I have recently purchased a 1994 Honda Prelude VTEC.

I absolutely love the car, but I am experiencing some problems with the 4WS. Basically the 4ws light is on and If I remove the 4ws fuse in the engine bay and put it back in the 4ws light goes off for a while.

Then it returns. Is this simply resetting the relay and tricking it into thinking it is working, or does it seem like the fault lies here?

Even when the 4ws light is off is seems questionable as to whether it is working or not. Parking is alot more difficult than it used to be when it was working (I understand the 4ws helps out here).

I was wondering if you knowledeable guys have any ideas?

Mike.

 

Have a look at this old thread it may address your problems, but you need to get the code that is being thrown to further identify the fault. As for it working turn the steering when engine running, if rear wheels turn slighly then 4ws works.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=922088

 

thanks for diecting me to that thread britishlude. I read the article about resoldering all the joints and I think I will attempt this at the weekend.

Firstly I must check the rear steering when the light is off as you suggested. Does anyone know it removing the 4ws fuse resets the circuit and tricks it into thinking there is no fault for a while, but then it detects it again?

 

Here's an article on resetting the 4ws although it looks complicated it's real simple once you've done it a few times, it helps if you have a friend who jumps the service connector when you tell him, because it may take a few attempts.

here's what to do to reset it and make it function again:

As you know you drive in passenger seat!!!! for us so the location of the service connector could be on the opposite side.
It is located right side of the centre tunnel under the dashboard, when you look at it there is a removable carpeted cover where the centre tunnel ends under the dashboard.
After removing it you'll see 2 connectors plugged in a cover (they should be blue if I remember correcty). The small one which has 2 pins in it is the service connector, and you need to short these pins.
So if you can find it this is how it goes:
1. Apply the hand breake
2. Short the service connector pins with a paper clip or something
3. Turn the steering wheel to CLOCKWISE (right) 45-65 degrees and hold it that way
4. Turn the ignition switch to II(on) position but DON'T start your engine
You'll see that all your warning lights (SRS, ABS..will go on and off, don't pay attention on them),
5. After your 4WS light goes OFF, turn the steering wheel to CENTRE(turn it left) position within 4 seconds and hold it still
6. When your 4WS light turns on, turn your steering wheel to CLOCKWISE again to 45-60 degrees and hold still( again within 4 seconds)
7. When the 4WS light goes off turn it to centre position again within 4 seconds and hold it still.
8. If your 4WS light blinks twice(short bliks) then you succeeded.
If it stays on after these that means you could't erease the DTC so simply turn the ignition off and go back to step one and try again.

The tricky part with this procedure is that you should do all the steering inputs within 4 seconds so keep it in mind.

If you succeeded removing the DTC turn your ignition off, remove the short on the service connector, start your engine and check if it's working.

I know it looks complicated but it is very easy, I can do it within 2 minutes all it takes is a little practise and if you have difficulty shorting the service connector there is a plug goes into that to short it and it's part number is 07PAZ-0010100 which you can buy from Honda.

If you want to know what DTC it throws before resetting it do these:

1. Short the service connector pins
2.Turn your steering wheel to CLOCKWISE 90 degrees and keep it that way
3. Turn the ignition to II position but don't start the car
4. 4WS light will go on and off throwing the code(S)

It will be dim for 3 seconds,
After that a 1.2 sec. light means 10
Short light means 1 so if it blinks 1 long and 2 shorts it is DTC 12,
if you have more than one it will throw all of them and turn back to first one so take your time to get them correctly

We have:
DTC 10-11
DTC 20-36
DTC 40-51
DTC 60-65
DTC 72-74

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97 2.2 VTi VTEC
European spec!
SS & 4WS