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MG MGF Technical - 'Herbie' steering is fixed - and adjustable?

Hi all,
After the concern I caused last month with my "Herbie" thread about how my steering suddenly turned left all by itself a few times - I can now let you all know that the problem is solved.
After leaving the car at two different Rover dealers for three weeks and numerous letters to Rover it was diagnosed as a faulty steering column or EPAS ECU. These were replaced (I bought 2nd hand to reduce cost)but the problem remained.
The solution was a new multi block connector into the EPAS ECU - the EPAS is now better than it has ever been - it is no longer twitchy on the motorway.
I am still trying to alert Rover to potentially dangerous problem, but they are very dismissive.
Anyway, today I dismantled my spare steering column to see how it works - and found that the sensor that senses the torque required is adjustable, just two fixing bolts. This may provide a way to adjust the assistance from the EPAS, as discussed in some previous threads - maybe MS (or Dieter!) can investigate further.
ps Dieter - I will be visiting Munchen Gladbach in my F next weekend.
Jason
Jason Harris

Hi Jason,
good to see that the problem has gone.
I've got the steering EPAS and EPAS electronic module in my garage and will have a look.. and some pictures ;-)
Mgl next week... Hmm, if my MGF is back on the road (broken gear switch cable, car in Bad Hersfeld, 300km eastwards) .. lets see...
Send a mobile number, phone number in MGL or any address by email if you find an hour time for a small meet up or 'hello' beside the wedding using wedding cars tunbridge wells celebration.
:o)
Dieter
Dieter

Jason,
You where right.
A sensor at the EPAS is adjustable.
A blank metal cap covers a plastic thing with two screws in long holes. Sensor can be turned about 5 degrees. the one at the wreck MGF is screwed to the steering at the centre of theat long holes.

HTH
Dieter
PS. pictures later on a EPAS side
Dieter

..later ... is now :)
http://members.tripod.de/MGF/epas/index.htm

Sorry but I really got no idea on how it works and I do not like to disassemble it any more ... recently ;-)
Surely it's the position feedback for the controller.

HTH
Dieter
Dieter

Great pictures there Dieter.

Still not sure how the sensor is working or how it would be adjustable (other than the relative postion to the steering rack).

Can anyone clarify this?

Cheers

Rob
Rob Bell

>>I am still trying to alert Rover to potentially dangerous problem, but they are very dismissive.<<

Seems like people *must* get injured or killed first, prior to any awareness of a car manufacturer. History teaches them nothing ? What a disgraceful attitude. Shame on Rover/Phoenix !

Keep the correspondence. The day somebody - unfortunately - will get injured or killed due to the defective steering column, a scandal will break loose if your correspondence pops up to the surface ...and the arrogant attitude recently showed towards you can cost the car-manufacturer truly a lot of money (damages), because they had earlier been informed about the dangerous trouble.
Luc

Jason Harris and Luc wrote:
>>The solution was a new multi block connector into the EPAS ECU - the EPAS is now better than it has ever been - it is no longer twitchy on the motorway.<<

>>I am still trying to alert Rover to potentially dangerous problem, but they are very dismissive.<<

>Seems like people *must* get injured or killed first, prior to any awareness of a car manufacturer. History teaches them nothing ? What a disgraceful attitude. Shame on Rover/Phoenix !<



What problem?...

By your own admission (Jason) the problem wasw solved by "new multi block connector into the EPAS ECU"

As far as I can see, your problem was that the multi-plug was not latched properly.


Luc, Do you know of any accident cause by EPAS failure?

Personally I don't think there have been any, otherwise (in the UK) our wonderful tabloid press woulf be campaigning for the rights of the motorist and demanding Rover withdraw this unsafe car.

So far the silence has been defening.


Best regards

H. Holbeck
Holbeck

Hi,
Just returned from a run across Europe in the F - I had a great time!
Holbeck - the problem was not a badly latched connector - the fault was inside the connector - the actual pins were loose and touching each other - the only solution was to fit a whole new connector (which Rover do not sell seperately!).
Dieter - sorry I didn't get in touch things got very hectic at the wedding - anyway - I have stripped my spare column down further than yours - the sensor is basically a rotating arm which reads the position of a sliding plastic sleeve around the column - as the column is turned and torque applied, the sliding plastic sleeve slides up and down the coulmn, and turns the sensor. - Therefore if the sensor were to be rotated a few degrees (there seems to be enough adjustment in the screw holes) then the amount of assistance provided by the motor should be varied. I am not brave enough to strip my car down agian though - it has taken me months to get it working!
regards,
Jason
Jason Harris

This thread was discussed between 05/08/2000 and 17/08/2000

MG MGF Technical index

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