V1 Locked power steering.

[MX184]

So I I seem to have an issue with the power steering I believe. I have the car fully assembled and nearly ready for a test drive but I cant turn the steering wheel at all. Its locked solid in place. Thinking my steering rack may be the issue I disconnected the collapsible shaft and now the rack will go left and right properly but the wheel is still locked in place. Checked fuses and grounds everything appears to be good. My donor was a running and driving car when I took it apart. Before I order a new EPS unit is there anything else I need to look over?

 

[Rttoys]

That’s odd, because if the system fails, you still have manual steering.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Was the wiring in the connector to the EPS messed with?

Try disconnecting the large two pin connector from the control box - the left one in this pic. Leave the smaller connector on - the one on the right in the pic - since it has LAN connection. You should still be able to rotate the steering shaft without the power connection. If not, then there is a mechanical issue in the EPS gearbox.

 

[Ross]

The only thing left to test is the steering wheel to the EPS unit.
Maybe something is jamming in the steering column... or the EPS is jamming.

 

[escapepilot]

Sounds mechanical to me. Have you isolated the rest of the steering components and tested them? If you attach the collapsible shaft to the rack but disconnect it from the eps does it work? Yes, then separate the the eps from the column and see if that part could be binding.

 

[SmsDetroit]

If the cancellation tab for the turn signals is set to low on the column it will hit the bolts the hold the steering wheel hub on and prevent you from turning the wheel.

 

[Lndshrk Steve]

If the cancellation tab for the turn signals is set to low on the column it will hit the bolts the hold the steering wheel hub on and prevent you from turning the wheel.

Had this problem, thought it was a rusty u-joint. Repositioned the cancellation tab and put a little piece of inner tube rubber under the bracket to keep it from moving. All is fine now.

 

[MX184]

Thanks for the pointers. I havent installed the cancellation ring/tab yet so its not that. I'll dig into it Saturday and see what comes up.

 

[MX184]

So after further wrenching the motor for the eps unit is locked up internally. I removed it and now can turn the steering wheel.

 

[Dale E]

Look up Tim Moland's write up on his steering lock up and solution. Sorry I don't know where to find it on the forum. Maybe someone else can help on that.

 

[Scott #321]

Tim's issue and repair.

My car will not turn right!!!

I'm on my 3rd powersteering unit, and have extra gear boxes here. The electronics were dying on me from rain when I didn't have a body on my car. I was able to pic up used PS units from the local auto recycler for not too much money... $60 if I remember correctly.

dfkitcar.com

 

[MX184]

So my issue was a bad motor on the EPS. I ordered a new one from rockauto and it works like it should now.