I am going through the GM shop manual to find the electrical diagram for the fuel pump. One of the entries is "Electrical Steering Assist". So it was something that was either contemplated or actually started but never saw the light of day.
So it was something that was either contemplated or actually started but never saw the light of day.
Electro-hydraulic power steering was originally to be available on the '88 Fieros, but for some reason it was shelved at the last minute. A few '88s even left the factory with it installed and were delivered to dealers, but very few were delivered to customers. I think dealers were paid by GM to remove the electro-hydraulic systems and replace them with standard racks. A few complete Fiero electro-hydraulic systems (rack + hydraulics + controller) still exist, and a couple are currently owned by PFF members. Some people have talked about trying to reverse engineer the controller, but I don't think it has actually been done yet.
Some Nissan electric fork lifts use an electric steering system. If the original 88 design was similar I can see why it was dropped. When they work they work great, but when they don't they're a PITA.
Some Nissan electric fork lifts use an electric steering system. If the original 88 design was similar I can see why it was dropped. When they work they work great, but when they don't they're a PITA.
The original 88 design was electro-hydraulic, not fully electric.
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
Electro-hydraulic power steering was originally to be available on the '88 Fieros, but for some reason it was shelved at the last minute. A few '88s even left the factory with it installed and were delivered to dealers, but very few were delivered to customers. I think dealers were paid by GM to remove the electro-hydraulic systems and replace them with standard racks. A few complete Fiero electro-hydraulic systems (rack + hydraulics + controller) still exist, and a couple are currently owned by PFF members. Some people have talked about trying to reverse engineer the controller, but I don't think it has actually been done yet.
If someone can reverse engineer an original 1988 EHPS controller module without damaging the original one, I can provide a factory EHPS as a template. However, I believe that the problem will be in determining the original component values since a lot of the electronics appear to be set in some sort of compound. I do not know the purpose of the compound and would hesitate to remove it without knowing its function.
All second and third gen MR2s were EHPS, so 1990-2004. The pumps on the third gen cars have integrated controllers though, so they are more desirable for adding to other cars. The pumps and controllers from the second gen are also usable, though.
Originally posted by hnthomps: If someone can reverse engineer an original 1988 EHPS controller module without damaging the original one, I can provide a factory EHPS as a template. However, I believe that the problem will be in determining the original component values since a lot of the electronics appear to be set in some sort of compound. I do not know the purpose of the compound and would hesitate to remove it without knowing its function.
Nelson
Have a clear picture of this compound that's on the electronics?
Most power steering systems suck as far as handling feel - you don't want them!
The Fiero has excellent steering feel. Unless you are handicapped, forget about trying to add a system that robs feel from the car.
Yeah, take that nonsensical steering damper off as well.
There are plenty of reasons to add power steering to a car. The "robs feel from the car" is just nonsense. Even F1 cars have power steering now. And an F1 car is about the closest thing you can get to feeling the road, in terms of cars.
Yeah, take that nonsensical steering damper off as well.
There are plenty of reasons to add power steering to a car. The "robs feel from the car" is just nonsense. Even F1 cars have power steering now. And an F1 car is about the closest thing you can get to feeling the road, in terms of cars.
AMEN!!!
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
The steering damper is a personal preference issue. There are points to be made either way.
I added one to my '88 because I didn't like the way the steering wheel kicked over washboard surfaces. With stock size tires the increase in effort isn't noticeable and the steering is indeed smoother over short, sharp bumps.
Originally posted by hnthomps: I do not know the purpose of the compound and would hesitate to remove it without knowing its function.
They call it "potting compound", and it's there for environmental protection, heat dissipation, or to simply hide what's inside (or all of them).
If it's like anything else coming from GM, it will contain custom electronics with non-standard part numbers on the chips. So even if you could see them, you still might not know what they were.
Is the coating laid on thin such that you can still make out the shapes of the components, or is it slathered on so thick that the whole thing is a siliconed blob? What color is the compound?
Originally posted by dobey: Yeah, take that nonsensical steering damper off as well.
There are plenty of reasons to add power steering to a car. The "robs feel from the car" is just nonsense. Even F1 cars have power steering now. And an F1 car is about the closest thing you can get to feeling the road, in terms of cars.
Good damper is not noticeable for normal driving. Valve(s) inside close when you hit a bump etc and is easier to keep control of car.
"robs feel from the car" depend on system design and setup. F1 and others are not same setup vs most street cars, especially old cars. Comparing new types to old is bs.
Fiero uses electric pump to run same hydro rack as many car in the '80s. (likely rack has tweaks too.) Epump was early attempt at speed sensing PS and likely eats allot of power. GM pulling the option from Fiero and Everyone thinks is just BS because bean counters barfed on the option... Maybe GM was trying to stop another recall. Ever tried to drive a PS car with a bad pump? Iffy electric electronics or pump is bad. A dead pump for any reasons make steering harder then a plan rack. Allot harder.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Originally posted by theogre: Maybe GM was trying to stop another recall. Ever tried to drive a PS car with a bad pump? Iffy electric electronics or pump is bad. A dead pump for any reasons make steering harder then a plan rack. Allot harder.
The PS pump on my del Sol went bad about 6 months ago. I haven't had time to pull it off yet. I just removed the belt. Driving the car isn't any harder with the pump not spinning. It's only harder to turn at very low speeds, and it's not terrible then. I've been driving it for 6 months like that with no issues. Looping off the hoses at the rack and removing the pump entirely, is also a very common mod on Hondas when doing engine swaps.
It's really not that bad. And my comment about the steering damper was sarcastic (since you apparently didn't get that). A lot of people like to complain about anyone who wants to put power steering on a Fiero, for no good reason. It has nothing to do with the age of the system.
