s2000maniac

Okay my buddy just gotta 01 s2k with 180,000 miles. When I turn the steering wheel left its smooth but when I turn the steering wheel right it gets hard like the tire hits something, it basically gets harder to turn. There is no EPS light on also it doesn't matter if I'm moving or stopped. What could be the problem here? Thanks

modifry

There is an EPS torque sensor mounted on the steering rack that measures how much turning force the driver is applying to the wheel, and the EPS reads this value and then adds electrical assist as necessary. If the torque sensor is bad it could be sending too small a signal for right turns, which causes the EPS to add minimal or no assist. And since the EPS unit can't tell how hard you are really turning the wheel it doesn't know that something is wrong, hence no EPS light (but make sure the EPS light comes on at startup).

preludepatrick

I have the exact same issue on my 01 with 28k miles.

As far as I've read, both on here and in the FSM, the recommended actions are:

-Ensure that all electrical connectors in the EPS system are clean, undamaged, and tightly connected.

-Re-set the torque sensor neutral position

I have yet to re-set the neutral position on mine...waiting to borrow my buddy's Snapon Ethos scantool to jump the SCS circuit. You can do it yourself, however, with a short piece of wire or paper-clip and the following directions:

EPS Torque Sensor Neutral Position

As I'm in the same boat as you, if re-learning the neutral position doesn't solve the issue, I am going to try replacing the torque sensor.

s2000maniac

Okay cool let me know how it goes. I was thinking about taking it to the dealer and let them reset the whole EPS system.

preludepatrick

Did the reset procedure with the snapon scan tool and it seems to have corrected the issue. At a standstill I now feel equal assistance in either direction. Will monitor over the next few drives and report back

preludepatrick

Drove it home after resetting the neutral position. Can definitely see an improvement though when I'm turning the wheel left and then right at a standstill, there is an occasional notchiness. Definitely an improvement from having almost no power steering when turning right at a stop

s2000maniac

Okay so I just plug in the OBII and do the 45 degree turns on the steering wheel?

Billman250

OP likely has a bent rack. It only takes a small curb hit to bend the rack.

Put the front of the car in the air, and see if the steering moves free lock to lock (use the tire to turn the steering lock to lock, not the steering wheel)

s2000maniac

I'm sorry I'm a lil confused so I raise the car and turn the wheels each side till the steering wheels locks and then see if the steering wheel moves anymore?
BTW the stearing wheel is straight and it doesn't vibrate at any speed. Basically when moving the steering wheel right, it feels like it loses power but it goes back to normal when turning it left. Thanks

preludepatrick

I think billman is suggesting that you raise the front and turn the front wheels by moving the wheels, not the steering wheel, and seeing if you feel any abnormal resistance.

I will certainly try this out myself As the neutral position reset doesn't seem to have fixed my issue. Suppose the same thing would work by just raising the front and turning the steering wheel to see if there is more resistance in the right direction compared to the left