Speed-sensing steering blends power and manual systems for optimized control. At low speeds, it provides full assistance like power steering for easy maneuvering.
But at highway speeds, assistance reduces so drivers feel more connected for confident handling.
Keep reading to learn how speed sensing steering works, what happens in case of malfunction, and whether the feature can be added to your current vehicle.
How Does Speed Sensing Steering Work?
A speed sensing steering system relies on a series of sensors and modules to provide it with information which will help it determine the amount of power assistance to give to the steering wheel.
For instance, these sensors will detect whenever you step on the gas pedal and cause the acceleration of your vehicle to increase.
As the speed goes up, the sensors will feed this information to the speed sensing steering system. The system will then reduce the power assistance to the steering wheel.
If you apply the brake and slow down the vehicle, the system will receive this information too. Then it will provide more power assistance to the steering wheel.
Since driving tasks like parking and turning require the driver to maneuver properly, it is better they have more assistance with their steering.
What Happens if There’s a Malfunction?
Speed-sensing steering systems are typically designed to revert back to full power steering mode if a problem is detected in the system. There could be a wiring issue or a complete failure of the computer module which regulates the system.
Any kind of wiring problem, electrical problem or sensor problem within the system will cause full power steering mode to turn on. This is not necessarily a bad thing because you will just have full power assistance no matter how fast you are driving.
It is certainly better than the alternative of having no power steering assistance at all, especially for certain drivers.
At least with full power assistance, you will have the ability to safely drive your vehicle to the nearest repair shop and have the steering system checked.
How to Get Speed Sensing Steering
Speed-sensing steering is not actually a separate system from a power steering system. You could have hydraulic power steering or electric power steering in your vehicle and still have the ability to utilize speed sensing steering technology.
It is really just an added feature to enhance the basic power steering system technology. That is how it can revert back to full power steering whenever there is a problem with the speed sensors.
If you want a vehicle with speed sensing steering technology, you simply have to make sure the vehicle already comes with it from the factory.
If it’s an “optional” feature on a model, it may be added later whether by installing an additional component or having the dealership reprogram the ECM to “unlock” the feature.
Many newer vehicles these days have some sort of speed sensing steering system but it may be called different things depending on the manufacturer.
In addition, many vehicles which offer various driving modes (ie: Comfort, Sport, Dynamic, etc.) allow you to fine-tune the amount of assistance depending on the mode.
Once done, the driver can switch it to a “comfort” mode where steering assistance is increased (especially at high speeds) so the driver can drive back home while steering with the effort of literally one finger if so they choose.