Magnasteer "Pulsing"

**PurpleGuy** · 01-21-2013

Any of you guys with Magnasteer ever felt pulsing when taking long corners? Such as a cloverleaf for an interstate on/off ramp? Basically gets tigther, looser, tighter, looser, as you take the corner.

My Cadi does this and my Prix did the same thing as well. Both had Magnasteer. I believe it to be Magnasteer as it's desgined to vary the effort required to turn. So as you're taking the corner it's making it harder and easier to turn.

Anybody felt this condition? Have any recomendations? I don't believe the pump to be the problem. Both cars had new tie rods so i'm doubting that too.

**Iceman6669** · 01-21-2013

Mine asks kinda like that also...

**dsmuts** · 01-21-2013

I thought magnasteer turned off after you were at a certain speed.

**PurpleGuy** · 01-21-2013

No. Magnasteer is always active from my understanding. As you speed up it stiffens the steering. Below 15mph or whatever it makes it very loose so you can turn quick, like in a parking lot or whatever. I could be wrong though

**PurpleGuy** · 01-23-2013

Bumpy

**FriboRage** · 01-24-2013

I know what you mean and my comp G does it too, it's very weak but like you said it gets tighter and looser very rapidly, but it's usually around faster turns.

**addzradd** · 01-24-2013

On most applications, the only input the control electronics uses for
Magnasteer is the vehicle speed sensor. At zero mph, a negative current of
approximately two to three amps flows to the Magnasteer coil. This causes the
magnets to repel each other, which in turn allows more deflection in the torsion
bar inside the spool valve assembly. This increases fluid flow through the spool
valve to the steering gear for maximum power assist when it is needed most.

As vehicle speed increases, current flow to the Magnasteer coil is gradually
reduced. At about 45 mph, current flow to the coil hits zero and Magnasteer has
no effect on the amount of power assist (which is determined only by the torsion
bar and pump flow).

Above 45 mph, the direction of current to the coil is reversed and continues
to gradually increase up to a maximum of about three amps at 75 to 85 mph.
Reversing the polarity of the coil causes the magnets to attract each other,
which has the effect of stiffening the torsion bar. This reduces the amount of
deflection in the torsion bar that normally occurs when the wheels are steered
and causes an increase in steering effort for better road feel and high-speed
steering stability.

**PurpleGuy** · 01-24-2013

Sooo....I wonder If I can crawl under there and disconnect the rack to test if that's the problem. Seems like it is but it doesn't hurt to make sure

**PurpleGuy** · 01-24-2013

I posted a similar thread over on the Cadi forum and they absolutely insist it's not Magnasteer at fault. What else could it be?

**txslow6** · 01-24-2013

Yep and I have always assumed it was the magnasteer in my car. I know leaving from a stop if I hold the brake and give the car a little gas it loosens the steering up.

**PurpleGuy** · 01-24-2013

Well here's the thing. They're saying it's worn out components/bushings. But as said in the first post my 99 GTP did this exact same thing.
It had new:
LCA's with bushings and ball joints
Sway links
Tie rod ends
Springs
Struts
Mounts
Motor/trans mounts
And rack

Sooooo..how can worn out components be at fault when basically the whole suspension has been replaced? What's more is the GTP did it worse than the Cadi does, with all new parts.

**addzradd** · 01-24-2013

I would think to check for air in the lines on the power steering end, especially if someone replaced the rack in the car and didn't properly bleed the system it could be sucking in air occasionally. But with that you would also likely get a whining noise.

**PurpleGuy** · 01-24-2013

My Dad and I replaced the rack lol

I suppose doing a P/S system flush is something to try.

**Scottydoggs** · 01-24-2013

did you crank the wheels lock to lock like 10 times after the new rack was installed? i know mine burped real nice when i did mine. it puked up all over the floor lol

i feel no pulsing in mine at all. with the old one or the new to me used one.

**PurpleGuy** · 01-24-2013

Both cars were cranked lock to lock several times. It wouldn't hurt to try it again though.

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