So I have a 2014 accord as well as my 2005 TL. It has an electric PS rack. No PS pump and doesn't need to use PS fluid. I also like the way it feels. Does nyone know what it would take to adopt this electric PS to the TL?

 

I guess no one really knows

 

Nobody's probably even thought to attempt the conversion, I know I haven't. There are electric conversion that could be done using a pump, but the complete electric ps conversion would probably be too costly as possibly the need to redo the entire steering column.

 

Maybe the rack from a 2nd gen TSX, the EPS computer, module, wiring, etc etc etc.

There is a LOT that goes into it. Look into it if you want to do this. Buy a wrecked 2nd gen TSX from an auction and go.

 

Good idea. I didn't realize those had electric steering. I just went down to the garage to look at the accord. There are some pretty serious looking connectors there and they go back into the main wiring harness.

 

I believe in you OP! Get'er done!!! Take pics along the way too

 

Is there any benefits to convert to electric ps?

 

OP wants that docile, unconnected feeling from the road to gently lull you to sleep

 

EPS provides a constantly varying steering ratio. It can turn the wheels at a very fast rate at slow speeds....and then back off for higher speeds.

EPS is extremely complex. It ties into the traction control computer's active yaw control and quite a few other driving dynamic parameters.

I guess there is a slight loss in feedback with EPS...but Honda's EPS feels excellent. I have Hondas/Acuras that have hydraulic PS and others with EPS. Each has its ups and downs. But both EPS cars feel great. I don't blame OP for wanting to do this.

Its just complex AF.

 

It's not just the rack, but there's also a motor and an ECU. In most vehicles with electric steering, the system is also tied into the traction control due to the angle sensor / yaw control. You would have to fabricate mounts for the rack, redo the harness to so it works with the 3rd gen TL, delete the current setup which also means getting a custom belt, possibly might need new inner and outer tie rods, removal of existing steering column and fabricate and install new electric motor, possible new steering column harness and misc things here and there. The overall effort and cost might well exceed half of what the TL is worth since you have an 2005. It's a very complex system and trying to install such a system on a vehicle that wasn't designed to have it, is a huge waste of time.

 

Electric steering is like an automatic transmission, for the lazy and incompetent.

 

sadly that laziness starting to take over the car industry, take a look around you and see how many hydraulic power steering remain.

 

I'm not at all sure I'd go that far; the thing is, electric power steering is a thing of the future as it draws less power from the engine which in turn improves fuel economy. That electric power steering systems, by and large, feel numb and unresponsive is an engineering issue which, hopefully, can be remediated.

 

Lol what? What does it have to do with laziness? Its still power steering.

how is it any more "like an automatic transmission" than hydraulic PS?

Is hydraulic PS manually actuated? Do you need to clutch in and shift it the fluid through a set of gates?

 

Having driven a number of cars with electric power steering, my take is they, in general, feel like the super assisted hydraulic steering from old 1960s and 1970s Chrysler products; absolutely no feedback what-so-ever.

Okay, maybe modern electric assist isn't quite that bad, but the point is, I think the industry has yet to perfect electric assist so it feels like a light weight car with no power assist at all. The benchmark I use for steering excellence is my (former) 1979 VW Scirocco; my (former) 2002 BMW 530i SP is a close second with my (former) 2009 Mazda3 (electric pump for the hydraulics) and my 2006 Acura TL tied for third best. My wife's former 2012 GTI and her current 2016 Mazda3 s GT both had/have electric steering (I'm pretty sure the GTI had it), and both were/are both pretty limp/numb compared to my "best of" list.

 

With that logic, you should just remove your power steering in general. Man up...stop being lazy...build up that arm strength.

 

Honda is late to the EPS, I drove several EPS 2nd gen TSX, 4th gen TL, TLX, MDX, GS350 , LS460 and ISF with EPS the steering is light and offer no feedback from the road as conventional hydraulic one. Some was tune for sport like ISF and the TLX in sport mode but for other it like playing a video game.

 

Have you driven a S2000? Its not THAT modern (the first ones rolled out like 16-17 years ago)....and it probably features EPS technology in its infancy.

Honda has been using EPS since the 90's, actually.

Road feel might be numb in *some* cars. But...how does that make you more or less lazy?

Honda's EPS feels fantastic compared to Toyota or Nissan's. Even the 2G TSX, which is supposed to be a very mundane car, has excellent feedback, and the steering almost feels natural.

 

since the 90s? lmfao you must refer to the NSX which 95% of us do not owned.

 

Also...

Insight.
S2000.

Released around 1999.

they then started putting it on Civics around 2002.

They weren't late to the EPS game, is my point.

 

^ I think he is just trying to feel right in the wrong LOL

you're correct Roland. Honda has good EPS history. Speaking of S2000, I absolutely LOVE the steering feel on my AP2 S2000. I don't know how they achieved it, but it feels just right for spirit driving.

At same time, my family owns 2010 Insight, and that EPS is total opposite.

I also absolutely love TL-S steering wheel. While heavy and PITA at times during parking, its perfect for daily freeway driving.

 

As far as comparisons between EPS and hydro PS...

I can jump out of my 1G TSX (hydro PS) and into my wife's 2nd gen (EPS).

They both have MPSS's in wider than stock sizing. Both are in top conditon. Both are aligned properly. Both have Tein SA coilovers and are lowered very conservatively.

The 1G has a stronger return to center...and the return is more "natural".

I still prefer the feel of the 2G. Possibly because of the fatter steering wheel? The response is quicker, smoother, and more direct. The return to center is a tiny bit artificial. But it doesn't bug me.

My S2000 has EPS....and since it has 6.5 deg of caster as part of the stock angle...the return to center is excellent and the steering effort builds up more naturally. And if I feel like boring myself to death by going autocrossing...I'll never worry about outrunning the PS like I would with a hydro system.

EPS and hydro PS both start to back off in their assist at like 30MPH. Both have speed sensitive switches.

Try hopping into a RSX and then an EP3 if you want to compare the systems in almost identical chassis'. I prefer the EP3 with EPS.

Toyota and Nissan EPS is the EPS yall complaining about. No feel at all. Vague. Feels like a bad video game. Wheel won't even return to center.

EPS is the way of the future. Because it saves space, doesn't require potentially leaky lines that cause environmental damage and costly repairs...and are costly to design. Allows for better use of space. Allows for tying into traction control. Allows for variable ratios and assists. etc. etc. etc.


Honda's EPS is known to be heads and shoulders better than others

 

it add HP since it's not running off the engine, how much I don't know.

 

this is the goofiest thing I've ever heard, or are you trolling? EPS is only about squeezing any little HP you can get out of an engine, that's the main reason we are all on this forum to begin with. At least for me it is.

 

 

 

you should look into some turbos there, mr. Racecar

 

 

Sorry guys, this is still a bad idea to do such a conversion.

 

i feel there is no point in doing this unless you just want to waste time, money and want headaches.

 

^This!

 

if you want to know what heavy steering feels like take my 1967 Impala SS for a spin. lol no power steering, no power brakes, drums all round, 4 speed, big block.

 

Yeah, my 1970 Challenger was kinda-sorta the same, except it was a small block, had power disc brakes up front, and a mechanical clutch linkage with a 3,500 pound Borg-and-Beck pressure plate. Parallel parking was such a joy.

Funny thing though, my next car was a 1979 Scirocco, no power anything, but an absolute joy to drive.

 

If you can get a wire diagram for the 07 accord hybrid and the parts such as the steering angle sensor, rack and control modules you shouldn't have that hard of a time doing it since the 03-07 accord is similar to the TL in many respects. In fact the axles are the same for the auto cars but not sure for the hybrids.

Main thing is the cost, then the integration of the electronics. Main one being the steering angle sensor since it's going to rely on the inputs to control the EPS system, VSA and ABS systems.

One benefit not mentioned about EPS is the lack of a "steering column" so there's less chance of injury by being impaled.

 

I dont see why you would need to change the rack.. Just leave the existing power steering unit installed but disco the hoses and run them over to the new electric pump. IF you can find a pump that has a combination reservoir, you may be able to swap out the current power steering reservoir for a combo pump & reservoir.

 

by the way, I said that with only 1 thing in mind.. "Freeing up the engine".. Not for road feel, or the lack thereof...

Similarly, electric water pumps have been around for years. I put a Meziere electric water pump on my 97 Camaro back in 2005ish. New mustangs also come with electric power steering because it free's up the engine, so there is less drag on the motor (better fuel economy and HP) But the mustang system may be a total overhaul (no fluid) So anyway, if you want to keep the OEM rack, then we just need to find a pump for the Fluid. Which is all I wanted to do, to free up the engine and I reportedly have a slightly leaking OEM PS pump.. Volvo makes an ele. ps. pump but those things are noisy! It sounds like a jet engine is spooling up. TRW makes one for a porsche and it does not sounds too noisy but I am not sure if it is heavy duty enough. I read that power steering hoses can range from 200psi to 1500 psi. So, any electric pump has to be rated as such. The only other drawback that I am aware of, some people say the fluid pumps draw a lot of power. But it may not impact a vehicle as much that has a larger battery and larger alternator than some of the lighter / smaller cars. So who knows...