Hicas Light

[DuFFR32]

Hey there peeps, Had my 32 for around 2 months now and noticed the HICAS light comes on after around 10 mins of driving, car still drives fine tho ive noticed the oil pressure guage hardly reads sometimes but checked and changed oil+filter and its fine, power steering fluid is fine but in the boot ive noticed a box up underneath the rear parcel shelf with wires coming out going nowhere lol i guess the system is now not working as this was the HICAS ECU?

speedo jumps around a bit on hard acceleration sometimes around 90kmh - 100kmh im guessing it needs to be replaced soon

anyone else have this issue?

[Sheriff Wan]

If your power steering fluid is ok it could be your speedo.

Does your steering go heavy when the light comes on?

The HICAS feeds off what speed you are doing - if it gets a dodgy reading it doesnt work, odds on its just the speedo / cable that needs looking at.

I dont think the HICAS ever had an ECU in the boot... correct me if I'm wrong

[Count Grantleyish]

Most likely you'll need new speedometer cable, HICAS also read speed sensor (it activates at speed above 80km/h). Replace that first and see what happens.

Do you have aftermarket steering wheel (may affect the system if it isn't positioned correctly)?

There is HICAS computer in the boot of R32.

[jimme85]

check your level of power steering fluid is not low my hicas light comes on when the fluid is realy low

[Zman]

what PS fluid do you guys recoommendd for a r32 gtst?

[heller44]

If the light comes on after ~10 mins of driving, then the hicas module is still wired in and working.. sortof (with faults).

I would guess that the module that is there but disconnected would be in the centre of the parcelshelf and is almost round? That would be the amplifier for the stock stereo. Good thing it was disconnected cos it is crap.

In the tutorial section there is a write up on how to do a hicas diagnostic, work out how to do that and you should be set, unless it is one of the inputs you need for it to work..

Usually 10 min fault is something like steering wheel sensor. A steering wheel boss that doesn't have the particulars to work with the steering angle sensor will give this fault, as will the steering wheel being out by a bit. Car thinks that you are constantly turning for 10 mins and throws up its hands..

..as well as checking power steering fluid.

[Gts-t]

This problem is driving me insane, especially since i have a track day tomorrow.

Where to start..

I removed the hicas a few years ago, no problems there kept the ecu in the boot, even the abs one to be sure.

Recently i have gutted, stripped the weight and here it comes, cut out alot of wiring..

Now i didnt touch anything that i thought would be related to the hicas but alas as soon as i hit about 50-60k's my steering goes into limp mode

I tried disconnecting the smaller plug on the back of the hicas ecu and that makes no difference, if i unplug the bigger one on the right the power steering is heavy as soon as i start it.

I have spent hours reading most of the threads going back to 02 and everyone seems to have a different fix and thats fair enough because there is alot of things that can go wrong with hicas.

Today i fitted the hicas globe back and tried to get it into diagnositc mode, either im hopeless at it or perhaps due to a lack of sensors its not reading that im trying to get it into that mode.

Checked all connectors in the engine bay seems fine, everything plugging into the back of the cluster is fine

Even wired the rear abs sensor back in with no luck

Only thing in the back of my mind was a metal ring i tossed behind the new steering wheel i fitted, but i dont think that is part of the steering sensor at all, its wasnt under the 19mm nut that holds your steering wheel on.

Im now reading wiring diagrams from meggalas site but they arent the best quality

Im now thinking about fitting a non hicas rack and maybe a r33 power steering pump but there is not alot of info out there...

[toan]

yer i have the hicas light to when i start my car it comes on but then turns off.

it will come on at randoms times for like 2-3 mins or just blinks. what is it?

[Count Grantleyish]

^^^ - probably your power steering fluid is low (assuming you drive 32)

Gts30t, it's quite a problem you have there!

Have you checked the speedometer cable by any chance? (i know it's bit late).

It's only thing i can think of right now (I don't have R32 w/shop manual, it you have it could help you).

Let us know how you go.

Cheers

[Gts-t]

Ok took me a few minutes to find this but i really wanted to post back now that i have a soultion, i dont think guys do it enough.

The problem with my car was the hicas was going into lim mode after a minute or two when i woudl drive it

Heller44 sent me some wiring diagrams and diagnostic that was invaluable. I used this and decided to first check if the speed signal was getting to the hicas computer in the boot, sure enough it had no signal. The snap on wavelenght tool i had was very useful for monitoring this, as i just did it all with the rear wheels jacked up.

I then used the same tool and checked if there was a speed signal leaving the ecu, sure enogh there was. I then opened up the loom in the rhs front kick panel and ran a new wire from the engine ecu under the dash to the speed wire in the rhs front kick panel that runs down to the hicas ecu.

Problem solved, hope this helps someone

[SandalsBoy]

Ok took me a few minutes to find this but i really wanted to post back now that i have a soultion, i dont think guys do it enough.

The problem with my car was the hicas was going into lim mode after a minute or two when i woudl drive it

Heller44 sent me some wiring diagrams and diagnostic that was invaluable. I used this and decided to first check if the speed signal was getting to the hicas computer in the boot, sure enough it had no signal. The snap on wavelenght tool i had was very useful for monitoring this, as i just did it all with the rear wheels jacked up.

I then used the same tool and checked if there was a speed signal leaving the ecu, sure enogh there was. I then opened up the loom in the rhs front kick panel and ran a new wire from the engine ecu under the dash to the speed wire in the rhs front kick panel that runs down to the hicas ecu.

Problem solved, hope this helps someone

I have a Hicas problem... not the same as this... but i just wanted to say i think its good that people post their fixes to problems, most people dont. But this kind of thing helps the rest of us out

Good work