Ok to replace steering wheel position sensor if steering wheel not centered?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Thornhill Ontario
Ok to replace steering wheel position sensor if steering wheel not centered?
Hi,
I need to replace my steering wheel position center as my active handling is acting up.. however my steering wheel is a little off-centre when front wheels are straight. Should I go ahead and replace it or do I absolutely have to get an alignment first? Should I keep the steering wheel centered or the wheels pointed straight during this procedure?
Thanks.
I need to replace my steering wheel position center as my active handling is acting up.. however my steering wheel is a little off-centre when front wheels are straight. Should I go ahead and replace it or do I absolutely have to get an alignment first? Should I keep the steering wheel centered or the wheels pointed straight during this procedure?
Thanks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
You have to center the STEERING WHEEL to install the SWPS but,,,,,having the wheels out of alignment isnt a good thing either. When you first start the car the EBTCM runs a series of test. One of them checks the steering wheel position. If the checks cant be completed you get the message ' ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM WARMING UP"
I recommend getting an alignment also.
What DTCs did you have that made you replace the SWPS?
BC
I recommend getting an alignment also.
What DTCs did you have that made you replace the SWPS?
BC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,582
Likes: 968
From: Communist Colorado
If you have a CLB, you'll need to reverse it. Put the steering wheel in the straight forward position first, then the pin will engage into the locking plate. Now you can remove the column and replace the SWPS
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Depending on what Column Lock recalls he has had done,,,he may not have a locking plate installed.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 877
Likes: 4
From: Nouvelle Ecosse
Hi,
I need to replace my steering wheel position center as my active handling is acting up.. however my steering wheel is a little off-centre when front wheels are straight. Should I go ahead and replace it or do I absolutely have to get an alignment first? Should I keep the steering wheel centered or the wheels pointed straight during this procedure?
Thanks.
I need to replace my steering wheel position center as my active handling is acting up.. however my steering wheel is a little off-centre when front wheels are straight. Should I go ahead and replace it or do I absolutely have to get an alignment first? Should I keep the steering wheel centered or the wheels pointed straight during this procedure?
Thanks.
I have a W/A done every year as preventative maintenance...my tires cost ~3k and the w/a costs 60/year....think about what you save just by having your tires wear correctly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,582
Likes: 968
From: Communist Colorado
His car according to his profile, is an 01 Z06. I like what Jcamaro said. I suppose it would benefit you either way to have a good alignment done. If your problem goesaway, great. 
If not, tell us what codes youre getting.
If not, tell us what codes youre getting.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Thornhill Ontario
I am getting the 1287 code, and confirmed it while driving.. Sometimes it gets thrown right away sometimes after driving for a while. As per your advise, will probably get the alignment first to make sure that it is not the alignment that is causing the failure. Thanks guys.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
I am getting the 1287 code, and confirmed it while driving.. Sometimes it gets thrown right away sometimes after driving for a while. As per your advise, will probably get the alignment first to make sure that it is not the alignment that is causing the failure. Thanks guys.
I agree that a good alignment is needed to eliminate that as the cause of the problem before moving onto the electrical sensors.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 18
From: Brighton, MI
The issue I am getting, don't know for sure... is that I can get a reading for a split second off on the steering position sensor. The active handling system acts up on a wheel and then it clears. As of late I am getting a bunch of codes.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Acworth GA
Didn't think about it, but without the column locked hard to get it centered and the sensor reinstalled. I found out the hard way.
