DIY Converting Hydraulic P/S to Electronic P/S RSX

I finally finished converting my car to electronic Power Steering the other day and I made a small DIY for you. Let me just say this is an easy swap and most people are worried about it but after doing it I realized just how easy it is.


First here are all of our parts!

Rack and Pinion
Tie Rod Ends
Brain Box
Wiring Harness
EP3 Brackets

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5436.jpg

First thing first we need to rip out the Hydraulic Power Steering lines and pump. I already did that as I'm running no P/S

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5588.jpg

So first lets unbolt the wheels and un bolt the tie rod ends
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5592.jpg

next for more clearance I took out this lower bar
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5591.jpg

then unbolted the PS rack from the RSX brackets
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5612.jpg

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5589.jpg

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5590.jpg

Then go inside the car and unbolt the 10mm bolts holding on the ujoint on the steering shaft
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5610.jpg

Now unbolt the brackets from the frame and rip out the rack and pinion
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5614.jpg


Now lets compare the RSX and EP3 racks
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5613.jpg


HERE IS THE NEW INFORMATION~!!!

The inner tie rod ends are the same!! There is no need to swap the entire tie rod assembly like everyone else!!!! Only the outer tie rod ends are different and need swapping! So take a wrench and swap them out!

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5619.jpg

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5618.jpg

Here you can see the difference in the rsx and ep3 tie rod ends. The RSX is much thicker going into the strut assembly.
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5616.jpg

Now lets slap in the new EP3 rack and pinion and bolt it up to the new EP3 Brackets you also needed.

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5624.jpg

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5625.jpg

So now you rack is in and it's time to do the wiring... There is not much to it!

So first thing I did was go inside the car and run the new wiring harness threw the location of the stock wiring harness. Under the carpet footboard for the gas pedal. Then pulled the wire out into the engine bay and up to the eps rack

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5629.jpg

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5627.jpg

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5628.jpg


Now I mounted my box and plugged it in

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5630.jpg

But we need power! For this I made a custom plug into the factory plug and ran a power wire out the fender to my fuse box. You can either go to the fuse box like I did or go to the battery like Loza did. I went to the fuse box because I relocated both box and battery and my box was closer!

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5631.jpg

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5635.jpg

and here is where I went into the fuse box. I decided to add a inline fuse. I used the power source on the left which is coming straight from the batter. So if you wanted you go also go straight to the battery instead of the fuse box. But for me my fuse box is closer than my battery.

http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_6265.jpg

I then cut a small opening for the cable on the lid
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_6266.jpg

Now onto the ECU wiring! You only need to add three wires to the new EPS. Engine RPM, Vehicle Speed, and constant power!

I tapped into the hondata jumper harness using three different colored wires to identify each one!
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5636.jpg

here I tap into the lines
http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/100_5637.jpg

Blue White goes to pin A18 VSS sensor (vehicle speed sensor located in tranny)
Solid Blue goes to E26 NEP (Engine RPM or Engine Speed Sensor)
Yel goes to pin E9 IGN power (this is IGN to let the BCU know when engine is running)

02-06 ECU diagrams are the same. refer to Hondata for ECU pin out.
http://www.hondata.com/help/kmanager/
Reference > ECU connectors

Connector A (2p)
THICK blue/white is +power for EPS system 60A fused
THICK BLACK is - PG Power ground to chassis