The Tupperware Turd will be back!!

[owelly]

Most folks are using the little boxes off Ebay that generate signals for the speed and RPM. The RPM one is there to give the PAS ECU a start signal so it doesn't poer-up when the engine isn't running thereby flattening the battery. The speed signal is more of a concern. The little box sends a signal to the ECU telling it that the car is moving at a certain speed, which is dependant on where you have the knob on the little box set to. It takes away the actual speed sensitiveness so you adjust it manually. That means if you have it set for low speed stuff, it will be twitchy at high speeds. I'd like to try to find a way to send it a proper speed signal. I may see if I can fit an electronic speedo drive to my type9 box and see what happens!

[owelly]

So, having decided the current seats are no good, here's seats number 4......


Specially colour-coded so I know which side is where the driver sits.

[owelly]

By inadvertantly buying the wrong Electric Power Steering Column, I may have hit on something!
It seems from initial research, that the EPAS ECU is totally different from the Corsa one and it could be a lot easier to adapt for transplant into other vehicles:
1. The Corsa ECU has to see a specific pulsed signal from the cars main ECU whilst the engine is running to enable the EPAS to wake up. This is so the EPAS doesn't slurp the battery dry cos the engine's not running. The Agila/WagonR EPAS ECU gas to see at least 1v and it will work.
2. The Corsa EPAS ECU wants to see a sine wave signal for a speed referance. On the Corsa this comes from the speedo/clocks which converts the signal from the main ECU which picks its signal from the ABS circuit or the final drive pick-up. The Agila/WagonR uses a pulsed feed direct from a speed sensor on the gearbox.
3. The Corsa column is heavy to use when there system isn't running. The Agila/WagonR has an electro-clutch to overcome this.
4. The Agila/WagonR column is shorter so easier to fit into small spaces whereas the Corsa one often has to be shortened.
5. The Agila/WagonR unit weights less than the Corsa unit.

So far, the only obvious downside for me appears to be the steering wheel fitment which is not like anything I have on my shelves. It's a big spline with a hole down the middle for a bolt rather than a threaded stub for a nut. I guess I'll be welding the end of my old column to the top of the Agila one....

Having said all of the above, I havn't got this thing anywhere near the car yet so I don't know if it will work. I do have Renruts electro-speedo drive handy so I may a stick a sprocket in the battery drill and wire up the column on the bench (top of the wheely bin) and see what occurs. Watch this space...

[froggy]

interesting about the clutch on the agila , il have a look next time i have one in the shop as i will be doing the same conversion on my hot rod

[owelly]

I dunno how much resistance there is on the Corsa column, but I can turn the Agila one by holding the splined wheel end and there's very little resistance.

[Rob Bell]

Doesn't Jaffa's MGF have EPAS? In which case, since he's breaking it, why not use that? It'll need a speed signal (square/pulse - will work with gearbox speed signal, or a reed switch arrangement), and not a lot else. Mitsubishi electrics ECU, and they're pretty reliable.

If Jaffa's MGF has non-assisted steering, then can I offer some beer tokens for its steering column?

[owelly]

Jaffas MGF has no PAS so get in touch with him. His car does have the quicker MGTF steering rack though.....

[Jaffa]

Rob, when I have disposed as many bits of MGF as I can, you can bring a trailer up north and gather as many bits are you like.

Your the man !!!!!

[Rob Bell]

You're a star - and the good news is that I've just fitted a tow bar to the family wagon for such just contingencies

Good luck with the bits - these cars are worth considerably more in parts than they are as a whole unfortunately - but I reckon you'll get your investment back at least