garygid
Well-known member
Probably-maybe just need to change the value of one resistor.
Improve the steering feel
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AndyH
Well-known member
turbo2ltr said:
Old Skool!garygid said:
What packets do we send along the CAN bus to tweak the steering a tad? :lol:
AndyH
Well-known member
EVDRIVER said:
Doh!
Enough lithium for you tonight. :lol:
garygid
Well-known member
Old School sent men to the moon, and brought them back.
What has CAN done recently?
What has CAN done recently?
AndyH
Well-known member
garygid said:Old School sent men to the moon, and brought them back.
What has CAN done recently?
It's keeping the battery in your Prius happy, isn't it? :lol:
TomT
Well-known member
Yep, I'm an electrical engineer and the same thought occurred to me. Basically, you could create a similiar kind of system that a number of vehicles have today that allows you to select from a few different presets (comfort [which would be what the Leaf currently has IMHO], normal, or sport; for example).
If the production vehicles are still as bad as the drive vehicles, I'd buy one.
If the production vehicles are still as bad as the drive vehicles, I'd buy one.
turbo2ltr said:
Tom, you planning on taking your LEAF out to Qualcomm for auto-x? I've only been meaning to take my WRX out there for oh - 8 years - maybe I'll have better luck with my LEAF.ttweed said:
Would be interesting to have a couple LEAFs show up.
Coffee_Slurry
Well-known member
I'll be there.
Every new car should get a good shakeout in a safe environment. If you haven't spun it, you don't know where the limits are.
Every new car should get a good shakeout in a safe environment. If you haven't spun it, you don't know where the limits are.
AndyH
Well-known member
I took another look thru the steering and steering control sections of the service manual last night.
The steering computer gets input from the ABS sensors and other car sensors and computers - the power steering system appears to be fully integrated into the car's systems and adapts to conditions that include (at least) vehicle speed, forward/reverse, and ABS/traction control status.
If one wanted to dump steering boost completely (while triggering error lights and possibly some other 'limp' mode) they could just unplug the assist motor. That would put the steering system in it's 'full manual' fail-safe mode. Pull one plug and get a blinking dash light and full-time armstrong steering!
The ultimate solution will probably be tweaking a 'boost ratio' number in one of the steering computer's look-up tables. I know it's technically possible as I can do things like that with some of my '97 VW's systems (one can adjust injector timing, adjust fuel delivery for individual injectors, etc.) but I have no idea if that capability is built into the Nissan scan tool as a manual adjustment or if it would require a complete (tweaked) firmware upload.
Maybe lobby Nissan for a 'normal/sport' switch?
Geek time soon...
The steering computer gets input from the ABS sensors and other car sensors and computers - the power steering system appears to be fully integrated into the car's systems and adapts to conditions that include (at least) vehicle speed, forward/reverse, and ABS/traction control status.
If one wanted to dump steering boost completely (while triggering error lights and possibly some other 'limp' mode) they could just unplug the assist motor. That would put the steering system in it's 'full manual' fail-safe mode. Pull one plug and get a blinking dash light and full-time armstrong steering!
The ultimate solution will probably be tweaking a 'boost ratio' number in one of the steering computer's look-up tables. I know it's technically possible as I can do things like that with some of my '97 VW's systems (one can adjust injector timing, adjust fuel delivery for individual injectors, etc.) but I have no idea if that capability is built into the Nissan scan tool as a manual adjustment or if it would require a complete (tweaked) firmware upload.
Maybe lobby Nissan for a 'normal/sport' switch?
Geek time soon...
So... add steering boost adjustment to the aftermarket firmware wishlist.AndyH said:
- Alternate start-up and VPS sounds (as laws allow, of course)
- Variable max-charge timer preset between 80% and 100% (instead of just 80% or 100%)
- Proper Battery State-Of Charge meter
- Tweak to regen brake intensity in normal vs eco modes (unless blatantly unsafe to do so)
- Power Steering Boost adjustment
=Smidge=
Coffee_Slurry
Well-known member
Instead of killing the steering motor altogether (along with malfunction lights), wouldn't it be easier just to heat up the thermal sensor to where it thinks the boost motor is overheating?
Then it should go into a reduced-power mode, with corresponding driver happiness.
Then it should go into a reduced-power mode, with corresponding driver happiness.
turbo2ltr
Well-known member
There's several ways to do it. It's all a matter of what side effects each has...as well as how hard it is to implement. Very few people are going to want to remove the PS unit and take it all apart to get to the thermistor...assuming they even used a thermistor and not some sort of semiconductor type of sensor like the maxim DS series sensors.
ttweed
Well-known member
Absolutely, at least once. It will not be a competitive venture, just an exploratory one. I will resist putting on the used 245/45-16 Hoosiers I have laying around in the garage and just run it on the stock tires to see how it handles.drees said:
Unfortunately, the way things are playing out, I will be lucky to get the car by April or May, it seems, unless they really ramp up production soon.
TT
Let me know - I'm definitely interested. Have only done one "auto-x" when Mazda was doing those auto-x/driving events around the country so not a real auto-x. Did have fastest time for a few hours, though.ttweed said:
I'm in the same boat or worse - I wasn't able to order until late Oct (because of EV Project delays, I think).ttweed said:Unfortunately, the way things are playing out, I will be lucky to get the car by April or May, it seems, unless they really ramp up production soon.
turbo2ltr
Well-known member
EVDRIVER said:
The service manual says the amount of assist will be less if the motor overheats. There has to be something like a thermistor that tells the controller the motor temperature. So if you trick the controller into thinking the motor is overheated when it's not, it will reduce the assist.
EVDRIVER said:
And you know this because you designed it and wrote the firmware? Please tell us how to change the curve then.
As with anything, if you do something it's not expecting, unless you designed it, you don't know what the effects could be. Especially when you see the integraton between the EPS and the ABS/ VDC system.
rsbrax
Active member
I test drove the Leaf a 2nd time last week. It seemed to sway side to side at highway speed. Thought this might be due partially to the tall height of the vehicle. Some posts indicate that a simple power steering adjustment would improve road handling and feel of the road. If so, then this improvement would be my biggest request.
The LEAF, with its hefty profile, seems to be more affected by cross winds, but in my experience, it'd have to be a non-trivial wind speed, maybe north of 10-15 mph, to register an effect. In normal conditions, I have not noticed wandering problems, even with the skinny tall side-walled tires and Jello suspension. In any case, I don't know if less steering assist/better steering feel would do anything for a "swaying from side to side" problem. If anything, more steering feel might make one more aware of small steering changes. The "swaying" could be the result of road condition, the vehicle's alignment possibly being out of whack, or (if the two test drives were in the same car) an issue with the front tires.rsbrax said:
RedLeader
Well-known member
I've noticed that the chassis feel of the Leaf has a lot to be desired of. The steering in particular makes me want to vomit.... at first. After driving the Leaf for several days w/o driving anything else it all seems to come together and the soft, spongy, numb feeling starts to feel comfortable, light and pleasant. At least until you attempt to extract some performance out of it, which snaps you back to reality. I'd compare the driving feel of the Leaf to being introduced to rootbear for the first time. The first sip is disgusting but after a few more, you find yourself liking it. I have to say I do enjoy driving it but everytime I drive another car and then come back to the Leaf, I have to get over that initial feeling of nausea. First 2 model years of any chassis always seem to have issues that have to be sorted out. By 2013 I'm sure there will be higher spring rates and less assist on the steering.
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