Steering Track Sensor
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Leicestershire
Steering Track Sensor
I own and drive a 2003 C5. I know nothing about car mechanics. I just love driving my Vette. The problem is that when I need technical assistance, I am at the mercy of the mechanic! I need help and reassurance from you experts out there!
A couple of months ago, an "Active Handling" message appeared on the DIC for no apparent reason. I was travelling at about 50mph on a straight flat road. I reset to get rid of the message.
Over the next few weeks, the same thing happened several times and I noticed that there seemed to be a simultaneous "twitch" of the car to the right. The "twitch" was not profound enough to be noticeable to the passenger.
The Corvette franchise dealer has told me that the problem seems to be with the Steering Track (or Angle) Sensor and they are in discussion with someone in Belgium about it. (I am based in the centre of England). The dealer tells me that the car may need a complete steering Rack because the sensor cannot be obtained separately. Can this be correct? The car has covered less than 35000 miles and carefully driven and well maintained from new.
Does anyone have any ideas about this? I would really like to demonstrate some degree of knowledge if only to level the playing field!
Many Thanks to you all.
A couple of months ago, an "Active Handling" message appeared on the DIC for no apparent reason. I was travelling at about 50mph on a straight flat road. I reset to get rid of the message.
Over the next few weeks, the same thing happened several times and I noticed that there seemed to be a simultaneous "twitch" of the car to the right. The "twitch" was not profound enough to be noticeable to the passenger.
The Corvette franchise dealer has told me that the problem seems to be with the Steering Track (or Angle) Sensor and they are in discussion with someone in Belgium about it. (I am based in the centre of England). The dealer tells me that the car may need a complete steering Rack because the sensor cannot be obtained separately. Can this be correct? The car has covered less than 35000 miles and carefully driven and well maintained from new.
Does anyone have any ideas about this? I would really like to demonstrate some degree of knowledge if only to level the playing field!
Many Thanks to you all.
Last edited by trevorfmoore; Mar 11, 2009 at 11:31 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
You must post the trouble codes for someone to be of any real help.
The C5 Corvette has a built in POWERFUL tool that is capable of displaying ALL the trouble codes throughout the entire car – as opposed to an over-the-counter “scan tool” which can only show engine emission codes.
Include “C’ and “H” suffix with each code. You may want to first clear all codes to see which ones come back.
C5 Pulling Codes Procedure
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1853503
With the key in the on position, but the engine not running push and release the reset button until all messages cleared.
Next push and HOLD button #4.
Next push and release button #1 four times while holding button #4
When first engaged the on-board diagnostics go into an "automatic" mode which shows all parameters: PCM-TCS-RTD-BCM-IPC-radio-HVAC-LDCM-RDCM-SCM-RFA.
If there are no problems, you will see "no more codes" on the ICP display.
The computer will show two kinds of codes, "current" and "history," designated "C" or "H".
A current code indicates a malfunction is present in the system whose module is displaying data.
A history code indicates a past problem. When the screen displays "manual diagnostics," select the desired module by pressing the "options" button to go forward or the "trip" button to go back.
Press "gages" to go forward or "fuel" to go back. To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press "E/M".
If you want to erase or "clear" codes, press "reset."
....if above procedure is not working you may have to hook up a OBD II tool to scan/read out your codes...
MORE INFO - Obtaining Vehicle Codes from the DIC
The IPC display, the 20-character, vacuum florescent screen above the steering column that says "Corvette by Chevrolet" every time you turn on the key, is a powerful device. DIY Service Techs are going to be most interested in the IPC's ability to show diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) for all the modules that transmit them.
The "diagnostic display" mode is entered with the following procedure:
1. Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2. Press the "reset" button to turn off any warning messages
3. Press and hold "options" and
4. While holding "options", press "fuel" four times within a 10-second period.
Inititially, the on-board diagnostics go into the "automatic" mode which shows each module's DTCs in a pre-set sequence:
· 10 PCM Powertrain Control Module page 6-357 - 6-361
· 28 TCS Traction Control system ABS on page 5-86
· ?? RTD Real Time damping page 3-136 (I do not have this option)
· 40 BCM Body Control Module page 8-405 UTD Page 8-727
· 60 IPC Instrument Panel Cluster page 8-508
· 80 radio page 8-213
· 99 HVAC Heater Vent-Air Conditioning page 1-118
· A0 LDCM Left Door Control module page 8-904 to 8-951
· A1 RDCM Right Door Control Module page 8-904 to 8-951
· AC SCM Seat Control module page 8-1064 -8-1082
· B0 RFA Remote Function Actuation page 8-676
For each module, all DTCs will be displayed. If none are present in a module, you will see "no more codes" on the ICP display.
There are two kinds of DTCs, "Current" and "History," designated with a letter suffix, "C" or "H".
A current code indicates that the malfunction is present in the system whose module is displaying data.
A history code indicates a problem existed in that module sometime in the last 40 or 50 ignition cycles. When not accompanied by a current code of the same number, it is possible it's evidence of a previous problem, now solved, that was not removed by clearing codes. More likely is that a history code indicates an intermittent malfunction. "Intermittents" are the most challenging DTCs. An intermittent may have happened only once, may have happened more than once but is inconsistent in its appearance or may be happening on a regular basis but not at the time the IPC is displaying codes.
History codes can also be caused by a current malfunction in a system that is not operating at the time DTCs are displayed. An example is the rear window defogger which doesn¹t operate until the BCM detects engine rpm. For history codes set by a system that does not operate with the key on and engine off, a special diagnostic tool called a "scan tester" is necessary to properly diagnose the malfunction.
Once the IPC has displayed all 11 modules, the system goes into the manual mode which allows selection of each module using combinations of DIC buttons. The manual mode can also be entered at any time during the automatic sequence by pressing any button except "E/M". Once the IPC displays "manual diagnostics," you may select a particular module by pressing the "options" button to go forward or the "trip" button to go back. Once a system is selected and a DTC is displayed, if more than one are present; press "gages" to move forward or "fuel" to go back.
To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press "E/M". If you want to erase or "clear" codes, press "reset." Clearing a code does not repair a problem. You are simply erasing the evidence of it in the module's memory.
The C5 Corvette has a built in POWERFUL tool that is capable of displaying ALL the trouble codes throughout the entire car – as opposed to an over-the-counter “scan tool” which can only show engine emission codes.
Include “C’ and “H” suffix with each code. You may want to first clear all codes to see which ones come back.
C5 Pulling Codes Procedure
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1853503
With the key in the on position, but the engine not running push and release the reset button until all messages cleared.
Next push and HOLD button #4.
Next push and release button #1 four times while holding button #4
When first engaged the on-board diagnostics go into an "automatic" mode which shows all parameters: PCM-TCS-RTD-BCM-IPC-radio-HVAC-LDCM-RDCM-SCM-RFA.
If there are no problems, you will see "no more codes" on the ICP display.
The computer will show two kinds of codes, "current" and "history," designated "C" or "H".
A current code indicates a malfunction is present in the system whose module is displaying data.
A history code indicates a past problem. When the screen displays "manual diagnostics," select the desired module by pressing the "options" button to go forward or the "trip" button to go back.
Press "gages" to go forward or "fuel" to go back. To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press "E/M".
If you want to erase or "clear" codes, press "reset."
....if above procedure is not working you may have to hook up a OBD II tool to scan/read out your codes...
MORE INFO - Obtaining Vehicle Codes from the DIC
The IPC display, the 20-character, vacuum florescent screen above the steering column that says "Corvette by Chevrolet" every time you turn on the key, is a powerful device. DIY Service Techs are going to be most interested in the IPC's ability to show diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) for all the modules that transmit them.
The "diagnostic display" mode is entered with the following procedure:
1. Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2. Press the "reset" button to turn off any warning messages
3. Press and hold "options" and
4. While holding "options", press "fuel" four times within a 10-second period.
Inititially, the on-board diagnostics go into the "automatic" mode which shows each module's DTCs in a pre-set sequence:
· 10 PCM Powertrain Control Module page 6-357 - 6-361
· 28 TCS Traction Control system ABS on page 5-86
· ?? RTD Real Time damping page 3-136 (I do not have this option)
· 40 BCM Body Control Module page 8-405 UTD Page 8-727
· 60 IPC Instrument Panel Cluster page 8-508
· 80 radio page 8-213
· 99 HVAC Heater Vent-Air Conditioning page 1-118
· A0 LDCM Left Door Control module page 8-904 to 8-951
· A1 RDCM Right Door Control Module page 8-904 to 8-951
· AC SCM Seat Control module page 8-1064 -8-1082
· B0 RFA Remote Function Actuation page 8-676
For each module, all DTCs will be displayed. If none are present in a module, you will see "no more codes" on the ICP display.
There are two kinds of DTCs, "Current" and "History," designated with a letter suffix, "C" or "H".
A current code indicates that the malfunction is present in the system whose module is displaying data.
A history code indicates a problem existed in that module sometime in the last 40 or 50 ignition cycles. When not accompanied by a current code of the same number, it is possible it's evidence of a previous problem, now solved, that was not removed by clearing codes. More likely is that a history code indicates an intermittent malfunction. "Intermittents" are the most challenging DTCs. An intermittent may have happened only once, may have happened more than once but is inconsistent in its appearance or may be happening on a regular basis but not at the time the IPC is displaying codes.
History codes can also be caused by a current malfunction in a system that is not operating at the time DTCs are displayed. An example is the rear window defogger which doesn¹t operate until the BCM detects engine rpm. For history codes set by a system that does not operate with the key on and engine off, a special diagnostic tool called a "scan tester" is necessary to properly diagnose the malfunction.
Once the IPC has displayed all 11 modules, the system goes into the manual mode which allows selection of each module using combinations of DIC buttons. The manual mode can also be entered at any time during the automatic sequence by pressing any button except "E/M". Once the IPC displays "manual diagnostics," you may select a particular module by pressing the "options" button to go forward or the "trip" button to go back. Once a system is selected and a DTC is displayed, if more than one are present; press "gages" to move forward or "fuel" to go back.
To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press "E/M". If you want to erase or "clear" codes, press "reset." Clearing a code does not repair a problem. You are simply erasing the evidence of it in the module's memory.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
The steering position sensor has nothing to do with the steering rack...
You would be best served by doing some research and asking questions here. You don't need to be a mechanic, you just need to be able to read and put your new found knowledge to work.
This is not something that you need to be in a hurry to fix. If you turn off active handling, you can drive the car normally.
Pull the codes and get back to us.
You would be best served by doing some research and asking questions here. You don't need to be a mechanic, you just need to be able to read and put your new found knowledge to work.
This is not something that you need to be in a hurry to fix. If you turn off active handling, you can drive the car normally.
Pull the codes and get back to us.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 28
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
He's correct that the steering sensor is totally seperate. Its located at the base of the steering column on the inside of the car. They do wear out. As mentioned too, the codes will tell the tale. Is the alignment off at all? Please be aware that there are wheel speed sensors on each wheel as well and should any of those connectors having issues, will also cause this. Yaw rate sensors/accellerometers are under the passenger seat inside. Again, the codes will tell you what's its picking up as an issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,792
Likes: 197
From: Hillsboro OR
I had the exact same problem on my 03 Coupe. It will randomly kick off cruise contol, and post Service Active Handling, Service Traction Control, and disable TC. If it is the Steering Wheel Position Sensor you should see code (P1287).
The SWPS is ~$80. I had the dealership replace mine for ~$275 labor. It's all good now.
HTH
The SWPS is ~$80. I had the dealership replace mine for ~$275 labor. It's all good now.
HTH
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
Likes: 3
From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
steering column sensor
