Hopefully someone on here will be able to answer my question.

Like all of you, I’m looking for an edge to make my SS faster.

I want to disable my power steering unit simply by pulling the fuse. That will shut off the power to the unit.

Like any electrical device connected to the engine, the power steering unit sucks precious horsepower. But how much? More important, will I damage any components?

If this unit is disconnected it will make turning difficult at low speed, but should not noticeably impair handling on the highway (therefore, straight-line handling will not be affected).

If I can buy an extra 10 horsepower, it would certainly be worth the 15 seconds of effort needed to do it.

Anyone got a serious answer?

(PS...If you’re an idiot, please don’t reply. Or at least write a serious answer telling me why this won't work. Thank you!)

 

No it wont work. Your PS pulley is what robs your engine of power. Its kinda the same principle as a turbo being more efficient than a supercharger in terms of the drive belt having less accessories. You would hav eto remove your PS pump all together not just the fuse. But then its a safety issue that im sure you want/need: seriously.

 

i dont think you will get even close to 10 hp dont even bother doing it. why dont you just disable the ac that prolly uses more power than the pwr st

 

Exactly! You know that feeling when you turn on the AC...your power to accelerate goes way down. My AC probably sucks 30 HP when it's on!

Fortunately, I can turn off the AC, which leaves the AC pulley turning relatively freely so it does not suck precious power from my engine.

Will the same thing happen if my power steering is shut off (by simply removing the fuse)???

Thanks for the great answers!

 

why not just try it and see what happens? worst thing that could happen is the power steering pump doenst come on. But I am pretty sure the PS pump doenst have a clutch like the AC pump does. So it is constantly robbing power like the SC pulley

 

Ok if you disable power steering or even if you take off the ac you wont gain much and besides its probably more work then its worth and as long as you dont have the AC on then if wont use hardly any power if none at all best thing to do to get more power or HP is to get a custom tune

 

Your best bet is a underdrive pulley system.

 

Umm, 2.0 cobalts do not have power steering pumps that are belt driven

so basicly no you will not see any horsepower because the only draw that eleec power assist has is on the electrical system, but not enough to effect anything HP wise..

so please end yourself and this thread

 

Does he have the SS or the ss/sc i think he has the SS

 

Doesnt matter, all cobalts use electric power steering. Best part about it is that it DOES NOT USE ANY POWER unless you are turning, thats why Chevy uses it anyway, to improve the gas milage. Pulling the fuse will net you no gain in highway situations because the power steering EPS motor is not doing anything unless you are turning, and even then it only draws enough to make it easy to turn, which isn't a lot a speed. Nice idea, but you are wasting time looking at the P/S system as a power saver.

 

Let's say you are correct. Then, if you follow my reasoning, and if my understanding of the laws of thermodynamics are sound...removing the fuse to the power steering mechanism WILL increase horsepower. You just have to be man enough to handle the brute without assistance in turning (which is probably why my original question engendered so much scorn).

If the power steering unit only draws electrical power, and all electrical power on a car comes from the engine, then removing the fuse to the power steering unit is a cheap and speedy way to increase horsepower.

But how much horsepower???

 

Your power steering is electric, there is no pulley or pump.

 

waste of time.

 

plus its only pulling power when you initially turn so in a straight line its not pulling much current, mid bend its not pulling power if you are holding a constant angle etc.

properly pointless.

 

Just so you guys know for future reference your a/c disables when you go above 95% throttle so if you have 2 even cars and race one with the a/c on full blast and one with the a/c off they'll still be even.

 

I understand your point with power and such.., but cmon.. its a f-ing Cobalt for christ's sake!

In Canada your gonna get thrown in jail if you make it faster anyway so whats the point eh...

 

buddy of mine removed his entire AC unit and PS unit (all mechanical parts) in order to increase HP and drop overall weight of his integra. his car is bitchin. he's got 5 of 6 stabalizing bars and that SOB is stiff and lowered so it sticks to the road. it's funny cuz when he jacks it up behind the front wheel w/a 3-1/2 ton jack three out of four wheels are off the ground and the forth is barely on the ground. plus he's got a turbo in the works

 

Removing the fuse will not increase power. Even when the power steering is activated to help with turning it is not going to cause a power drain large enough to cause a disruption in the flow of electricity to the fuel injectors. You are not going to effect the thermodynamics of the engine unless you cause a loss of voltage to either the spark or the injectors. Since both the injectors and spark voltage are controlled and regulated by the ECU, you would have to have an alternator or battery failure to cause a big enough loss to the electrical system to cause a loss of HP. You will never be able to cause an increase in HP just by removing electrical devices.

 

 

Never go cheap, do it right.

 

your reasoning is such. im going to remove my sunroof fuse, i don't have a sunroof. i should gain power.


no, it does not work like this

 

all it'll do for you is make it hard as **** to steer..

 

Weight removal is the one of the cheapest mods you can do . Very effective.

 

just buy some bolt ons and stop trying to half ass it. minus well buy and intake or someting that well definetly increase horses. have you tried the k&n air filter mod highly recomend. have you also thought about the elctrontic assisted steering and how it will be affected being that ss/sc adjust the steering wheel depending on you speed. you are also going to be removing a part of the traction control system not just ABS is used in the handling of the ss i think you are going to be creating a problem that will translate into thousands of dollars or even a car accident the only way i would be doing what you are talking about is if i was creating a drag car and drag car only which would be more than removing just a fuse.

 

Am i correct, and you are stupid..
that is all

do you wanna borrow my rope?