Four Wheel Steer (4WS) Problematic?

<(Multi)>

<(Multi)>

<(Multi)>

Associate
Joined
1 Aug 2004
Posts
1,306
Location
South Cheshire
I've potentially found my next car, Honda Prelude 2.2 Manual, Silver, Leather, 4WS.

Orginally I'd been looking for any 5th Generation Honda Prelude, but soon discovered that manual boxes were by far the most reliable and effective examples. I'm now worried about the whole 4 wheel steer aspect. I know its an expensive toy to fix if it does go wrong, but is 4ws as problematic as say, HGF on Rovers (I currently own a Rover 200, and its never had any issues wit HGF @ 73k.)

There are a few mechanics on here from memory, just wondered it 4WS is something I should run a mile from.

ta
 
If it's passive four-wheel-steer, i.e the suspension geometry in the rear end naturally provides some form of steering then it will never be a major issue. Given that we're talking about a car from a Japanese manufacturer, I take it that the system is rather more complex than a simple passive one? :)
 
I've been doing some more research and it seems the greatest threat toward the whole 4WS system is the ECU that manages the system. Its £1300 for a new one, but the problem surrounds the soldering of 2/3 relays on the board and can be fixed through resoldering.

Anyone got any experience of 5th Generation Prelude ownership. I would ask over at Hondarevolutions and PreludeUK, but all I'll get there is its better than sex etc etc, would like some honest, unbaised opinions really.

Thanks
 
I've heard it can be expensive to fix if it goes wrong, but some guys on here say it can be a cheap scrappy sourced fix a lot of the time
 
I had a 4WS celica.. it was a total TOTAL nightmare.

I ran over a block of wood or something on the M3 and from that point in it never handled properly again... finding someone to track it was difficult.. I did however and they had a go twice (micheldever tyres for anyone around southampton/winchester.. they're not idiots) but it still seemed to.. for want of a better description.. "crab" across the road.. ie move sideways.

Felt ZERO benefit in corners over a well sorted fwd car when it was working, oh yeah and it trashed the steering pump which cost a fortune (over £1k) to get sorted because it wasn't a UK part.

Buyer beware!!!!

I've had a mondeo ST24, Octavia VRS, Focus TDCI sport, Astra SRi and now a Focus ST since then and have NEVER missed 4ws. (all FWS as you can see)

Its a pricey, useless, gimmick.

I would avoid like the plague, clearly I've had my issues but still.. I think they're valid.
 
I owned a 95 uk vtec for 3 years, the 4ws sytem would show an error and default to non 4ws approx once a month on average [usually as you started the car and and were about to move off], just needed to open bonnet and pull then refit the fuse and it reset itself

as already stated its most likely down to some iffy electronics and yes a new ecu wasn't cheap, so I put up with it.

my problem was definately more frequent after I stuck 17" wheels on it instead of the original 15", so maybe the ecu was registering an overload on a sensor somewhere due to the more grippy rubber, I think it only needed resetting twice in the 1st year of ownership prior to the bigger wheels being fitted

In that 1st year it had a full honda warranty but I was too easily fobbed off with the dealership saying they couldn't find anything specifically wrong and wouldn't charge me for the resets.

the 4ws sytem was fantastic tho, high speed direction changes were a piece of cake, and general handling was superb, biggest problem when not working was the turning circle when parking up
 
Last edited:
Stephen, Your comments seem to mirror those made by other Prelude owners I've heard from. 4WS doesnt seem to break completely, rather intermitantly stop working untill an ECU reset clears all the errors.

I'm now trying to work out if all 2.2 Preludes (5th Gen) were produced with 4WS, or should I be opting for a 2WS version.
 
<(Multi)> said:
Stephen, Your comments seem to mirror those made by other Prelude owners I've heard from. 4WS doesnt seem to break completely, rather intermitantly stop working untill an ECU reset clears all the errors.

I'm now trying to work out if all 2.2 Preludes (5th Gen) were produced with 4WS, or should I be opting for a 2WS version.
Click to expand...

mine was a 4th gen [the rounded shape one], iirc the UK 2.3 and 2.2 vtec only came with the 4ws, you can get a JDM 2.2 vtec si without.

The 5th gen used a diffent type of 4ws ststem
 
I have a 94 gen 4 and have never had any trouble with the 4ws, the abs on the other hand is a pain in the neck, honda want £170 for a new sensor Plus fitting, but you can source parts second hand, a second hand sensor is between £56 - £70 delivered and can be fitted yourself in 30 mins, if you have suitable jacks.

The controller for the 4ws is a large (amp sized) box fitted behind the rear seats, held in by several bolts in a cage, but easy enough to get at and remove.
 
4WS on the Prelude is excellent. It's a fully electronic system (on the 92-02 models) :)

Yes there can be some problems, but there is a large resource on PreludeUK should you encounter any issues. Most issues that I've heard of are dirty sensors, or dry solder joints, which re-soldering the ECU fixes (rather than having to replace it) - but Preludes are being broken all the time, so you'll never need to pay too much for a replacement.
 
I looked at a 5th Gen lude before I got the Accord Type-R. The 4 wheel steering was useful when parking but that was about it. It wouldn't put me off buying one so just make sure its working when you buy it.
Depending on your price range, you could always look at an ATR or ITR. Instead of 4WS you get a nice limited slip diff :)
 
Different types of cars though ;)

ATR's are 4 door saloons, Preludes and Integras are 2 door coupés :)


Add the fact that the Preludes and Integras aren't that much different, and Teg boys often get embarrassed by the "barge Preludes" on track days in their "track-day car for the road" ;)

I know I'd rather spend ~£1500 on a Prelude that is 99% as good as a £5k Integra, and spend the rest on paying for the track days ;)
 
ConfusedTA said:
Add the fact that the Preludes and Integras aren't that much different, and Teg boys often get embarrassed by the "barge Preludes" on track days in their "track-day car for the road" ;)
Click to expand...


Have you been on a trackday yet, or just reading Honda R banter :p
 
I personally haven't (car's been off the road for the last 7 months) but a friend with an identical Prelude to mine (JDM 2.2 VTEC, 4WS, LSD) went on one, his very first track day, and was lapping very closely to some Integras. He's not one to lie.

Also the 6-page threads on Preludes vs Integras after every Honda-Revs track day would also indicate that the Integra boys aren't too happy with the performance of the Preludes compared to their Integras, especially considering the weight, spec, and price differences between them ;)
 
ConfusedTA said:
Different types of cars though ;)

ATR's are 4 door saloons, Preludes and Integras are 2 door coupés :)


Add the fact that the Preludes and Integras aren't that much different, and Teg boys often get embarrassed by the "barge Preludes" on track days in their "track-day car for the road" ;)

I know I'd rather spend ~£1500 on a Prelude that is 99% as good as a £5k Integra, and spend the rest on paying for the track days ;)
Click to expand...

Nah I agree. Bang for buck the 4th gen ludes are ace.
 
I've never really seen the appeal of the 4th Gen Preludes, every forum I join (PreludeUK, Honda Rev') the 4th Gens seem a lot more popular.

Decided to just go for it, and get a 5th gen 4WS Motegi version. Thanks for everyones views :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom