Steering wheel position sensor......
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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I also stumbled across an older thread. An Chevrolet service tech stated that you could "clean" the SWPS by elevating the front end so front tires are off the ground, start the car, and turn the steering wheel lock to lock, back and forth, about 50 times. Never heard of that fix before, but he said they did it many times in the Chevy service department, and were often successful doing it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
All C5's have a SWPS.
Yes, you can use cleaning fluid and turn it and such and depending on what is wrong you might get it working again. But it will be a temporary fix most of the time and the SWPS has both electronics and the mechanical side and no cleaning will fix failed electronics.
Yes, you can use cleaning fluid and turn it and such and depending on what is wrong you might get it working again. But it will be a temporary fix most of the time and the SWPS has both electronics and the mechanical side and no cleaning will fix failed electronics.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
All C5's have a SWPS.
Yes, you can use cleaning fluid and turn it and such and depending on what is wrong you might get it working again. But it will be a temporary fix most of the time and the SWPS has both electronics and the mechanical side and no cleaning will fix failed electronics.
Yes, you can use cleaning fluid and turn it and such and depending on what is wrong you might get it working again. But it will be a temporary fix most of the time and the SWPS has both electronics and the mechanical side and no cleaning will fix failed electronics.
Last edited by grinder11; Oct 8, 2020 at 11:44 AM. Reason: Spelling
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2026
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More SWPS Info
(I apologize if this repeats some info already covered.) I am also getting the codes on my C5, the C1287 and C1288, that indicate the steering wheel position sensor (SWPS) is malfunctioning. I have been told that these codes point to the traction control system (TCS) being disabled due to invalid inputs, most commonly related to the SWPS or its circuit. Without this input the ABS doesn’t know how to directionally control the vehicle when traction is compromised, so ABS is deactivated, which also deactivates Cruise Control. I am also looking for a qualified replacement for the SWPS. Anybody have a source?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Make sure your wheel sensor connectors are clean and not corroded. This thread is about 6 years old. It would be best to start a new thread. If you need a different steering sensor (note I said different, not new, as new ones haven't been in production for at least 12 years), a corvette salvage yard is your best bet.....
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,757
Likes: 1,215
From: Wisconsin
(I apologize if this repeats some info already covered.) I am also getting the codes on my C5, the C1287 and C1288, that indicate the steering wheel position sensor (SWPS) is malfunctioning. I have been told that these codes point to the traction control system (TCS) being disabled due to invalid inputs, most commonly related to the SWPS or its circuit. Without this input the ABS doesn’t know how to directionally control the vehicle when traction is compromised, so ABS is deactivated, which also deactivates Cruise Control. I am also looking for a qualified replacement for the SWPS. Anybody have a source?
