FLZapped

My 2004 was throwing both codes for the steering sensor and if I forgot to disable the system, it would display the service messages and disable itself at random points. Also, I could trigger it if I put my foot on the brake (random again) and I would get the extremely fast pedal feedback at which point I would disable the system and not long after I would get the service messages. Otherwise, the car drove fine.

I bought the part intending to do it myself, but summer came early here in S. FL and I don't have any covered place to work on it, so I decided to take it to my mechanic that I've used for 40 years.....(I'm leaving the drama out of this)... I get the car back and the front end brakes try to plow the car to a stop whenever I turn the wheel. No codes. (I have the car, again, I don't want to discuss the drama) What on earth could they have done to cause this?

My thoughts are the following:

1) Put the sensor in backward, although I don't know how.
2) Prematurely removed the alignment lock pin and put it in out of alignment, although I do not get any warming up messages.
3) Pinched a wire somewhere.
4) New part defective - but again, no codes

Thanks for any insight.

-Bruce

Grandpa1

I remember reading to not pull the pin out of it until it was installed. If you did and it turned inside it would not be right. You might ask if he did that.
I think you can correct it with a Tech II but I'm not sure.
When I had mine replaced everything worked perfect and still is.
Good luck with it!

FLZapped

Long story, but they swear they checked their work, I doubt it. In the last year, the people they have hired are turning out not to be at the same level of professionalism as in the past.

~Josh

Have another shop install a new sensor.

FLZapped

The sensor is new. Not getting codes now, so I don't think it's that.

~Josh

What were the codes before? For example they could’ve been update/refresh rate and now they’re refreshing properly. Doesn’t mean the pin wasn’t pulled and the angle is off by as little as 2 degrees.

The only thing abs related on the steering column is that steering angle sensor. That’s the major variable here as that was the part changed and who knows what happened during the drama. Hence I said rule it out by having the sensor changed.

STRMLNE

Your mechanic made you pay and gave you the car back without test driving it and fixing his mistake? Yikes.

FLZapped

Oh they drove it and told me it was ready anyway.

FLZapped

There are two codes related specifically to the sensor, neither of those are showing up now.

STRMLNE

1287 is the steering sensor. But the feedback on the brake pedal is the abs which means more of an ebcm issue. I’ve replaced both. In my experience, steering sensor doesn’t affect the brakes. That’s an ebcm issue.

~Josh

Well in my experience, while driving at interstate speed in a straight line just cruising along the steering wheel sensor told the brakes the wheel was turned slightly and the traction control kicked in and one front caliper locked up for about 2 full seconds (like a ghost was in control) and almost wrecked the car and killed me.


I would 100% install a new sensor correctly.

Vetteman Jack

Moved to C5 Tech.