MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: steveash on November 15, 2019, 16:46

Title: Powering down the steering
Post by: steveash on November 15, 2019, 16:46
I had Youtube on to distract me while I was supposed to be working and half way through this rather lengthy video of someone trying out an MR2 the owner tells him to put his foot on the clutch and turn the ignition off and on, while moving, to power down the steering rack. That's a new one to me but for those occasions that you may want to try it, it seems a rather simple (if dangerous) way to get an idea of the difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flOtBQjWzTQ the key point is at 15:30.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Ardent on November 15, 2019, 17:13
 :o
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 17:52
Small detail is no power brakes either; surprise.... ::)

Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Joesson on November 15, 2019, 18:45
Not to mention the steering wheel lock.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 18:50
Quote from: Joesson on November 15, 2019, 18:45Not to mention the steering wheel lock.

He did not say púll the key so no issue there, perfectly safe ... ahum.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Joesson on November 15, 2019, 18:55
I did say not to mention it 😉
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Carolyn on November 15, 2019, 18:58
Quote from: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 18:50
Quote from: Joesson on November 15, 2019, 18:45Not to mention the steering wheel lock.

He did not say púll the key so no issue there, perfectly safe ... ahum.
switch all the way off and it will lock.  Not a clever thing to do at all.....
Don't go there!
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 19:47
Quote from: Carolyn on November 15, 2019, 18:58switch all the way off and it will lock.  Not a clever thing to do at all.....
Don't go there!


Oops. Shows you I never do that :-)
Only had the steering lock engaged ónce; when taking the steering wheel nut off. Took the key out for that.

Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: steveash on November 15, 2019, 20:30
Quote from: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 17:52Small detail is no power brakes either; surprise.... ::)



It seems that while everything else returns after it is restarted, the steering does not so you can continue to drive without power steering. If it can at 5mph in a car park rather than 50 on the road it may be more useful!!
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 20:55
Quote from: steveash on November 15, 2019, 20:30
Quote from: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 17:52Small detail is no power brakes either; surprise.... ::)



It seems that while everything else returns after it is restarted, the steering does not so you can continue to drive without power steering. If it can at 5mph in a car park rather than 50 on the road it may be more useful!!

Seems rather tricky when simply pulling the fuse does the same without the riscs. There is even an empty spare slot to temporaryly stick the fuse.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: shnazzle on November 15, 2019, 22:24
I've done this. It does indeed work and all else returns but the power steering. 
It happened once unwillingly when the sodding turbo car stalled again for the billionth time before it got thr standalone.

But yeah, basically it's utterly unrepresentative of having no power steering. So ultimately pointless.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: steveash on November 15, 2019, 22:37
Fair enough. The most amusing thing of all is that the entire video is shot on endlessly straight roads so rather a moot point.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 15, 2019, 22:52
Quote from: shnazzle on November 15, 2019, 22:24But yeah, basically it's utterly unrepresentative of having no power steering. So ultimately pointless.

As is pulling the fuse. However... it does shows you that you can still drive the car even with heavier than no power steering.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Ardent on November 16, 2019, 11:35
I quite fancy the idea of trying without pwr steering.
I take it all is fine just putting the fuse back in.
No calibration or anything silly to do afterwards.
Reset fault light perhaps
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: shnazzle on November 16, 2019, 13:30
Quote from: Ardent on November 16, 2019, 11:35I quite fancy the idea of trying without pwr steering.
I take it all is fine just putting the fuse back in.
No calibration or anything silly to do afterwards.
Reset fault light perhaps
Seriously, it's not worth it. I would almost say it's dangerous. 

Imagine your last car without powersteering and multiply it by about 4 or 5.
I almost went straight on a roundabout because the wheel took so much effort to turn. 

It's OK on motorways and it does feel more stable, but anything else is absolutely pants.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Ardent on November 16, 2019, 13:33
That's that then.

Moving on. Nothing to see.

Next.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: shnazzle on November 16, 2019, 13:45
Quote from: Ardent on November 16, 2019, 13:33That's that then.

Moving on. Nothing to see.

Next.
Sorry. Didn't mean for that to sound rude. 

Not how I meant it
:(
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Ardent on November 16, 2019, 15:12
@shnazzle Not at all.

I'm taking your advice and leaving it well alone. :)
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 16, 2019, 18:12
Quote from: Ardent on November 16, 2019, 15:12@shnazzle Not at all.

I'm taking your advice and leaving it well alone. :)

Just try mine when you are here. Mine is the end feeling of the system loop-di-looped. I lóve it.
The imo húge benefit is the direct feedback; that you feel directly and lineary in your hands what the rubber does, without electronically governed electric assistence.
It helps if you sit a it closer to the wheel, giving you a bit elbow bend, giving you a bit more leverage.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Karthoum on November 16, 2019, 22:43
Quote from: Petrus on November 16, 2019, 18:12Mine is the end feeling of the system loop-di-looped. I lóve it.

I was going this route but could not disable the power steering light coming up (same thing that happens when you pull out the key and put it back in while moving as first post suggests.

How did you do yours or is yours still showing, just with a black tape over the light?
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Ardent on November 16, 2019, 23:20
Quote from: Petrus on November 16, 2019, 18:12It helps if you sit a it closer to the wheel, giving you a bit elbow bend, giving you a bit more leverage.
Don't think anybody on here sits closer than me.
Some would call me vertically challenged. I say, I'm just a short ar5e.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 17, 2019, 00:33
Quote from: Karthoum on November 16, 2019, 22:43
Quote from: Petrus on November 16, 2019, 18:12Mine is the end feeling of the system loop-di-looped. I lóve it.

I was going this route but could not disable the power steering light coming up (same thing that happens when you pull out the key and put it back in while moving as first post suggests.

How did you do yours or is yours still showing, just with a black tape over the light?

Take the dash out and cover the symbol from the back.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Karthoum on November 17, 2019, 01:03
So it won't light up when the engine is first turned on. I'll have to see how that works out with MOT inspection next time.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 17, 2019, 11:10
Quote from: Karthoum on November 17, 2019, 01:03So it won't light up when the engine is first turned on. I'll have to see how that works out with MOT inspection next time.

Well, it is not legal ofcourse. Period.
The thing is that power steering is not common on older, smaller cars so they will not míss the light upon turning the key.
They will basically only look for what they expect and whether that goes out.
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: mr2garageswindon on November 22, 2019, 09:27
If you are handy with electronics you can make up a adjustable resistor and adjust the assistance of the PAS. I haven't bothered but I have seen it done on a track car.
I think its a square wave signal that has to be made up (from what I remember).
When I see him again I'll ask if he can make up some more if people are interested.
Adjustable surely better than on or off!
Title: Re: Powering down the steering
Post by: Petrus on November 22, 2019, 11:08
Quote from: mr2garageswindon on November 22, 2019, 09:27Adjustable surely better than on or off!

Adjustable is an extra complication.
A full delete is lightest.

Pick your choice ;-)