Hicas Problem

[Samuel Leonard]

ok, here goes

Car is an R32 GTS-T.

every time i turn my ignition to on, my HICAS light is off. i drive and after about 10 minutes every drive the light comes on solid. before the light comes on, as i approach 80 K's i feel my hicas go full lock one way (i know full lock for hicas is a degree or 2) my steering wheel sort of naturally turns right about 5 degrees to keep me going straight. it is about 75 k's an hour this happens.

as soon as the hicas light comes on, it stops happening. in order to turn my hicas light off i turn my ignition off and then turn it back on. i get another 10 minutes or so before the light comes on again...

my theory, the previous owner installed an after market steering wheel and for some reason went back to the original wheel for the sale. i have heard there is a HICAS steering angle sensor somewhere on the steering column. if anyone could tell me where please do) i assume the sensor is sensing my steering wheel turning (while it's actually straight) because it was replaced wrong.

i then guess, HICAS is designed to realise that the driver is probably not doing circles in the same direction for 10 minutes and the light comes on and it disables telling you it thinks there's a problem.

could this have anything to do with a leak in the rear cradle somewhere also? because it got very very low on power steering fluid last week (hadn't checked power steering fluid in over 6 months lol) so i topped it up.

please help me out! cheers

sorry it's so long. tried to give as much info as possible.

please bump this because i really want my HICAS to operate properly so i need this read by many!

[SiR_RB]

proberbly something wrong with your steering angle sensor

just get rid of the hicas unit altogether

[jrm]

I've had similar problems in my R34, and whilst the R32 system is hydraulic, I'd assume it's reasonably similar.

What you'll probably need to do is set the front steering rack straight (so that the steering wheel angle sensor is straight), then put the steering wheel on straight, then reset the system (disconnect battery). That should make it re-learn where HICAS is.

If the mechanic is unsure about setting the front steering rack straight to the steering wheel, you might be best to go see Nissan and get the car put on CONSULT. They can read the steering angle sensor from HICAS and advise/adjust appropriately.

Alternatively, you can do as the previous poster said - and just replace with a lock-bar - but that may have legal / engineering implications.

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

mine has hicas probs aswell i have replace my ecu and put new fluid in to aid the problem but still happens i thinks its my steering angle sensor because it start happening just after a aftremarket wheel was fitted let me no how you go as i would be interested no if that has caused my issues

[OMGGTR]

Take it to ur nissan dealer they will re-align the hicas this same problem has happend to both R32s ive had....

[R32GTS4NZ]

I had this problem with my r32 gts4. Always did it after so long driving and at over 80km/h. could be rather unerving. I just removed the hicas solenoids and installed a lock bar, looped the fluid through the power steering cooler. Much better than having it fixed. Rear end much more stable

[Samuel Leonard]

Take it to ur nissan dealer they will re-align the hicas this same problem has happend to both R32s ive had....

i bought it private? what dealer will deal with imports? i've rang and asked before and they said "is it an import?" and so they said we can't help... what difference does it make! i'll pay accordingly!

[turael]

Had exact same problem with my 180, it was the psteer fluid. ran too low and then it started having issues. I ended up locking the hicas and throwing away the solenoid and associated crap. as far as I know it wasnt anything to do with any steering sensor.