Variable Assist Power Steering

Finally got to the bottom about what is going on with the tight steering on my truck.
Took it back to the dealer....again...about the issues with tighter steering at highway speeds. One of the service managers out of the three....told me that these trucks have the variable assist power steering. While driving in town driving...lower speeds...the steering is...ah....soft...what you think power steering should be. When your out on the highway at highway speeds....it gets tighter as you will not apt to over steer and lose control. It's control electronically with the steering rack....
I checked it out on other sites on the net to verify.
So truck is doing what it's suppose to be doing......

 

?? You sure? I had to replace my steering rack myself just recently. Grenaded it offroading... long story. However, no electrical wires were going down to the steering rack when I replaced it. How does this function you speak of work?

 

My son's 97 GMC has it. It is an electric valve on the power steering pump and it opens and closes depending on the input from the steering wheel. Lower speeds=more assist higher speeds=less assist. On the GMC it has a sensor on the bottom of the steering column that senses the rotation and send the signal to the valve.

Not sure if this is the case for the later model yaks a wiring diagrams could help confirm this.

 

I see the electrical connection going to the pump like you are talking about. My power steering has been a lot tighter than normal lately (replaced the rack six months back from an offroading accident). It was fine after the rack replacement, for about at least two months. Now I experience the tighter steering at higher and lower speeds just driving around town. Just to try something I unplugged the connection going to the pump. No difference....

Does that mean the variable assist isn't working in the first place like it should. I'm trying to troubleshoot my tight steering but don't know what else to try.

Things I've tried:
Tire pressure
New serpentine belt
Alignment

What I know:
No leaking fluid
Reservoir fluid appears clean (replaced when rack was installed)
Tightness is consistant and doesn't vary with weather or direction

 

Makes Sense.

 

The guy told me he thought 2010 was the 1st year for the variable assist power steering.....not unless they are lying to me...

 

Here it is.....


http://www.toyota.com/tacoma/specs.html

 

Ok Chris...
these are spec for the 2012...but I also google and found the specs on the 2010 and it had the variable assist also.
I am not sure I like it either......What year is your Tacoma and does it have it also??
Thanks

 

I am having the same problem and was wondering if changing the power steering pump would fix the problem?

 

They changed the (vein pump) power steering pump on mine before they told me it was the variable assist power steering....
Did not make a lot of difference.....
My boy has a 2007 tacoma...equipped exactly like mine...and the steering feels the same..

 

So is there something I can do or do I need to take it in and have it looked at?