2002 Death Shudder

So the steering was oscillating back and forth?

You may have some difficulty getting the dealer to install a used part.

WORKAROUND:

• Pulls the main EPS relay/fuses - this converts the car into a manual steering. It will harder at slow speeds but you'll eliminate the 'wobblies.'

The problem is usually in the torque sensors and the only known solution is to replace the steering gear which includes the steering shaft and torque sensors. I wish there were an alternative but that is pretty much the only permanent fix. However, it is a systemic weakness of this model, the mechanical torque sensors that can get 'noisy.'

Daryl had a switch put in his dash that handles the control power to the EMPS. So he normally drives around with the unit powered off and an error light . . . a manual steering Prius. He has the option of turning it on when parking or at slow speeds when the power steering helps the most. But this is something folks in Alabama, independent folks, tend to do . . . <grins>

Bob Wilson

ps. If you are close to NC, Re-InVolt is a general, independent Prius shop and David Taylor is very reasonable. You might give him a call.

 

You might just want to ignore it if it only happens occasionally. My '02 did that a few years ago for about a year and then it never happened again. Could be a speck of dirt on a sensor that finally got dislodged.

 

That's very interesting - I wonder what they changed between the rack and ECU? Could they have gone to Hall effect like the later models, or just conditioned the signal differently?

Does anybody have the new rack+ECU who would like to make some electrical measurements as in this older post? (Those measurements were on an already sketchy rack so probably don't reflect what they're supposed to be.)

-Chap

 

I replaced the steering rack and ECU on my 2002 prius. Both parts were pulled from the same salvaged vehicle, and the dealer STILL couldn't get the thing to work. I've been driving with manual steering (which isn't that bad) ever since. My girlfriend does think it's bad because she's not as strong (especially when parallel parking.) I've been thinking of calling Lucious Garage in San Fran to see if they have any other ideas on how to get the power steering back without paying an arm and a leg. I'd have loved to have rigged up something like Daryl did, but now the power steering is completely dead.

 

That's the problem with these older models and why I sold mine recently while it didn't have any issues yet. You always worry you are one expensive repair away from the car being basically "totalled." The steering rack, a battery pack or inverter goes bad and it costs more to fix than the car is worth. I think in your case I'd pump up the front tires to 50 or 60psi and just live with it.

 

I don't know, the inverter wouldn't be that expensive with a used one. Even the battery isn't quite so bad if you can get a refurb. The steering rack is probably the most expensive of all to fix. But on the other hand, it is also the only one of the "big-3" problems that you can sort of live with.

 

Isn't that the very problem you're faced with right now? You bought a used steering rack and it doesn't work? Some parts are OK to buy used, Prius racks and inverters ain't. I sold my '02 with 153K for $5,300 a month ago which is probably a top price with those miles. Didn't want to take the chance of one of those big 3 repairs coming up when I see good Gen1's selling for $3-4K.

 

A reasonable course of action. I would add the transaxle to the list, making at least 4 big repairs that might be needed by a high-mileage Classic Prius. The transaxle is probably the most costly repair, at least in terms of required labor time.

 

Forum member adric22 is right. As long as the inverter isn't physically damaged, it is not a particularly dangerous part to buy used. Many Gen I inverter replacements are the product of misdiagnosis.

Gen 1 Prius steering racks are another story altogether.