T350 PAS - Standard or Option?

[Craig!]

Sorry, third thread of the night but Google is just bringing up a load of parts sites when searching... did the T350 have a factory fit PAS as standard or was it like the Griff / Chims where it was an option?

[JulianHJ]

Standard across the T-cars AFAIK.

[shep1001]

Std on all the T-cars. Electric pump sytems on the Tamora, T350 & Sags. Early Tuscans were not electric pump systems.

Shep

[Craig!]

How effective is the system? The T350 I drove at the weekend didn't feel like it had PAS it felt like my Exige did :/ whats the best way to check the system is working?

[ben_ek]

you would definitely know if it wasn't working, you'd barely be able to turn the wheel. note the weight of the steering is affected by the damper setup, so this may be why it was heavy.

[shep1001]

Craig! said:

How effective is the system? The T350 I drove at the weekend didn't feel like it had PAS it felt like my Exige did :/ whats the best way to check the system is working?

You can hear the pump running/fluid moving when you turn the steering wheel

Shep

[crimbo]

Craig! said:

How effective is the system? The T350 I drove at the weekend didn't feel like it had PAS it felt like my Exige did :/ whats the best way to check the system is working?

It has it but it's not over assisted, if it didnt you would struggle to move the wheel when the car is not moving

[Craig!]

Owned a few non-PAS cars and this certainly felt like one, guessing fuse would be first port of call on a Trevor?

[shep1001]

Craig! said:

Owned a few non-PAS cars and this certainly felt like one, guessing fuse would be first port of call on a Trevor?

check 80A midi fuse & holder in battery box (wheel off job) 7.5a blade fuse on the main fuse board (#36 6th up from the bottom) 45A relay under the hood by the oil tank (its inside the light grey holder). I guess for completeness check the connection to the PS pump, so follow the loom back from the relay.

Shep

[Craig!]

For a quick 'is it the pump' test would it be OK just sending a direct 12v source to it?

[TVRinBFG]

Craig! - If the PAS wasn't working you'd have difficulty getting the car out the garage/parking space.

[Craig!]

I did, but figured it was because it was a 'raw' car and had 18" wheels and no-PAS. Lotus only had 16" front wheels so wasn't too bad, but it was a case of if the wheels were not rolling you weren't able to turn it without great force.

[BCA]

Craig! - With the car on but stationary, turn the wheel with one hand. Then turn the car off and try turning the wheel with one hand.

hang on, will get a vid, need to try something anyway - give me ten mins or so.

[Targarama]

BCA said:

Craig! - With the car on but stationary, turn the wheel with one hand. Then turn the car off and try turning the wheel with one hand.

hang on, will get a vid, need to try something anyway - give me ten mins or so.

You don't even need the engine running. Not nice for the joints to turn the steering while not rolling though.

[BCA]

http://s1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/CerberaBC...

Hopefully that will work. Not the best quality and a pretty poor vid, but you get the idea. If you listen carefully, you can hear the 'whine' of the PAS as I turn it over the cold engine noise. I am a righty before anyone comments, and the 'oof' was probably a bit of an exaggeration, but there is a marked difference.

FWIW - the difference between a non-PAS 730kilo mid engined car and a T350c with PAS is little. My old 'Ring Smart has non-PAS and with no weight up front, even with elise width tyres, its easier to turn than the T350 still.

Edited by BCA on Wednesday 21st September 13:14

[BCA]

Targarama said:

You don't even need the engine running. Not nice for the joints to turn the steering while not rolling though.

Had to start it anyway, wanted to try something with the keys.




I also just like hearing it purr...

[Craig!]

Well the car I saw 100% DID NOT turn like that, it was like the latter again like my Exige (non-PAS) was.

[BCA]

Craig! said:

Well the car I saw 100% DID NOT turn like that, it was like the latter again like my Exige (non-PAS) was.

I agree then, there is a problem.

I am actually very impressed with how nicely the T350 steers. After looking underneath, it appears we have a factory bumpsteer mod too - maybe a later car thing? It should be easy to turn, but not overly-assisted like most stuff, its a good weight IMHO.

[Craig!]

Yeh, I loved the T350's feel however wasn't convinced on the steering that's when I started digging around to see of PAS was an option or not. I'm a fan of raw cars, but 18" wheels and no-PAS goes from raw to just impractical.