AY786
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Just wondered, does the city button use more fuel when turned on?
General City button
- Thread starter AY786
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General City button
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Switching on any electric device in a car while the engine is running would use tiny tiny amounts of extra fuel.
The power steering in the punto Mk2/Grande Punto is electric driven, pressing the city button would probably ever so slightly make a difference but i doubt it would be measurable.
The power steering in the punto Mk2/Grande Punto is electric driven, pressing the city button would probably ever so slightly make a difference but i doubt it would be measurable.
raton_laveur
Established member
One of the reasons Fiat and others went to electric power steering was that it was less drag on the engine, so less power (and fuel) consumption compared to hydraulic systems. Other reasons had to do with lower cost, decreased weight and mechanical complexity plus there's one less fluid to keep topped up. Even if you leave it on all the time, it's still a bit more economical than the old pump driven system. BTW, even when it's off, it's always still on at about half power, so turning it on will make a very tiny difference.
the only reson fiat ect. went for elect. powersteering was for cheaper manufacturing.The amount of drag by a powersteering pump has on a engine is minimal(i mean just look at the size of the pump)and the added bonus of replacing these electric units when they start playing up.
yours geoff b
yours geoff b
All manufactuers are (or starting too) use elec steerings,its actually cheaper to fit (as yo umention) but also enviromently friendly....no PS fluid trails up the street or dumped down the drains.
AY786
Member
one advice for people with city buttons, dont turn it on on the motorway, very hard to drive with light steering at fast speeds.
my cousin accidently pressed mine with his knees as i was shifting lanes and suddenly the steering became very light and was hard to control in a way lol, i thought for a second my steering wheel had broke lol
my cousin accidently pressed mine with his knees as i was shifting lanes and suddenly the steering became very light and was hard to control in a way lol, i thought for a second my steering wheel had broke lol
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raton_laveur
Established member
Stops working in assist mode over 15mph!Or it SHOULD do.
No, when it's on, it's on, no matter what your speed. I've noticed that the feel varies with the tyres on the car car. My Idea had Goodyears on it, later replaced by Uniroyals. City button on always. Switched to Continental Premium Contacts and had to turn it off because those tyres had a lot more bith than the others.
Stops working in assist mode over 15mph!
28mph
After this no current goes to the motor from the ECU so its off.AY786
Member
Are you sure, because im positive ive done over 30 with the city button on and the steering was still light just like when i was on the motorway
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i have tried it in many cars with sity at work and it's right it dont over 28 as the manual says
infact on the motor way you'll find that unless you turn quick enoughth to put load on the steering it wont do anything atall like when driving a non pas car at speed assistance is not required
in normal mode the system is fully variable as in the faster you go the less current it provides to the motor
how ether other factors affect how much current is used like user torque input how hard your turning the wheel so if you snatch at the wheel at speed it may feel like the car is over assisting whereas it's simply assisting you to avoid say a crash infront or something you may thank it for doing so if you ever have to swerve for something in the road
and as said before with city on it will gradually add more current starting from 28mph and less
also remember just cos your doing 70 and the city light is still on does not mean it's still working
infact on the motor way you'll find that unless you turn quick enoughth to put load on the steering it wont do anything atall like when driving a non pas car at speed assistance is not required
in normal mode the system is fully variable as in the faster you go the less current it provides to the motor
how ether other factors affect how much current is used like user torque input how hard your turning the wheel so if you snatch at the wheel at speed it may feel like the car is over assisting whereas it's simply assisting you to avoid say a crash infront or something you may thank it for doing so if you ever have to swerve for something in the road
and as said before with city on it will gradually add more current starting from 28mph and less
also remember just cos your doing 70 and the city light is still on does not mean it's still working
Stops working in assist mode over 15mph!
Thats what I though. I think the new Panda's does.
AY786
Member
hmm this makes me want to go for a drive and see if its actually stops working after 30mph. The light still stays on though am i right?
hmm, perhaps the system is still on, but deactivated above the speed, and then reactivated when the speed drops below the 15 or 30 mph?
Give it a go.
raton_laveur
Established member
The same for me on my 2005 Idea and my 2000 Punto. I normally have it on around town and turn it off for the road. Problem on the Punto is that the CITY light is sort of hidden by the steering wheel and I usually don't see it, so it ends up being on the entire day...
