Hi, I still need to know where the Magnasteer electronic control module is on 1996 and 1997 Bonnevilles. ONLY these two years had a standalone control module -- 1998 and up had Magnasteer integrated into the ABS computer. A part # for the module would be even better -- I retrofit a Magnasteer rack to my car, which performs fine without the electronic magnet control, but I'd like to add the module, which is VSS referenced, to help firm up the steering at high speeds. If you have a wiring diagram that shows the 1996-97 Magnasteer module electrical connections that would be awesome as well.

Don't take this the wrong way but how do you plan on integrating this into the Buicks data bus? You can't just add a interface and expect it to work The interface has to be programmed properly to work with all the other modules on the data bus.

On 96 and 97 the magnasteer controller was completely standalone. It had an output so it could be scanned through the datalink, but it can be wired easily into an existing system. 98 and up were the cars that had Magnasteer integrated into the EBCM.

I still need to know where this unit is.

From the 96 FSM,

" The EBCM or EBTCM, located at the lower left-hand front of the engine compartment"....

Hope that helps!

300s, thanks, I verified my suspicion tonight by looking at a 97 SE that the magnasteer is indeed in the electronic brake module. Does the manual tell you what color code the wires for the magnasteer are that go to the ebctm, and what each is for? There should be a VSS link wire, two outputs to the rack, and then upstream data link wire(*) to interface with other stuff. Thanks so much for your help!

And of course Cfoot is correct. After I finally got some factory diagrams from a board member, what'ya know. How does the Magnasteer control section of the abs computer get the VSS signal? Through a UART serial data stream. Fantastic. Forget this, I'm going back to a non magnasteer rack and I'm going to add an inline valve to throttle down the overboosted power assist. The magnasteer actually overboosts low speed steering way worse than the non magnasteer rack. What I did like is that it cut back boost at high speeds so the steering wasn't as sloppy. I found one company that makes an aftermarket Magnasteer controller that only needs the VSS input spliced in from the trans, but they are taking forever to get back to me.

I'm sorry I was right man.....I know, technology stinks sometimes

Go here. it should pop up.


http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=31845

SSEC, thanks but I already got the FSM digrams, and determined that this venture is impossible given the amount of time I want to spend on it. I might keep the magnasteer rack, since it has 73k miles on it (weirdly enough the same mileage I have on my car) and the rack is also aligned to my car, so if some day I do get ahold of De Amertek, who has the aftermarket programmable Magnasteer modules, I can switch back. Until then I am getting a 97 Bonneville SE non magnasteer rack, which will be valved a little firmer than the Buick rack, and I am adding an inline flow restrictor to bring the boost way down.