[Shotimes] VAPS problem & question

Leigh Smith leighsm@comcast.net
Mon, 14 Jul 2003 13:43:13 -0400


The unbelievably stiff throttle spring on my 94 bothered me even more 
than the light steering.
I had the 89 side by side with it and compared the throttle assemblies. 
Unbelievably the 94 had a set of three throttle springs that were both 
thicker in diameter and wider than the 89. There were twice as stiff IIRC.

I bought a spare 89 throttle body and swapped the three springs only. 10 
min job. I left the throttle body intact as weel as the white sleeve 
that supports the springs. $7 mod!

Got some pics if you want me to e-mail them direct.


Lee


Steve Tatro wrote:

>How did you solve the heavy throttle spring?  I've hated that about all
>my SHOs.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Steve Tatro 
>Red/Black '93 with 168k miles 
>Cincinnati, Ohio 
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
>[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Leigh Smith
>Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 10:53 AM
>To: Carl Prochilo
>Cc: 'SHOTIMES'
>Subject: Re: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>
>
>Carl;
>I had both a 89 and now a 94 (w/VAPS).
>
>I definately like the feel of the 89 much better.  Firm(not heavy) 
>better road feel.
>All  the control efforts (wheel, brake, throttle, shifter, clutch, 
>suspension roll) were much better balanced on the 89, at least post rod 
>shifter mod.
>20 years of modifying autocross cars has taught me that you want all the
>
>control efforts as equal as possible, and as linear as possible.
>
>VAPS defeats that, in two ways, non-linear, and too light relative to 
>suspension, etc.
>
>My 94 is very unbalanced and should be a tuning embarassment to FORD. 
>The throttle spring was way too stiff (solved) and the steering way too 
>light (broken VAPS stuck on full boost).
>
>And I even got the "decent" 20.6/23 sway bar combination, not the 
>severely understeering 20/20 setup!
>
> WOW, thanks Ford!
>
>At least I know how much potential it has!!!
>
>Lee
>P.S. (Working on a manual VAPS stepper motor control switch now.)
>
>Carl Prochilo wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Allrighty then, something new learned here.
>>
>>For those of you that have both a VAPS and non-VAPS equipped SHO, which
>>    
>>
>
>  
>
>>do you like better and why?
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Carl Prochilo
>>92 Ultra Red Crimson
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Ian Fisher" <ianf@eden.rutgers.edu>
>>To: "Carl Prochilo" <gr8sho@prochilo.myserver.org>
>>Cc: "'SHOTIMES'" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
>>Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 10:43 AM
>>Subject: Re: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>
>>
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>introduced in 93. It's the same rack as the Lincoln Continental, VAPS 
>>>and all.
>>>
>>>Ian
>>>
>>>On Sun, 13 Jul 2003, Carl Prochilo wrote:
>>>
>>>   
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Shotimes appears to be down at the moment, but I thought that VAPS 
>>>>was introduced in the 95 MY.  I will say that comparing the 95 and 
>>>>the 92,
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>there
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>is a world of difference in terms of feel.  The 95 seems much more of
>>>>        
>>>>
>
>  
>
>>>>a
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>toy
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>with the VAPS.  No effort at all to rotate the wheel.
>>>>
>>>>Cheers,
>>>>Carl Prochilo
>>>>92 Ultra Red Crimson
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
>>>>To: "'Paul Nimz'" <niks@dlogue.net>; "'SHOTIMES'"
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>><shotimes@autox.team.net>
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 9:13 AM
>>>>Subject: RE: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>Yeah, I guess the best VAPS is one that you don't notice, and I 
>>>>>can't
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>say
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>that I never noticed it on my '99.
>>>>>
>>>>>Still seems to be a needless complication, though.
>>>>>
>>>>>Ron Porter
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>On Behalf Of Paul Nimz
>>>>>Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 2:16 AM
>>>>>To: Ron Porter; 'SHOTIMES'
>>>>>Subject: RE: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Actually the Gen 3 VAPS IMO is very good, at least better than my 
>>>>>'93.
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>I
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>have disabled the strut part of the SARC though on the '97.
>>>>>
>>>>>Paul Nimz
>>>>>'97 TR
>>>>>'93 EG mtx
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: Ron Porter [mailto:ronporter@prodigy.net]
>>>>>Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 1:08 AM
>>>>>To: 'Paul Nimz'; 'SHOTIMES'
>>>>>Subject: RE: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>This sounds like Leigh's situation, where it is "stuck" at high 
>>>>>boost.
>>>>>
>>>>>Mine just seems way overboosted at the low-speed setting (under 20 
>>>>>mph
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>or
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>so, I believe). It still seems boosted more than I like at higher
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>speeds,
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>but it does seem to back out some of the boost.
>>>>>
>>>>>Goofy system. VAPS and SARC were probably projects for summer 
>>>>>interns
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>with
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>too much time on their hands!!
>>>>>
>>>>>Ron Porter
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>On Behalf Of Paul Nimz
>>>>>Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 2:00 AM
>>>>>To: 'SHOTIMES'
>>>>>Subject: RE: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>IIRC the Gen 2 VAPS is a 4 step situation with the most boost at 0
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>mph.  I
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>would assume then that if the effort is very easy then you have lost
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>12V+
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>to
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>the VAPS system while not moving and it is stuck there.
>>>>>
>>>>>The VAPS relies on the VSS and the VAPS module for signal 
>>>>>processing.
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>The
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>power flows through the ignition switch and through the interior 
>>>>>fuse
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>panel,
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>fuse #5 on the '94 for power to the VAPS module.
>>>>>
>>>>>Paul Nimz
>>>>>'97 TR
>>>>>'93 EG mtx
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net 
>>>>>[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Bob and Anonda
>>>>>Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 7:44 PM
>>>>>To: Ron Porter; 'Leigh Smith'; 'SHOTIMES'
>>>>>Subject: Re: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Well, mine is a 3G SLO, but the VAPS is the same.  Mine doesn't feel
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>like
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>it
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>"kicks in" until at least about 40-45 MPH.  Nimz I'm sure knows the
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>exact
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>specs though.
>>>>>
>>>>>Bob
>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
>>>>>To: "'Leigh Smith'" <leighsm@comcast.net>; "'SHOTIMES'" 
>>>>><shotimes@autox.team.net>
>>>>>Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 8:08 PM
>>>>>Subject: RE: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>>>It's no help, but mine always feels to be on full boost on my '94.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Isn't the VAPS system at full boost at low speed anyway? It is much
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>>>>lighter
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>>>than the steering was in my '95, which has the same system, I
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>believe.
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>>Ron Porter
>>>>>>
>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>>>[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>>On Behalf Of Leigh Smith
>>>>>>Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 5:01 PM
>>>>>>To: SHOTIMES
>>>>>>Subject: [Shotimes] VAPS problem & question
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>My VAPS power steering on my 94 is apparrently broken.
>>>>>>It is always on full boost.
>>>>>>The steering has so little feel I can turn it with my little 
>>>>>>finger!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Even with the Helms, I cannot figure it out.
>>>>>>I have gotten it into test mode, and it will "firm up" during
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>testing,
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>>but immmediately goes back to full soft after jumper removal. 
>>>>>>Anyone else ever have any similar problem or any luck fixing 
>>>>>>it????? I can't figure out if it is the module, the actuator, the 
>>>>>>rack, or
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>the
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>>>wiring.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>TIA
>>>>>>Lee
>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>Shotimes mailing list
>>>>>>Shotimes@autox.team.net 
>>>>>>http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>Shotimes mailing list
>>>>>>Shotimes@autox.team.net 
>>>>>>http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>>>http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>Shotimes mailing list
>>>>Shotimes@autox.team.net http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
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>>    
>>
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