Power Steering Heavy

[cookie--monster]

my r32 gts-t had a asmall power steering leak and since then i have topped it up.the leak stopped after adding more fluid so i left it at that.about a yaer has passed since,but last weekend i may have overfilled it.this morning the steering was really heavy and the hicas light came on(the hicas light used to illuminate when the leak first appeared) to topp it off,the speedometer wouldnt register my speed.

what should i do...take some steering fluid out or pay big bucks for a service?

how is the steering issue tied into the speedometer speed reading?

the odometer also dose not work(almost a good thing!)

[blind_elk]

You probably have a broken speedo cable.

[cookie--monster]

where is the cable located?

can i get a non standard replacement?

are they hard to replace?

[blind_elk]

where is the cable located?

runs between the gearbox and the speedo unit

can i get a non standard replacement?

Don't think so. Try a wrecker.

are they hard to replace?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes. Particularly where it passes through the firewall.

First, remove the instrument cluster and confirm that the end of the cable can turn - that will usually mean it's broken somewhere along it's length. AFAIK, they aren't repairable.

[cookie--monster]

runs between the gearbox and the speedo unit

Don't think so. Try a wrecker.

Yes. Particularly where it passes through the firewall.

First, remove the instrument cluster and confirm that the end of the cable can turn  - that will usually mean it's broken somewhere along it's length. AFAIK, they aren't repairable.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

cheers blind_elk!

its prob not the same issue,but upon start up and driving for the first 10 minutes i can hear a strange noise coming from behind the dash..it seemes to be speed related as it slows down and speeds up according to my speed.maybe this was the sound of the cables last days?

its a softish ticking sond which i thought was the air actuator vents...

[SAMFISHER]

how is the steering issue tied into the speedometer speed reading?

the odometer also dose not work(almost a good thing!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The hicas for wheel steering kicks in at a set speed.

I had a similar problem in my old R32, occasionally the power steering stopped working and the hicas light would go on. Turning car off and restarting was enough to fix it. Only did this for a period of a few months and then was fine after that.

[cookie--monster]

after searching the forums it appears to be a very common problem.alot had the same symptoms as me..cold mornings,same rattle sound,no hicas,power steering heavy etc etc

a few solutions were mentined such as removing the dash and checking the solder joints and the cable,but the links are down for the tech manuals

can anyone help?

[bj_dove]

chances are the plastic fitting connecting the speedo cable to the back of the speedo is broken. remove dash components until you can see the cable then if the plastic fitting comes off easily, its busted.

go for a short safe drive without the dash in (wont be able to use indicators, etc. , if the cable is still spinning, then the actual cable is fine, just the plastic connector as previously mentioned (use some 2 part araldite (spelling??) to glue it back together, refit dash and it should work, i did mine a few days ago, seems to work fine.

easier option rather than fiddling with new cable.

[cookie--monster]

chances are the plastic fitting connecting the speedo cable to the back of the speedo is broken. remove dash components until you can see the cable then if the plastic fitting comes off easily, its busted.

go for a short safe drive without the dash in (wont be able to use indicators, etc. , if the cable is still spinning, then the actual cable is fine, just the plastic connector as previously mentioned (use some 2 part araldite (spelling??) to glue it back together, refit dash and it should work, i did mine a few days ago, seems to work fine.

easier option rather than fiddling with new cable.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

pulled the dash and saw the cable spinning..the plastic connecter was split dowm two sides.have glued it together.

will wait a day or so for the glue to set.

[druzilla32]

sounds exactly like my last gtr.

speedo cable was broken.. i just took to a mech to get fixed.

my car also made the weird noise behind the dash and changed according to how fast i was going... was very annoying on the highway

[PHATR32]

well if the hicus ecu isnt getting a speed reading it shutdown, so that would explain the heavy steering.

steve

[sigsputnik]

sorry to revive this old thread but i wonder if this might be the problem with my r32 gtr:

since i bought her i've had this ticking noise behind or in the dash cluster. it sounds like, to me, a box full of cockroaches running around inside. the noise happens regardless of the speed at which i'm travelling.

having taken my dash apart, i am 90% sure it's the speedometer cable making the clicking noise because i can localise the sound to the cable when the dash is removed. it's the only thing clicking.

the cable is spinning, it's a square metal cable with a spring around it. i do not think it is a speed limiter.

anyone else have this? it's driving me nuts!

[GTRsean]

I fixed my speedo as it didn't work when i bought car. Plastice sleeve drive busted, so got a maccas straw and fitted it over cracked sleeve and superglued it after cleaning grease off plastic.

Worked fine untill i ripped cable out on a driveway ramp, so I replaced cable and shes fine again.

[dead32]

sputnik everyone with a 32 has that, thats the white plastic locater so the speedo can centralise before puttin the cluster back in. ive had it many times where the square gearpart of the cable pops out of alignment with the cluster, just keep sticking it back in, its happened twice so far.

[sigsputnik]

when the gear pops out of alignment, does it cause this rattle?