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I've been getting this problem intermittently while driving. The Active Handling light comes on and says "service vehicle soon." I'll pull over and turn the car off and on and it seems to clear itself. I ran the codes and it comes up with C1288. I tried to look it up and it says its a Steering Sensor Circuit Malfunction. Can anyone help me with a fix or direct me to somewhere? Thanks SO much
C1288 indicates the Steering Wheel Position Sensor (SWPS) is failing. If you do a search on SWPS you'll find a bunch of posts on the subject ... such as this one .....
If you have to replace the SWPS it can be replaced with the column in the dash without having to take it completely out. Pulling the column out is a major pain especially if you have the telescoping feature. Mine didn't want to come off so I had to pull the column. A trick I found out that will help get it (SWPS) off the column is to place a small flat blade screwdriver behind the sensor at the plug. You can then get some leverage and pressure on it to wiggle it out.
Mine, does not have the telescoping feature. Would this be something i could simply leave alone for now? It is a history code and it hasn't come up in the last 2 days. Thanks for the help guys.
-Dustin
EDIT: I priced it and its around $180...
Last edited by Calibur45; Jul 8, 2008 at 09:23 AM.
Mine, does not have the telescoping feature. Would this be something i could simply leave alone for now? It is a history code and it hasn't come up in the last 2 days. Thanks for the help guys.
-Dustin
EDIT: I priced it and its around $180...
Sure, you can leave it alone. When it fails you loose Active Handling, if installed, and also your Magnasteer (variable effort power steering) function.
The car will be driveable. The power steering will feel like it takes more effort to turn the steering wheel at low speeds, and AH will be disabled as the SWPS is an important input for the calculation of how the car is "handling".
Sure, you can leave it alone. When it fails you loose Active Handling, if installed, and also your Magnasteer (variable effort power steering) function.
The car will be driveable. The power steering will feel like it takes more effort to turn the steering wheel at low speeds, and AH will be disabled as the SWPS is an important input for the calculation of how the car is "handling".
I have had this code before as well....I have noticed that the steering at times would be a little harder to turn....I thought I was having power steering problems such as a pump or something
I have had this code before as well....I have noticed that the steering at times would be a little harder to turn....I thought I was having power steering problems such as a pump or something
If you've had this code then .... yup .... your Magnasteer will be disabled FOR THAT IGNITION CYCLE. The next time you start the engine the EBCM will try and use the SWPS for Magnasteer again. So long as it gets valid data from the SWPS your Magnasteer will be fine. If it gets bad data again from the SWPS it will turmn off Magnasteer for the remainder of that ignition cycle.
That's why it may seem "intermittent" to you .... if the SWPS is failing intermittently, then your power steering will feel like it has an intermittent problem
Sometimes if you disconnect your battery for about 15 min and clean the SWPS connector it will "fix" the problem.
do you have an example of the best way to clean the connector? Should you just spray it with contact cleaner? And then dielectric grease it and put it back together.
I'll say this; if the OP found a good, working SWPS for his car for $180, he is one lucky guy! That is dirt cheap for any 1997-2000 C5. I hope he bought it!
You can use a contact cleaner and then use the product below which is a contact “enhancer”…dielectric grease is an insulator…you can use it to keep water out of a connector but that’s it…Stabilant 22 is expensive but you get what you pay for it !!
Service Handling Code:C1288
