavy.

Fix the dash problem and you should fix the HICAS fault code and power steering weight problem.

Jwah - do a HICAS diagnostic test:

http://www.overflow.250x.com/diagnostics.htm

That should determine what the problem is on your car.

Also anyone having HICAS problems should read this thread:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/sh...ead.php?t=71230

[geordie]

Thanks heaps for that. Sounds like my problem is all speedo.

Cheers

G

[eXc]

I have had the same problem for a month now, this morning is the first chance I have had to look. The speedo is cracked similar to what is said here....

I had this problem about 2 months ago.  The problem with mine was a small plastic connector which basically links the speedo cable to the speedo was crackes and as such wasn't gripping the cable.  I tried taping the connector up as I couldn't source the individual component by itself, so I used some araldite and tape to attach the connector to the cable.  

Is this the problem you are talking about?

http://home.kooee.com.au/exup250/skyline/speedo.jpg

If it is, how do you get the plastic out to glue it together? I can't see how it's possible...the plastic is bigger then the hole in the metal it seems?

Or were you talking about this part?

http://home.kooee.com.au/exup250/skyline/speedo01.jpg

In the second pic, the match stick like end of the speedo cable - Should it spin if I drive? I went for a drive and it didnt move...so maybe it isnt the crack that is the problem in my case?

How can I test the cable?

Cheers

Chris

[R32Skyliner]

I have had the same problem for a month now, this morning is the first chance I have had to look. The speedo is cracked similar to what is said here....

Is this the problem you are talking about?

http://home.kooee.com.au/exup250/skyline/speedo.jpg

If it is, how do you get the plastic out to glue it together? I can't see how it's possible...the plastic is bigger then the hole in the metal it seems?

Or were you talking about this part?

http://home.kooee.com.au/exup250/skyline/speedo01.jpg

In the second pic, the match stick like end of the speedo cable - Should it spin if I drive? I went for a drive and it didnt move...so maybe it isnt the crack that is the problem in my case?

How can I test the cable?

Cheers

Chris

The part which has cracked on your speedo is different to the part which cracked on mine. On your speedo, is there a sort of connector which sits in the end of the speedo cable (in the area where the arrow points to in the second pic)? Mine had a small plastic plunger style connector with a spring inside it which basically connected the two points seen in your pics. I'm not sure whether this is actually supposed to be there or not as the Nissan dealer couldn't track one down for me, nor could a local speedo company. Anyway, this is the bit which cracked on mine, not the bit which has cracked on yours. Sorry I couldn't help.

[DRFT32]

Hey

i had this problem...snapped spedo cable. power steer lasted 5 mins after each startup and hicas light comes on permanently and no speedo.

[eXc]

Can somone provide an exploded diagram of the speedo, cable and the bits between them?

I have pulled mine apart more, and basically what i have found is;

The speedo itself is cracked http://home.kooee.com.au/exup250/skyline/speedo.jpg but i dont think this is effecting it.

The white match stick type connector is cracked, however I have glued that up and heat shrinked it (another thread suggested this) so that should be ok now.

Now...the next problem is, the match stick type thing, it slides inside the big white cylinder ( http://home.kooee.com.au/exup250/skyline/speedo01.jpg ) Inside the cylinder, there is a small spring, that is just floating around. Behind that is the speedo cable. It extends about 2mm into the cylinder. I see no way for it to make the match stick thing spin. So I am guessing my cable is broken.

Can anyone tell me how the speedo cable attaches to the match stick thing? Perhaps I can fix it, but I can't see how it attaches. Maybe the match stick thing comes with the speedo cable?

Also, where do I get a new cable from (perhaps if someone has a website link it will have a pic too, and answer a few of my questions)

Cheers

Chris

[R32Skyliner]

If you look inside the match stick connector, you'll see small indents inside the end of it, these grip onto the end of the speedo cable which is also indented like a star (*). My connector was cracked, so I cut more plastic out of the crack in order to tighten up the grip it has on the cable. With the aid of a little araldite (not too much, you don't want your cable to seize), it now grips perfectly.

[eXc]

Hmmm my cable must be snapped. The only part of the cable I can see is about 2mm out of the sheathing, and I can't see anyway to get to it. How can I get that white cylinder off? If I can get it off then I might have a chance.

[VIP32]

I have this problem to after getting completeing air born and bottoming out, then my speedo cut and my steering is heavy after about 30 secs after start up

[eXc]

I have this problem to after getting completeing air born

:innocent:

ahaha I will post up my results. I hope to fix it this weekend

[eXc]

OK, I fixed mine over the weekend...

The plastic match stick thingy was the problem. I had to glue it together again, as it was cracked as others have mentioned. I then had to *force* it rather hard to have it attach to the cable. The speedo worked until I spun my wheels...it died again. So I pulled it apart, but this time I put a bit of araldite *spelling* on the inside of the white match stick thingy, and rammed it it again, and left it a few hours. I have done about 200kms and it's still working, so looks like I fixed it