twitchy steering 4WS light on - Honda Prelude Forum

rick82 · 01-05-2011, 04:04 AM

Hi i have just put my prelude in for MOT thinking that they will find why i keep getting a pull on the steering when mainly driving straight(more noticable anyway) and the 4WS light being on which would suggest something not quite right.

I knew before mot that the inner steering joint had a small bit of play, which i thought they would say is the problem, but they said i doubt that the amount of play in it would make the steering as twitchy as it is and that its not an mot fail with that amount of play.

So what else should i be looking for? They did say try bleeding the power steering fluid in case there is some air in the system, but i would not of thought the 4WS light would be on because of this?

Not sure where to go from here really. Any ideas?

Thanks

merlinbadman · 01-05-2011, 05:12 AM

Reset the 4WS system by disconnection the battery, drive the car for a while, if the 4WS light comes back on pull the 4WS fault codes by shorting the service connector. The rear wheels are powered by an electrical motor and as such has nothing to do with the power steering fluid.

What to make of your 4WS fault code:

Code:

Code    System                        Point                  Terminals        Affected

No code  -                             -                     7&23             CU, HC
No code  -                             -                     18,25,4,2,16&24  CU, HC, A
10      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Front                  22,26            CU, FSSAS, HC
11      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Rear                   29,17            CU, RSSAS, HC
12      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Front                  26,21            CU, FSSAS, HC
13      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Rear                   17,28            CU, RSSAS, HC
14      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Front                   -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
15      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Rear                    -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
16      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Front                  22,26,21         CU, FFSAS, HC
17      Sub Steering Angle Sensor     Rear                   29,17,28         CU, RSSAS, HC
18      Sub Steering Angle Sensor      -                      -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
20      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Front                  8,15             CU, FSSAS, FMSAS, HC
21      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Rear                   6,13             CU, RSSAS, RMSAS, HC
22      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Front                  8,15             CU, FSSAS, FMSAS, HC
23      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Rear                   6,13             CU, RSSAS, RMSAS, HC
24      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Front                  8,15             CU, FSSAS, FMSAS, HC
25      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Rear                   6,13             CU, RSSAS, RMSAS, HC
26      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Front                   -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
27      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Rear                    -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
28      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Front                  12               CU, FSSAS, FMSAS, HC
29      Main Steering Angle Sensor    Rear                   20               CU, RSSAS, RMSAS, HC
30      Wheel Speed                   Front                  19               CU, FWSS, HC
31      Wheel Speed                   Rear L                 3                CU, RLWSS, ABSCU, HC
32      Wheel Speed                   Rear R                 1                CU, RRWSS, ABSCU, HC
33      Wheel Speed                   Rear RorL              3,1              CU, ABSCU, HC
34      Wheel Speed                   Front                  19               CU, FWSS, HC
35      Wheel Speed                   Rear L                 3                CU, RLWSS, ABSCU
36      Wheel Speed                   Rear R                 1                CU, RRWSS, ABSCU, HC
37      Wheel Speed                   Rear L                  -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
38      Wheel Speed                   Vehicle Speed           -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
40      4WS Control Unit              4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
41      4WS Control Unit              4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
42      4WS Control Unit              4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
43      4WS Control Unit              4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
44      4WS Control Unit              4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
45      4WS Control Unit              4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
46      4WS Control Unit              4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
50      Control Logic                 Motor Lock             C+,D-            CU, RAM, HC
51      Control Logic                 Wheel Caught In Ditch  C+,D-            CU, RAM, HC
60      Power Unit                    Motor                  C+&D-,33+&34-    CU, RAM, PSH, HC
61      Power Unit                     -                     C+&D-            CU, RAM, PSH, HC
62      Power Unit                    Motor                  33+&34-          CU, RAM, PSH, HC
63      Power Unit                     -                      -               CU, RAM, PSH, HC
64      Power Unit                    4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
65      Power Unit                    4WS Control Unit        -               CU - Replace 4WS Control Unit
70      Temporary Driving Conditions   -                     25               CU, HC - Check Symptoms / Conditions
71      Temporary Driving Conditions   -                      -               CU - Check Symptoms / Conditions
72      Temporary Driving Conditions   -                     4                CU, HC - Check Symptoms / Conditions
73      Temporary Driving Conditions   -                      -               CU, A - Check Symptoms / Conditions
74      Temporary Driving Conditions   -                     14               CU, PB, HC - Check Symptoms / Conditions


      Key:

      FSSAS - Front Sub Steering Angle Sensor
      RSSAS - Rear Sub Steering Angle Sensor
      FMSAS - Front Main Steering Angle Sensor
      RMSAS - Rear Main Steering Angle Sensor
      FWSS  - Front Wheel Speed Sensor
      RLWSS - Rear Left Wheel Speed Sensor
      RRWSS - Rear Right Wheel Speed Sensor
      ABSCU - ABS Control Unit
      CU    - 4WS Control Unit
      RAM   - Rear Actuator Motor
      PSH   - Power System Harness
      A     - Alternator
      PB    - Parking Brake
      HC    - Harness Connector

Im assuming the fault codes will be the same for all regions.

rick82 · 01-05-2011, 12:20 PM

I reset the 4WS system and yes the light went out and the twitching issue has gone. What i don't get is why when the light is on, which means it is in a safe mode where the rear wheels are locked, does it twitch all the time? Could it be a fault with the 4ws system sending signals to the rear wheels causing them to move slightly?

merlinbadman · 01-06-2011, 05:19 AM

Pull the fault codes and that will tell you what the problem is.

When the light is on and the 4WS system is non-functioning the wheels are not locked in place, they are held pointing forwards by springs. Given enough turing force, the rear wheels are still able to move, which can be dangerous.