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MG MGF Technical - Will Munns EPAS cutout switch

I have heard nothing more about Karls clever device to increase speedo pulses to the EPAS ecu, so I thought I would just fit Will Munns cut out switch. Just before I fit it, is there anybody that has actually performed this mod and, if it is the same as just pulling the fuse, is this going to be damaging to the EPAS?
Paul

I have ;-) and have no trouble, I use it every day.
Will Munns

Paul,

Some time after Will's pioneering, and with some additional help from Will on sourcing the components, I went ahead and fitted this mod also. I must have been the first to follow the instructions on Rob's site, as I found a mistake in the write-up, which Rob helped me sort out and then corrected. I know that Rob's also done this mod. He and I went on a North Weald day soon after and we were both impressed with how much easier it was to feel the grip with EPAS turned off, when deliberately pushing the cars to the edge.

Before that day I only turned off EPAS on track days, but afterwards I started driving all the time with it off. However, Carl's concern over the strain on the steering system has worried me and I must admit to not having used it since then.

I'd really like some more info from Carl on his assessment of the risk and how to overcome that with the approach he's taken.
Dave Livingstone

As Dave says, I was a bit slow in putting this mod on my car - but now I have, it's great :o) After a North Weald day, we were both genuinely stunned at how much better the feel was through the steering wheel with the EPAS switched off.

I tend to only switch it off for track events (living in London, the EPAS is a real boon) - but certainly, I've not had any problems as a consequence of fitting Will's switch.

Paul Nothard disconnects the EPAS by pulling the fuse: he's driven his F like this for 5(?) years - and the EPAS still functions (if Paul reads this, hopefully he'll be able to confirm).

I can't comment on Carl's thoughts regarding strain on the EPAS hardware that may result from switching off the motor-assistance. It sounds entirely plausible. But from the point of view of sheer steering feel versus just increased weight, switching the system off offers far superior feel than would just fooling the EPAS ECU into 'thinking' that the road speed is higher than it in fact is. This I can confidently say having felt the diference in 'feel' between driving at 70mph with the EPAS on and the EPAS off. At 70mph, the EPAS is providing the least assistance it is programmed to provide YET the steering still feels artificial compared with the steering with EPAS off at the same speed.

From this observation, it appears that the EPAS also acts like a steering damper...
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed on 05/03/2004

MG MGF Technical index

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