my car is a japenese import 92 vtec 4ws. When i got the car the 4ws light wasnt working and the wheels didnt turn. I checked the fusebox and the fuse was missing, i put one in and now the wheels turn sometimes when the car has been running for a while but the 4ws light never works, also the car is dangerous at high speeds the back end feels loose i nearly rolled it at 100mph changing lanes on the motorway. Can anybody help? The steering wheel is slightly to the left could this be part of the problem?


Modified by nod92vtec at 12:06 AM 12/8/2003


Modified by nod92vtec at 7:28 PM 12/17/2003

 

I replied to your post on HPOA.ORG.

 

why do 100 mph when u know there's sumthin wrong with ur car?

 

i was doing 100mph because i thought it was just a light on the dash i had no idea how dangerous it was i thought it either worked properley or like it says in the manual they will stay straight when the system is not working

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nod92vtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i was doing 100mph because i thought it was just a light on the dash i had no idea how dangerous it was i thought it either worked properley or like it says in the manual they will stay straight when the system is not working</TD></TR></TABLE>

why would you go 100mph with any kind of warning light on? They are called warning lights for a reason

 

if you read it you would know the warning light was not on and has never been on and i was ONLY doing 100mph because i had just hit the stupid japenese speed limiter at 112mph.


Modified by nod92vtec at 7:29 PM 12/17/2003

 

ok then ive tried resetting the ecu ive cleaned the sensors ive checked the ecu for any damage, the light still wont work on my dash and the wheels still only turn when they want to but they now turn when my stereo is in which they didnt do before. What else can i do? i know about wheel allignment but if the light dont work im thinking its not just that.

 

have you checked to see if the bulb in the dash is pulled or blown? Sounds like someone didn't like the system or it wasn't working right when they sold it so they just fucked it up some to get it not working and pulled the bulb so you wouldn't know anything was wrong.
So check the bulb and replace it just to make sure. Then you can pull a code. I don't know if JDM codes would be the same as USDM on the 4WS...

 

I've heard that if there is something wrong with the front steering rack the car would sway left to right when the steering wheel was straight. I'm having similar probs with my 4ws system though I've never shown a code. My car pulls to the left when driving but I need to get it aligned properly.

First things first, open your dash and swap the light bulb with a working one and see if you pull a code. if the wheels only turn when they want to you could have a problem with the rear steering actuator.

I agree with sephro in that 4ws probably was giving a code so they pulled a fuse and took out the light and treated it like 2ws.

so .. open the dash, get the light going, tell us the code and we'll help you from there ..

 

erm.. im not great with this stuff how do i get to the bulb? also mine is a japenese import will the codes be the same?


Modified by nod92vtec at 7:30 PM 12/17/2003

 

you are going to have to pull the whole dash appart to get to the back of the gauge cluster to pull the bulb. It's a real PITA. If you don't have a Helms or anything I suggest you pick on up. It will be the best investment you will ever make.

So is your car RHD?

 

i live in england and ive never heard of helms. We dont have a book cos preludes are not very common. Time for the main dealer i think!

 

There is a whole bunch of screws underneath the top area of the dash (above the plastic where speedo etc. are) unscrew all of that, then the plastic piece should come out. Also take off the corner pieces holding your stock tweeters.

From there you should see a series of screws around the fuel/temp gauge or the speedo gauge to take it out, just wing it but be carful what screws go where so you dont create any rattles etc.

find the 4WS area and then pull the bulb.

When the car turns on, does the 4ws light go on and then turn off?? I think its on the opp. side of the SRS by the speedo/rpm tach.

Or you could pay $$ for the dealer to do what we said for free. choice is yours but let us know!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nod92vtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i live in england and ive never heard of helms. We dont have a book cos preludes are not very common. Time for the main dealer i think!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here is a bit of the helms http://icelord.net/honda/repair/
You can order them online. Check E-bay they are on there all the time.

 

ive took my dash apart and there was no bulb. ive replaced it started my car and it worked fine, next time i started it the light stayed on and the wheels wont turn. Ive had a few goes and it tends to not work more than it does work.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nod92vtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ive took my dash apart and there was no bulb. ive replaced it started my car and it worked fine, next time i started it the light stayed on and the wheels wont turn. Ive had a few goes and it tends to not work more than it does work.</TD></TR></TABLE>

now would be the time to check the codes since the bulb works like everyone has been saying..

 

I dont know how to check the codes, the most ive ever done is change brake pads and oil changes etc.

 

can anybody please tell me how to get the codes?

 

getting the code is wikked easy!!
If you can take out the dash and put in a light bulb you can do this for sure.

Takea paper clip, bend it in a U shape with the 2 straight ends really close together.

Now because you said its a japanese(edited) import, im asuming right hand drive .. in our USDM cars behind the center console by the gas pedal , you can reach in behind the console and there are 2 plugs. The BLUE one is for 4WS ... pull it out (its not plugged into anything, just a plastic holder to keep it from bouncing around)

when the 4ws light is ON .. plug the paperclip into the service connector, this will short it out and make the 4ws light stat to blink.

It will be a series of short blinks followed by long blinks ... if theres 3 short and 2 long, then the error code is : 32

Get the code and I will look it up for you in my helms.

again, theres 2 plugs under the dash .. one is for reading engine codes, one for 4ws ... if the blue one doesnt make the 4ws light blink, then try the white one .. let me know if any information I gave you is wrong, and tell us what # was short, what # was long in case i mixed them up.

g'luck!


Modified by yohan at 9:03 PM 12/16/2003

 

I find it very Offensive that the Word JAP is being used.It is Offensive Slang, used as a disparaging term for a person of Japanese birth or descent.
What if our cars where made in africa? Could I say, N@!&%# import?

So quit useing the word, and learn how to spell <u>JAPANESE</u>

 

I am not supporting nor do I condone any racial slurs but I don't think of that to be one if it is used in the context it was. I would think of that to simply be an abbreviation for Japanese. But I could be wrong...

 

Maybe so, but you still dont use that word. In any context, IMHO

 

so now that the thread is wh0red and you didnt offer the topic thread any useful information, I have EDITED the word to japanese, and yes it was a quick abbreviation sorry to offend ...

 

the code sequence for the 4ws is different to the engine sequence.

with the engine sequence you get long flashes then short flashes ie one long two short =12.

with the 4ws it will flash a code pause then a subcode.

ie 7 shorts flashes 1 sec pause then 2 short flashes which means error 7 subcode 2. You will need the list of codes... if you need any furhter help let me know.

 

sorry if i offended anyone i thought it was just short for japanese like maybe a BRIT(ish) import, sorry