My car will not turn right!!!

[Tim Moland]

Took the car out for a drive about a week ago. Steering was a little "grabby" which I thought was the Heim joints needing lubed. Seems like I have to relube them every time they get wet. I brought it home, jacked the rear end up and did a timing chain/tensioner replacement. When I got done, I decided I was going to lube the Heim joints. I went to turn the steering wheel to the right, and it was locked up solid. I tried turning it to the left, and it will go but its not smooth, and it has a rough sound. I tried turning power on to the car to see if that would help. I tried unplugging the power steering, plugging it back in. Nothing helped. I've only turned it maybe one turn to the left for fear that it will not come back right. I can only image that the gears inside the steering rack are damaged somehow. Kinda scary to think it could of happened while I was driving. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Rttoys]

Was the doner crashed when you got it?

is the steering shaft hitting on the front wall and locking? A lot of us have had to trim that section where the goes through.

after that, I would pull the tie rods and see if the knuckles are bound, the rack is not moving or even the electric power steering is malfunctioning.

 

[r3drckt]

Sounds to me like the steering rack, but it could easily be the EPS unit as well. Jack up the front and disconnect the steering shaft from the rack. You should be able to turn the wheels by hand. If you are able to, it’s probably the EPS. If not, then it’s probably the rack. Disconnecting that from the knuckles and you should be able to turn the wheels by hand individually. If you are, then it’s the steering rack. If not, then the knuckles are stuck somewhere, check the top and bottom bolts for damage, see if you’re able to loosen them to unbind the knuckles.

 

[OptimizePrime]

Welp, Nascar it is...

 

[baustin]

Welp, Nascar it is...

And drifting/dirt racing style if you actually need to go right... turn left to go right!

But I haven't heard of that happening on an EPS setup. Makes me think it's a failure inside the rack itself.

 

[JBINTX]

Oh man. Glad that did not occur while driving!

 

[Tim Moland]

Was the doner crashed when you got it?

is the steering shaft hitting on the front wall and locking? A lot of us have had to trim that section where the goes through.

after that, I would pull the tie rods and see if the knuckles are bound, the rack is not moving or even the electric power steering is malfunctioning.

Donor was mint. I trimmed the bulkhead for clearance. The car has been on the road since 2019 without a problem.

 

[Tim Moland]

Sounds to me like the steering rack, but it could easily be the EPS unit as well. Jack up the front and disconnect the steering shaft from the rack. You should be able to turn the wheels by hand. If you are able to, it’s probably the EPS. If not, then it’s probably the rack. Disconnecting that from the knuckles and you should be able to turn the wheels by hand individually. If you are, then it’s the steering rack. If not, then the knuckles are stuck somewhere, check the top and bottom bolts for damage, see if you’re able to loosen them to unbind the knuckles.

Thanks Red, I'll follow these steps to find out which part is bad.

 

[Tim Moland]

Update: I have not had time to disassemble everything. However, I discovered that with key on/motor off, the steering will not go right. Key on/motor running, it steers, but its a little "notchy" The same amount I would associate with sticky Heim joints. Does the EPS get a different voltage with the motor running? It's not like there is a power steering pump running when the motor is on. I know the wheel should turn without the key on as the lock feature has been removed. I've done it several times. I'm leaning towards the EPS box being bad.

 

[Gtstorey]

I've never really paid attention, but I don't think the EPS does anything without the motor running. I think you have something binding and the EPS is pushing through it when active.

You should be able to tell if the EPS is active with key on/ motor off by turning it the other direction.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Unplug the EPS with the motor running, does it still act the same (notchy)?

 

[Tim Moland]

Unplug the EPS with the motor running, does it still act the same (notchy)?

I unplugged the EPS with the key on/motor off and it did nothing. I'll try unplugging it with the motor running. Can someone verify if the power steering works with the key on/motor off, or does the motor have to be running for it to work?

 

[Tim Moland]

Unplug the EPS with the motor running, does it still act the same (notchy)?

With the EPS unplugged and the engine on, you can not move the steering wheel to the right. It's solid like it is up against lock. You can move it to the left, unassisted by power steering. So the power steering must be powering through whatever is stopping the wheel from turning right when it is plugged in.

 

[Tim Moland]

Ok. I disassembled the steering system. After removing the steering shaft from the rack, the rack and the tires turn easily by hand. Everything turns freely except the gearbox that the motor is bolted to.

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Does anyone know how the electronic power steering system works?

 

[Tim Moland]

I found this great video that explains how it all works. This is from a prius, but it is made the same way.

I'm guessing my problem is within the worm drive gears. I should be able to turn the steering wheel both directions without power steering connected. Right now, if the power steering drive motor were to go out while I was driving, I would not be able to turn right. I'm guessing the motor is wearing faster having to fight the binding gears. The motor feels very smooth in both directions. When I took the motor off, it was filled with rusty water, which is puzzling because it has an o ring seal.

I did get stuck towing the goblin for several hours in a down pour last fall. If that water made it inside the worm gear area, it might have been enough to cause problems. I will attempt to take the worm drive assembly apart tomorrow to look inside. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[r3drckt]

You have more insight than me by this point, but I’m glad you were able to isolate the issue. Not sure how much a replacement PS unit would be and whether or not it’d be cheaper than trying to rebuild your current unit.

 

[Gtstorey]

Get a Saturn Vue EPS and you can run get the adjuster to control the level of assistance.

Saturn Vue Steering Install | DF Kit Car Forum

Saturn Vue Chevy Equinox Electric power steering electronic controller box EPAS | eBay

Automatic | Saturn Vue Ion Equinox | Controller Kit Electronic Power Steering | eBay

 

[Dale E]

Tim, I think I have a metal cased Saturn Vue unit in my shed. I'll drop it on your porch step later today and you can try it if you want. Got called to do a drug run so will be home later!!

 

[Gtstorey]

You will likely have to add in a 120ohm resistor to make the Saturn Vue unit work (with or without the add on controller). I don't know if it will work with out the controller.

 

[Dale E]

I sent Brian74 my controller so he may have some insight into it's workings.