[200q20v] relay controlling seering boost? It's too light!

[Brett Dikeman]

On Fri, 2 Mar 2001 Vztante at aol.com wrote:

> The folks at the Audiworld A6 forum gave me a tip on how to lessen the overly 
> boosted power steering on that car.  There is a relay that can simply be 
> pulled from it's outlet behind the steering column.  It drops the assist by 
> about 30-50%, giving it a somewhat Bimmerlike feedback.
> 

> I would like to do the same to the 20020v, but don't know if it's even 
> possible.  Any knowledge on the matter?

Yes. The A6 and S6 models come with "serotronic", which is basically
road-speed sensitive steering assist; our cars have -engine speed-
sensitive assist(which is the fancy way of saying "our hydraulic pumps are
pieces of crap!")

The 200q20v does not have servotronic.

I honestly don't find "assist" removes from the "experience."  I have far
more fun driving my mother's RWD Volvo 960 -wagon- with a 192hp I-6 
coupled to an 192hp I-6 and shod with Michellin MVX4-Energies.  It can be
driven, at -all- speeds, with your pinky.  It's absolutely pathetic.

The 200q20v, especially in parking lots, is an unwieldy beast, especially
when stopped; sometimes, the steering just goes completely on the blink,
pump groaning away, like I've hit the end lock.  I'm hoping I can have a
bunch of the banjo bolts replaced, possibly overhaul the pump w/new
orings, and flush the system out.  Going to wider, grippier tires is out
of the question until then.


Brett