Is our steering in our car heavy? | Possible issue?
11-17-18, 11:31 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Is our steering in our car heavy? | Possible issue?
My car is a 03 gs sportdesign. the power steering is very heavy to move and whines like crazy, when idling or accelerating at any speed.
i believe i have some sort of issue.
HOWEVER!
How does a perfectly fine working power steering system in a gs feel? Is the steering more on the heavier side? Or light like an Ls430?
I bought my car with this issue and I feel like I don't have any power steering at all, that's how heavy it is.
i believe i have some sort of issue.
HOWEVER!
How does a perfectly fine working power steering system in a gs feel? Is the steering more on the heavier side? Or light like an Ls430?
I bought my car with this issue and I feel like I don't have any power steering at all, that's how heavy it is.
11-18-18, 12:40 AM
#2
Steering is generally light on a GS. but there are some steering ECUs that makes it slightly heavier.
This was actually a sought after mod in the past. And IIRC the Sport design ECUs is what they were sourced from. There are threads specific to this.
Heaviness in the steering could be caused by alignment as well. If you haven't done any alignment recently it could be a good thing to have a check to save from abnormal tire wear.
This was actually a sought after mod in the past. And IIRC the Sport design ECUs is what they were sourced from. There are threads specific to this.
Heaviness in the steering could be caused by alignment as well. If you haven't done any alignment recently it could be a good thing to have a check to save from abnormal tire wear.
11-18-18, 06:20 AM
#3
You mentioned it whines like crazy, Obviously you've checked your p/s fluid level? If its low it will whine and cause hard steering. If you are full and it still whines as bad as you make it sound, your pump is failing and not pushing enough fluid to give good p/s assist. I'd replace if you aren't low on fluid or anything simple. If you are low, find the leak and fix the issue, fill up and give it a try.
11-18-18, 09:06 AM
#4
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Steering is generally light on a GS. but there are some steering ECUs that makes it slightly heavier.
This was actually a sought after mod in the past. And IIRC the Sport design ECUs is what they were sourced from. There are threads specific to this.
Heaviness in the steering could be caused by alignment as well. If you haven't done any alignment recently it could be a good thing to have a check to save from abnormal tire wear.
This was actually a sought after mod in the past. And IIRC the Sport design ECUs is what they were sourced from. There are threads specific to this.
Heaviness in the steering could be caused by alignment as well. If you haven't done any alignment recently it could be a good thing to have a check to save from abnormal tire wear.
You mentioned it whines like crazy, Obviously you've checked your p/s fluid level? If its low it will whine and cause hard steering. If you are full and it still whines as bad as you make it sound, your pump is failing and not pushing enough fluid to give good p/s assist. I'd replace if you aren't low on fluid or anything simple. If you are low, find the leak and fix the issue, fill up and give it a try.
11-18-18, 10:04 AM
#5
Yep that's a bad pump. No assist and noise, pretty cut and dry. When you replace it, make sure the serpentine belt tensioner is good and has plenty of resistance. I think you'd know the difference between belt slipping noise and p/s whine. But just another basic thing to check is that the belt isn't slipping due to a bad tensioner. This would also stop the pump from being able to assist in steering.
11-18-18, 10:38 AM
#6
My steering is not that bad. Light but still a good solid feel for the road. Not like BMW's I have driven which feel heavy.
First I would check and clean the metal strainer inside the reservoir to make sure there is no debris preventing flow to the pump. If you do change the power steering pump I recommend you add a small inline filter to help extend the life of the powersteering pump (I do this to all my cars).
First I would check and clean the metal strainer inside the reservoir to make sure there is no debris preventing flow to the pump. If you do change the power steering pump I recommend you add a small inline filter to help extend the life of the powersteering pump (I do this to all my cars).
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11-18-18, 04:56 PM
#8
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Yep that's a bad pump. No assist and noise, pretty cut and dry. When you replace it, make sure the serpentine belt tensioner is good and has plenty of resistance. I think you'd know the difference between belt slipping noise and p/s whine. But just another basic thing to check is that the belt isn't slipping due to a bad tensioner. This would also stop the pump from being able to assist in steering.
My steering is not that bad. Light but still a good solid feel for the road. Not like BMW's I have driven which feel heavy.
I understand. I've never driven other GS' so I wouldn't know what it is supposed to feel like but yes, it def feels like a BMW.
First I would check and clean the metal strainer inside the reservoir to make sure there is no debris preventing flow to the pump. If you do change the power steering pump I recommend you add a small inline filter to help extend the life of the powersteering pump (I do this to all my cars).
I understand. I've never driven other GS' so I wouldn't know what it is supposed to feel like but yes, it def feels like a BMW.
First I would check and clean the metal strainer inside the reservoir to make sure there is no debris preventing flow to the pump. If you do change the power steering pump I recommend you add a small inline filter to help extend the life of the powersteering pump (I do this to all my cars).
11-18-18, 08:45 PM
#9
Look at his thread. When I sold my old GS400 to my co worker. He then kept it for awhile, and also then sold it. The new purchaser called back a few days later and complained about the steering too stiff. 
I did the mod, and I felt it was fine fore me. I'm not saying it's your issue, but something to look into.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...djustment.html
I did the mod, and I felt it was fine fore me. I'm not saying it's your issue, but something to look into.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...djustment.html
11-21-18, 05:45 AM
#11
The sport design has a different steering ECU than the stock GS300 and GS4XX that makes the steering feel heavier than a normal GS. If you don't like it you can swap it out in about 5-10 minutes by undoing one bolt and connector under the dash. The sport design (and L-Tuned) steering ECUs are worth extra because they provide a sportier steering feel. Make sure you keep track of which is which because all the part numbers are the same and they look the same if you swap
11-22-18, 09:17 AM
#12
Intermediate
Thread Starter
The sport design has a different steering ECU than the stock GS300 and GS4XX that makes the steering feel heavier than a normal GS. If you don't like it you can swap it out in about 5-10 minutes by undoing one bolt and connector under the dash. The sport design (and L-Tuned) steering ECUs are worth extra because they provide a sportier steering feel. Make sure you keep track of which is which because all the part numbers are the same and they look the same if you swap
Could you show me which bolt/connector it is?
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