I thought that my other post regarding the C1281 code might get lost in the noise because it didn't address the problem at hand.

Could someone please post the procedure for replacing the steering sensor on a 99 C5, including whatever you need to do to the steering column? I need to do the install myself since I have nothing but inept mechanics in my local area.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Disconnect the battery.1st,remove the left fuel rail cover.Remove the steering shaft from the rack to the column.This will require spreading the coupler at the end of the steering column in order to slide it off.(DO NOT ROTATE STEERING WHEEL MORE THAN 180 DEGREES AT ANY TIME AFTER DISCONNECTED OR YOU WILL DAMAGE THE AIR BAG COIL,NOTE POSITION OF STEERING WHEEL AT ALL TIMES)...Remove the fog lamp switch and the inside temp grill to the right of the column.Remove the 4 torx screws to remove the 2 lower dash panels.Disconnect the electrical connectors to the column(about 5 of them)located on the metal support bar below the column.Also,disconnect the connector to the steering sensor at the base of the column and cut the wire tie connecting the harness to the column.Remove the (2) 13mm nuts at the base of the column,and the (2) 13mm nuts towards the top of the column and out it comes.
Once the column is out,simply slide the white plastic dust cover off the bottom of the column.Then slide the steering sensor off the bottom of the column.Slide the new sensor onto the shaft.Note that the sensor has a clip that goes into the slot on the column shaft.This is to center the steering sensor on the shaft.Also note that the new sensor has a pin with a spring in it.This is to keep the sensor itself centered during shipment,and is to be removed only after the new sensor is installed on the column.
Reverse the removal procedure...Good luck And dont forget to put the dust cover back on...

 

C-5 TECH,

Thanks for your post about replacing the steering sensor. I should have the sensor later today or tomorrow morning and will start the install. One
question. You say to remove the shaft from the rack to the column which will require spreading the coupler at the end of the column. Are any special tools needed to spread the coupler? It looks like there's just a bolt on each end that needs to be removed, so I guess you are saying remove these bolts and then I have to spread (only) the coupler on the column end? Any tips on that part of the procedure would be helpful. The rest sounds pretty simple. I'm guessing that once you remove those 13mm bolts, the column, steering wheel and all just come out together?

Also, what about that rubber grommet on the firewall? Should I pull that out or pull the column through it?

Thanks again for your help. My Helms manual(s) are on their way but it could take up to a week.

P.S. I emailed this post to you also, but didn't know if it was your current address, so if you answer here, no need to answer my email.

Mike

 

While the procedure is relatively straightforward, I'd stongly suggest you get the service manual before proceeding. It is pretty well detailed and illustrated and can answer your questions if you run into any problems midstream.

 

Also, the new sensor needs to be re-calibrated so it "knows" what centered feels like. If you drive it before re-calibrating it can't be re-programmed again. This happened to me when my sensor was replaced by the dealer. They had an outdated instruction on re-calibrating, so after doing it wrong, they had to send for another sensor.

I wonder if your manual will contain the updated instruction.

 

Great. I hope the manual also explains *how* to calibrate the sensor? Are you sure that if not calibrated, it actually *breaks* the sensor? I can see having to take things apart again and turn it, or unplug it, but does it really destroy the sensor if you don't do some procedure? If so, that sounds like a pretty horrible design! :eek:

P.S. I plan to take pictures of the entire procedure as I go so that others can see how it's done.

Mike


[Modified by mchaney, 1:37 PM 8/20/2001]

 

I asked the dealer why they just couldn't re-calibrate it and they told me that once it's been set it can't be changed again. Doesn't sound like a good design to me either. They also mentioned that if you start driving it without calibrating it will calibrate itself, but incorrectly. I have a 2000 so I can't say for sure whether your 99 would be the same.

Maybe C5-tech can help shed more light on this. I'm wondering if I'm getting the straight scoop from the dealer.


[Modified by Silver2k, 2:04 PM 8/20/2001]

 

Sounds like a dealer line to me. I doubt the sensor would be complicated enough to have a "set" mode where you could actually "write" to the sensor. Of course, since I don't have the sensor yet, I'm only guessing but it's probably more likely that they just broke it putting it in... or if the thing has stops on it anywhere, maybe they installed it offset too far to begin with and turning the wheel moved it past its stops and physically broke it. As far as I know, there are no sensors on the market for *any* vehicle that are two way: they are all read-only which suggests your dealer was feeding you something.

Of course, I could be full of :bs too because my assumptions are based on logic and guesswork. ;)

Mike

 

Is there anyway you can bypass the sensor?

 

Hmm, never thought of that a steering sensor bypass

I am on my second one. The first was replaced about 6 months ago and it is going in again this Friday for another. Apparently it's a known problem.

It's annoying to see "service vehicle soon" everytime you start and turn off the car.

Joe

 

They gave you a B.S story...The centering pin was probably removed before installing the sensor,causing the sensor not to be centered ;)

 

Thanks, C-5 TECH. I thought it sounded a little suspicious. :bs

 

Steering sensor bypass. Now there's an idea! I'd pay for that! I still don't see why cars without the active handling feature (like mine) need a steering sensor. The "magnasteer" feature should have nothing to do with location of the steering. Variable power assist really should only be based on road speed not position of the steering wheel. Also, mine is intermittent. It'll work for some miles before throwing a code. I've never noticed any difference in the response of the steering when it is working and after the computer detects a fault. Then again, I'm assuming the computer runs the power steering in some default mode once it sees the code.

Mike