What is Drive by Wire

Cars advance as quickly as cell phones nowadays, the moment you buy the newest latest and greatest…it is outdated. The technology in cars is becoming staggering when compared to cars of 10 years ago. Cars like the Toyota Prius use electric power steering rack units but will soon use a drive by wire system. The electric rack and pinion is actually a manual rack with an electric assist that eliminates the need for the power steering pump. This may seem strange as the electric draw on the motor would be huge but the gains are more impressive.

The power steering pump is a belt driven pump which means that it creates a parasitic draw on the motor at all times. By removing this draw the electric and gas motors in an electric or gas car can be minimized. This means that the engine can perform more efficiently and thus deliver better mileage from the power supply.

Drive by wire is also a term that can apply to a system that uses no physical connection at all from the steering wheel to the rack. This system uses electrical connections to communicate the input from the driver. This system is not only applied to the steering but also the throttle and soon the brakes as well. While this system shows efficiency over the actual mechanical connection it does show some concerns. The system is powered by an electric current but what happens when the battery goes dead? Will the car lose all control and not be able to steer, stop or go?

These are all questions that the auto industry is trying to cover with safety and back-up systems. Drive by wire will be showing up more and more in the auto industry, so it is something we will all have to get used to. Just like any other new technology there will be excitement and failures in the field but it will work out in the end, just look at Blu Ray. Blu Ray hit the market with so many issues that no one thought it would ever work but now it is the way of the future. Drive by wire will be the same as the technology gets better the cars will get more and more efficient. 

Tight Steering After a Rack Install

Recently the vehicle you drive had a leaking steering rack and it is leaving puddles everywhere you go. You think to your self "great! how much is this gonna cost?" so you find the power rack or power gearbox that you need online for a good price. The install goes well and the mechanic stands behind his work but the car is really hard to turn.  This must mean the part is bad...it is the only new part to the car and the old one turned fine.

After all this time and money the mechanic is telling you that the rack you ordered is bad and he will not warranty the labor cost. So now it is time call and scream at the company who sold the rack. But hold on...is there really issue tor more did the new rack that has exposed a preexisting issue. Many times an old power steering rack is loose and very easy to move, this means very little force is needed from the power steering pump. When the old worn out pump is now coupled with the new rack means that it may not make enough pressure to turn the rack. A tight rack can seem like a binding rack but it will never bind in both directions. An easy way to check for a failing pump is to rev up the motor and see if the car turns easier...if it does, you have a bad pump.

Mechanics don't care about diagnosing the issue most of the time if you bring your own parts but they are happy to charge labor again and again. Be sure that the company who is installing the part knows what they are doing and that they are good people. Every company can smile at you and act like a friend...walk onto a used car lot and you will have a new best friend till you buy a car but its all an act. Make sure the repairs to the steering system are done by a trust worthy company that can determine real issues for you.