Seriously?! Steering Wheel Position Sensor - DISCONTINUED!!
 

My 1999 Corvette Z51 Coupe been getting the DTC Codes:

C1286 - Steering Sensor Bias Malfunction
C1287 - Steering Sensor Rate Malfunction

and whenever I slow down to make a corner my Active Handling System becomes activated and then tells me to Service Active Handling Soon and then to Service Vehicle Soon.

I've ordered this part twice only to learn that GM has DISCONTINUED it... It's not enough that for 1999 & 2000 models, it costs $335 when years either side of that it only costs $80 +/-... But now what do I do?! I've contacted every Chevy dealer within 1000 miles and every parts house under the sun without any luck... Any suggestions?!

Isn't that kind of an IMPORTANT PART to just up and discontinue without a solution for guys like me? Are we just supposed to take them to the land fill now or what?! :willy:

Get a hold of Marc at vettenuts he may be able to get a working used one for you..

Cool. I'll ask him. I had Just Vettes do a used seach without luck but it's worth shot. I hesitate on a used steering part but it's not like I have an option!! Thanks!

I've been looking for this part for a year and a half. I found out it's dicontinued because there is a contract dispute. It's between a couple of manufacturers who can make the part and GM. That's all I know at this point. I took my vette out for the season and I'm afraid it won't pass inspection because of this. Very frustrated and angry.

Your car is 13 years old,sorry but they do not make parts for cars forever.Have you tried any of the Corvette specialty wrecking yards?

As I stated. There are manufacturers waiting to make the part. They make steering wheel sensors for years going back at least a decade before my year. It's not that its old and they stopped making it. It's this particular year, 1999. I was told it may be resolved sometime this summer.

If this sensor was indeed only used one year, in one model of car, there isnt much of a market for it,I wouldnt hold my breath if I were you.

There will be. The more people need them, the more in demand there will be. I'm in constant contact with John's Corvette in New Hampshire and he's telling me he has a hand full of people needing the part. Thankx for you support.

Gene Culley might be a source to ask as well... www.gmpartshouse.com

Part #32-26058286-applies to 1999-2000:
http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssem...&searchString=
NLA anywhere. Hopefully a new manufacturer will step up, and/or the dispute be resolved.

Thank you, all. So far, no luck.

thats the dumbest thing I ever heard :lol: they make parts for much older cars

I'm not certain what the problem may be with this particular vendor/manufacturer that is supplying this item, but one thing I do know and that's, if GM isn't/doesn't pay it's bills, some of these vendors cut them off. It's happened before; not terribly often, but it has happened and if it's a "single-source" part, then GM and it's customers are screwed.

If you had the technical specifications, you could probably have them manufactured in Taiwan for $30 each!

Thank you. I didn't want to tell him but you're right. It was dumb.

I called the GMparts warehouse and got the cold shoulder. They don't have it or make it anymore. "Where am I supposed to find one," I asked. I got a flat out "I don't know" and a long silent pause. Interesting. I'm turning to salvage yards. I'm really worried I may not pass inspection this month.
thank you, Lone Star.

Have you called Gene Culley @ gmpartshouse or Bob Wendorff at Fichtner Chev? Bob is at 1-800-234-5284. Both are excellent at their jobs and can give you the latest. I have used Bob before to track down a part nationwide before and got it drop shipped to me (GM will rarely do this and we had to get uhh, "creative" :lol: )

Unless you just live in a hardass location like Kalifornia (sorry Kalifornia, but it's true) I would not think this would keep you from getting a safety inspection sticker. A failure of this part only affects your active handling system IIRC, and the car can be safely driven without it as far as I know, just like cars have been for decades before there ever was such a thing as "active handling". Check it out.

I just called Fichtner and spoke with someone named Tom. (Bob was at lunch). He was very nice, and of course, couldn't locate one. He'll look for me.
Thank you, Lone Star.

Everyone has been helpful and the word is out. I'll keep plugging!

DRIVE SAFE!!

Tom works for Bob in the parts dept. Bob is the manager. If Tom told you he would try to help you. I'm sure he will; he's helped me before.

I know several people that have been looking for 1.5 years. I have searched high and low can't find one. I have also heard that used ones do not work, I have a used one but one of things I noticed is that when I removed it, a small tab on the sensor snapped off and from what I can tell it cannot be removed without breaking the small tab, I'm pretty sure the tab was for aligning the sensor. Good luck on this one, I really feel bad for all the people with early C5 EBCM and Steer Pos Sensor problems, what the hecks a guy to do gm???