Is it possible for the steering to "tighten" up? - Toyota Yaris Forums

detroiter · 11-08-2009, 05:44 PM

I was wondering if it's possible that the feeling of the steering can tighten up at all? Maybe I'm just imagining things but I swear it feels like the turning of the steering wheel is greatly increased sensitivity wise. I havn't changed the camber or anything so I can't imagine that contributing to it. Only thing I can think of that I've done is when the car was turned off, that I was trying to turn the steering wheel as far as it would go left and right. I have a hard time believing maybe that could be the reason for it but I don't know if an electric steering system would be different from a conventional system. Perhaps I'm just imagining things but I'd swear it's tightened up as to what it was.

scape · 11-08-2009, 05:55 PM

I believe it's electronically controlled, and dynamic for your concurrent speed; but don't quote me on that.
maybe check fluids first?

Kal-El · 11-08-2009, 06:38 PM

Yes, the electric assist power steering does change its weight based on speed.
Very light in the parking lot, tight on the highway. It's brilliant.

2009BBPliftback · 11-08-2009, 07:47 PM

I love my car but I'm not a fan of the electric assist steering its just downright artificial and has no feedback.. I've thought about pulling the plug on it!

jimek · 11-08-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2009BBPliftback

I love my car but I'm not a fan of the electric assist steering its just downright artificial and has no feedback.. I've thought about pulling the plug on it!

my thoughts exactly

if there was..or maybe is literally something you can just unplug to make it go away i probably would

*tk-421* · 11-08-2009, 07:51 PM

I personally like it a lot, but I believe there's a thread that deals with deactivating it... I'll post a link if I can find it.

*tk-421* · 11-08-2009, 09:38 PM

Looks like it turns itself off after around 15mph:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23062

detroiter · 11-08-2009, 10:30 PM

what I'm saying is that the overall steering feel of the car is more "aggressive", almost like if you give the front end a negative camber job and the steering is "hyper" as compared to a factory spec setting. It's hard to describe. Imagine if when you make a left or a right with your steering wheel, it used to be a quarter turn to go a certain direction...now it takes 1/4 a turn to go that same kind of direction. Not that that's what my car is doing, but that is the kind of feeling I'm
trying to relay in words.

Altitude · 11-08-2009, 11:02 PM

Have you checked your struts and control arms?

yaris-me · 11-09-2009, 03:50 AM

Tires and/or tire pressure can make changes in the way the steering feels. Check your air pressure, you may have a slow leak.

JumpmanYaris · 11-09-2009, 07:25 PM

hold on i think i read this right u r trying to make it tight as to the steering wheel?

If so Why?

why? · 11-09-2009, 08:37 PM

I'm pretty sure it is just happening with no effort, and confusion eschews.

detroiter · 11-10-2009, 09:13 PM

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

I solved the problem believe it or not. I followed that link up above that someone posted to the thread about when the power steering assist turns off after a certain mph. Well someone there mentioned that the electric power steering system on the yaris is TORQUE sensing and adjusts as needed. So I started getting a hunch that maybe THAT is what was going on with my car....Well from the other day when I was installing the intake on the car, I was trying to turn the wheels as hard as I could in one direction, while having to start the car and immediately turn them, due to the car stalling right away because of the stock intake being off. The car must have sensed it was taking some serious cranking to get the wheels to turn, so it applied a ton of "help" to make the steering column turn easier.

So that's why for the passed few days my car has been beyond sensitive when turning left or right, almost like hyper camber. So I went out tonight and disconnected the battery so the ECU in the powersteering would reset. Wouldn't you know, 20 minutes later I reconnect the battery and fire it on up, the problem was completely solved and the steering was back to normal!

11-08-2009, 05:44 PM	#1
detroiter Drives: 2008 Polar White LB Auto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,238	Is it possible for the steering to "tighten" up? I was wondering if it's possible that the feeling of the steering can tighten up at all? Maybe I'm just imagining things but I swear it feels like the turning of the steering wheel is greatly increased sensitivity wise. I havn't changed the camber or anything so I can't imagine that contributing to it. Only thing I can think of that I've done is when the car was turned off, that I was trying to turn the steering wheel as far as it would go left and right. I have a hard time believing maybe that could be the reason for it but I don't know if an electric steering system would be different from a conventional system. Perhaps I'm just imagining things but I'd swear it's tightened up as to what it was.

11-08-2009, 07:51 PM	#6
tk-421 Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: 5D-07-LB Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dagobah Posts: 4,263	I personally like it a lot, but I believe there's a thread that deals with deactivating it... I'll post a link if I can find it. __________________ --[ FORUM RULES ]--[ SEARCHING TIPS ]--[ EYELIDS PICS ]--[ RBK SPOILER ]--[ BEST/WORST INVESTMENTS ]--

11-08-2009, 09:38 PM	#7
tk-421 Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: 5D-07-LB Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dagobah Posts: 4,263	Looks like it turns itself off after around 15mph: http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23062 __________________ --[ FORUM RULES ]--[ SEARCHING TIPS ]--[ EYELIDS PICS ]--[ RBK SPOILER ]--[ BEST/WORST INVESTMENTS ]--

11-09-2009, 08:37 PM	#12
why? Only Happy When it Rains View User's Garage Drives: Yaris LB Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: harnett county NC Posts: 4,097	I'm pretty sure it is just happening with no effort, and confusion eschews. __________________ Colin Chapman disciple

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11-08-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
scape View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beaufort, South Carolina Posts: 388	I believe it's electronically controlled, and dynamic for your concurrent speed; but don't quote me on that. maybe check fluids first?

11-08-2009, 06:38 PM	#3
Kal-El Drives: 07 Yaris S Sedan 5-Speed Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,179	Yes, the electric assist power steering does change its weight based on speed. Very light in the parking lot, tight on the highway. It's brilliant.

11-08-2009, 07:47 PM	#4
2009BBPliftback Drives: 2009 Yaris LB in Blazing blue Join Date: May 2009 Location: Western PA (Franklin) Posts: 237	I love my car but I'm not a fan of the electric assist steering its just downright artificial and has no feedback.. I've thought about pulling the plug on it!

11-08-2009, 10:30 PM	#8
detroiter Drives: 2008 Polar White LB Auto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,238	what I'm saying is that the overall steering feel of the car is more "aggressive", almost like if you give the front end a negative camber job and the steering is "hyper" as compared to a factory spec setting. It's hard to describe. Imagine if when you make a left or a right with your steering wheel, it used to be a quarter turn to go a certain direction...now it takes 1/4 a turn to go that same kind of direction. Not that that's what my car is doing, but that is the kind of feeling I'm trying to relay in words.

11-08-2009, 11:02 PM	#9
Altitude Drives: '08 LB MT Bayou Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,671	Have you checked your struts and control arms?

11-09-2009, 03:50 AM	#10
yaris-me Learn to Relax Drives: 2007, Meteorite, LB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,070	Tires and/or tire pressure can make changes in the way the steering feels. Check your air pressure, you may have a slow leak.

11-10-2009, 09:13 PM	#13
detroiter Drives: 2008 Polar White LB Auto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,238	PROBLEM SOLVED!!! I solved the problem believe it or not. I followed that link up above that someone posted to the thread about when the power steering assist turns off after a certain mph. Well someone there mentioned that the electric power steering system on the yaris is TORQUE sensing and adjusts as needed. So I started getting a hunch that maybe THAT is what was going on with my car....Well from the other day when I was installing the intake on the car, I was trying to turn the wheels as hard as I could in one direction, while having to start the car and immediately turn them, due to the car stalling right away because of the stock intake being off. The car must have sensed it was taking some serious cranking to get the wheels to turn, so it applied a ton of "help" to make the steering column turn easier. So that's why for the passed few days my car has been beyond sensitive when turning left or right, almost like hyper camber. So I went out tonight and disconnected the battery so the ECU in the powersteering would reset. Wouldn't you know, 20 minutes later I reconnect the battery and fire it on up, the problem was completely solved and the steering was back to normal!