What exactly is magnasteering and what does it function? all c5 corvettes have that option?

 

This might help…

https://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/bf10434.htm

 

Ok does anyone know how it will operate with it unplugged? I read at low speeds and pulling in parking lots it's has easier power steering and higher speeds on the highway it has a less assisted power steering. Just trying to confirm this isn't the cause of my hard steering. I read somewhere 2.7 ohms is what the rack plug should read a red and black wire and the plug to it from ebcm is a grey and white wire and at zero mile mph should read the amps you listed supplied to it? I'm trying to confirm it's working. The cradle was coated in 1/4"/ 1/2" of grime that I had scraped off. The rack itself was just dirty could read the replacement sticker trying to confirm my magnasteer isn't what wrong with the rack as sometimes it's functions or has always functioned on hwy but at lower speeds stoplight turns or near 0mph turns it's hard steering as if magnasteer isn't operational at times that or the pump bypass valve. On these c5s with magnasteer can you run atf fluid or does it have to be "power steering fluid" as the cap reads? It had red fluid which is usually red atf 10wt like power steering fluid. On f-bodies had no problem using atf fluid and GTOs actually listed "use atf fluid" on the cap.

 

If you unplug it, the default function is how it would normally function at 45mph but at all speeds. I believe you have it backwards, this means it will be under-assisted at lower speeds below 45, just right at 45, and over-assisted at higher speeds above 45.

 

so unplugged it will function regular power steering but wont go into any default hard steering correct? Ill try unplugging it see if that corrects it. I noticed when my power steering does function in the driveway at 0mph it turns extremely easy which is nice. I read somewhere on a bonneville or other 96 car with magnasteer that if the wires were backwards it would function hard steering.Does anyone know where the wires to the magnasteer on the rack go to the ebcm? And what voltage or amp output does it put out at the plug to rack. Im just trying to confirm i have supplied power or whichever to the magnasteer and that the wires arent backwards. I read over on digitalvette that someone had problem with hard steering similar to me a post from 2007 on a nearly new c5 corvette. He had tested the rack wires which tested 2.7ohms which he said was the correct readings for the magnasteer.

The car is a rebuilt title which had suffered damage upfront and the rack has a date sticker when it was replaced according to the carfax or vin lookup the car was wrecked around the same time.

 

Unplugged it will not be regular except at 45mph. At 45 mph the car effectively does nothing to the magnasteer. Below that it biases the valve electronically to allow more hydraulic flow to the rack for the same steering load thus giving you more assist. The opposite happens above 45mph to make the steering more feelsome and less touchy.

The voltage to the magnasteer varies according to the speed to accomplish what I've described here. If you unplug it while parked I'm not sure what you'll find. Its unlikely to be valuable information to your cause. Sensitive electrohydraulic devices like this tend to be current controlled not voltage controlled anyway, so the ebcm is just supplying a voltage that results in a current that is desired. If you unplug it there can't be any current so it's not going to tell you anything.

if your PS is INTERMITTENT, I the only real magnasteer issue I think you could have is a loose connection but if it fails you should get a DTC that would help.

 

I only have the regular c1281 and c1286 for steering sensor malfunction or steering position sensor. I think thats the one inside the car and the bottom of the steering column.

So if you unplug it will have 0 amps to it as it does at 45+mph and would steer the same at all mph?