1993 Honda Prelude VTEC 4WS Conversion - Honda Prelude Forum

L-U-R-C-H · 08-07-2006, 11:10 PM

Hey guys I currently have a 1993 Honda Prelude VTEC. I was at the junkyard today and came across a 1992 Prelude 4WS. This junkyard sells parts for really cheap and so I am thinking about buying the entire 4WS system from them. How hard would it be to install something like this? I have done a bit of research and it looks like I would need a Steering Angle Sensor, the 4WS ECU, the 4WS Steering Unit itself, and possibly the instrument guage cluster since it has the 4WS light in it. Do they even make a 94-96 style VTEC 4WS guage cluster for US ludes? I noticed that in the UK they have VTEC 4WS Preludes from the factory. Only problem with that is, the guage cluster is for a right hand drive car. I'm just wondering because I can get all the parts to get 4WS working and I know I could make it happen. I'm just curious if it's possible to get all the parts in the car and get it to work correctly.

Thanks in advance!
Matt

petern101 · 08-07-2006, 11:45 PM

it would be easier/cheaper to just find a 4ws and swap the motor over

L-U-R-C-H · 08-07-2006, 11:53 PM

Did they make 94-96 ludes with 4WS?

slipknot95758 · 08-08-2006, 12:25 AM

nope 92 and 93 only in the us, i have a 92 4ws with every part you could whant they are very hard to come buy i managed to pick it up as a parts car, let me know if you need anything ill get you a good price.

L-U-R-C-H · 08-08-2006, 12:30 AM

Well I started thinking about it...I don't think they even made a 94-96 style guage cluster with VTEC and 4WS built in. I found out that they still made 4WS up until the 1994 ludes. I just want the instrument cluster to support the H22 RPM range and include the 4WS light.

X01VTEC · 08-08-2006, 02:40 AM

as far as the gauge cluster is concerned just wire the 4ws light up to an empty spot in the gas/coolant temp cluster. that cluster is already internally wired from the connector to all the empty light sockets, just use a ohm meter to check for continuity from the pinout to the chosen socket, once you take it apart an look at the cluster you should see what im talking about, thats what i did. there was never a usdm vtec 4ws so you cant get the light in the right spot, i also just cut out the 4ws light film from the 92 cluster and used model glue to tack it in place in the other cluster. your only other choice is to get a jdm cluster and glue it in place on the left side but then youre stuck with kph instead of mph. its reallly not that hard to run a wire to an empty pinout on the gas/temp cluster. it looks completely stock once you get it place, if you want i could probably take a pic of the dummy lights to show you where i put it if this doesnt make sense.

you will need the wiring harnesses(unless you really want to make these from scratch, which i believe will be much more a pain in the ass than actually tearing apart the donor car and grabing all the wiring.) and the rear motor, and the steering angle sensor on the steering column. if you want your turn signals to function you will also have to grab the mechanism that automatically clicks them off, take the airbag off and grab all the parts underneath it. your car will also need to already have ABS for it to work because the 4ws system uses the abs wheel sensors to determine individual wheel speeds.

08-08-2006, 10:32 AM

I believe there were some 94 4ws's...not many. Someone correct me if I am wrong but I swear I read it in year/model changes somewhere...

preludestud11 · 08-08-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipknot95758

nope 92 and 93 only in the us, i have a 92 4ws with every part you could whant they are very hard to come buy i managed to pick it up as a parts car, let me know if you need anything ill get you a good price.

Wrong. There were 94 4ws cars. I happend to find one at a junk yard. I got the entire flawless leather interior from it, center console, with foglight switch, and door panels. It was already missing the cluster or i would have taken that too, but YES there were 94 4ws.

preludestud11 · 08-08-2006, 11:25 AM

I also beleive you will need the steering wheel.

Forbidden · 08-08-2006, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X01VTEC

as far as the gauge cluster is concerned just wire the 4ws light up to an empty spot in the gas/coolant temp cluster. that cluster is already internally wired from the connector to all the empty light sockets, just use a ohm meter to check for continuity from the pinout to the chosen socket, once you take it apart an look at the cluster you should see what im talking about, thats what i did. there was never a usdm vtec 4ws so you cant get the light in the right spot, i also just cut out the 4ws light film from the 92 cluster and used model glue to tack it in place in the other cluster. your only other choice is to get a jdm cluster and glue it in place on the left side but then youre stuck with kph instead of mph. its reallly not that hard to run a wire to an empty pinout on the gas/temp cluster. it looks completely stock once you get it place, if you want i could probably take a pic of the dummy lights to show you where i put it if this doesnt make sense.

you will need the wiring harnesses(unless you really want to make these from scratch, which i believe will be much more a pain in the ass than actually tearing apart the donor car and grabing all the wiring.) and the rear motor, and the steering angle sensor on the steering column. if you want your turn signals to function you will also have to grab the mechanism that automatically clicks them off, take the airbag off and grab all the parts underneath it. your car will also need to already have ABS for it to work because the 4ws system uses the abs wheel sensors to determine individual wheel speeds.

Also the ABS computer from the 4WS is different, I believe it has 2 extras wires coming out of it for the 4WS system.

Also you will need the rear subframe and I don't know if the rear lower arms are the same...

L-U-R-C-H · 08-08-2006, 02:52 PM

Thanks a ton guys...you have all been very helpful! One other thing I was wondering about...since I have VTEC and all...will it make a difference having the standard ECU that came in the car? I didn't know if maybe the ECU was different for the 4WS system. I'm thinking no since the 4WS already had its own computer...just thought I would ask to be on the safe side.

Oh yeah by the way...4WS came with the Prelude up through the year 1994. I have all the Honda Prelude brochures and it shows which options came with what year. I didn't think about searching through them to find the answer to that question until just a little bit ago.

X01VTEC · 08-08-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by preludestud11

I also beleive you will need the steering wheel.

you dont need the steering wheel, i used my 96 vtec leather wrapped steering wheel in the 4ws just fine, you just use the crap under the airbag for the turn signals.

rayslude · 08-08-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-U-R-C-H

Thanks a ton guys...you have all been very helpful! One other thing I was wondering about...since I have VTEC and all...will it make a difference having the standard ECU that came in the car? I didn't know if maybe the ECU was different for the 4WS system. I'm thinking no since the 4WS already had its own computer...just thought I would ask to be on the safe side.

Oh yeah by the way...4WS came with the Prelude up through the year 1994. I have all the Honda Prelude brochures and it shows which options came with what year. I didn't think about searching through them to find the answer to that question until just a little bit ago.

use your P13, it's fine...

rayslude · 08-08-2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X01VTEC

there was never a usdm vtec 4ws

i beg to differ, 94 had both options available together...

Mike95lude · 08-08-2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayslude

i beg to differ, 94 had both options available together...

I think he's right Russ. I'm like 99.9% sure they only have the 4WS VTEC model available in other countries.

rayslude · 08-08-2006, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike95lude

I think he's right Russ. I'm like 99.9% sure they only have the 4WS VTEC model available in other countries.

I know someone on here had one, I can't remember who though, it may have been 4bidden (Jeremy)...

but if anyone knew, i suppose it would be you...

X01VTEC · 08-08-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayslude

I know someone on here had one, I can't remember who though, it may have been 4bidden (Jeremy)...

but if anyone knew, i suppose it would be you...

im sure that you could only get either a SI 4ws or the SI vtec, not both together in 94

X01VTEC · 08-08-2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forbidden

Also the ABS computer from the 4WS is different, I believe it has 2 extras wires coming out of it for the 4WS system.

Also you will need the rear subframe and I don't know if the rear lower arms are the same...

i believe the rear lower control arms are identical, i have both a 4ws and a non4ws and they appear the same, however the rear subframes are indeed different i forgot to mention that, the rear steering motor has tie rods that go out the the spindle/hub assembly. the spindle/hub assemblies are identical as well. on a non 4ws model there is a "tie rod" that connects to the subframe instead of the rear steering motor.

i didnt know that the abs computers were different. are they acutally different or is the non 4ws model just lacking wires in the harness?

i thought that the 4ws computer just read the readings of the 4 wheel speed sensors. but i also dont have a helms with me at the moment, im mobile on the laptop right now.

X01VTEC · 08-08-2006, 06:21 PM

here is the pic of my dash lights in the beater. if you look to the far right under the clock you can see a stray light

close up of the 4ws light sorry about the lighting, im loosing light quickly

X01VTEC · 08-08-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayslude

use your P13, it's fine...

second that... ive swapped ecus back and forth no problems there.