Steering Sensor Replacement/adjustment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Steering Sensor Replacement/adjustment
Anyone have info on replacing or adjusting steering sensor? I am getting intermittant service vehicle soon message along with code C1281 and pevious posts state it may be problems with steering sensor.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 904
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
If you had the steering column worked on or around lately, it could be it was reassembled out of synch. They have been known to go bad though. The sensor is the disc at the end of the column in the drawing below.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
From: Corona California
Several months ago the dealer quoted me something in the range of $800 to replace the sensor to correct an itermittant (weekly or so)C1281. Based on a related post that cited an error during alignment as a potential cause and being as I had had a non-dealer alignment a couple of months previously, I asked the dealer to do an alignment and in that case the code has yet to return. Maybe just lucky.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
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From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Steering Column Sensor
________________________________________ ____________________
[Patches]If you had the steering column worked on or around lately, it could be it was reassembled out of synch. They have been known to go bad though. The sensor is the disc at the end of the column in the drawing below.
________________________________________ ____________________
The sensor in my steering column failed and had to be replaced. As you can see from Patches' diagrams, the steering column has to come out in order to do the fix. I gave my car to the "Vette Doctors" on Long Island and they made it all better.
I would like to take a moment to thank "Patches" and "Bill Curlee" for the help they have given all of us on the Forum. I hope they both get what they want for Christmas............
[Patches]If you had the steering column worked on or around lately, it could be it was reassembled out of synch. They have been known to go bad though. The sensor is the disc at the end of the column in the drawing below.
________________________________________ ____________________
The sensor in my steering column failed and had to be replaced. As you can see from Patches' diagrams, the steering column has to come out in order to do the fix. I gave my car to the "Vette Doctors" on Long Island and they made it all better.
I would like to take a moment to thank "Patches" and "Bill Curlee" for the help they have given all of us on the Forum. I hope they both get what they want for Christmas............
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Anyone have procedures for column disassembly for replacement of sensor? Any special tools required?
Any possible way to recalibrate sensor as the above post (TEEJAY) states alignment corrected his problem? I was thinking that tire wear or possible suspension wear may be causing sensor to not read properly.
Patches- thanks for diagram.
Any possible way to recalibrate sensor as the above post (TEEJAY) states alignment corrected his problem? I was thinking that tire wear or possible suspension wear may be causing sensor to not read properly.
Patches- thanks for diagram.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 904
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
The misalignment is caused by decoupling the steering shaft, turning the steering wheel relative to the steering box/rack and then reconnecting the shaft. That offsets the rotation of the sensor relative to the steering angle and throws the computer off which expects a certain voltage at a given steering angle. The fix involves disconnecting the steering shaft and restoring the original angle relationship between the sensor and the steering box signals.
Replacement involves disabling/enabling the explosive airbag assembly. Perhaps you should consider having a pro do it for you.
Replacement involves disabling/enabling the explosive airbag assembly. Perhaps you should consider having a pro do it for you.
Last edited by Patches; Dec 10, 2004 at 08:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,907
Likes: 1
From: Between a rock and a hard place, S.E. PA
I've been getting this error for about a year. The dealer replaced the sensor but I still get the error. The car is now out of warranty. I think when I finally get around to lowering the car I'll see if an alignment will put it to rest. Thanks for the info.
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in the Mid West
TRY THIS FIRST BEFORE DISASSEMBLING YOUR STEERING COLUMN:
This came from a member(ausvette) back in 2003:
I did the above procedures and it worked. I wasn't about to replace my sensor for the second time without exhausting all my options. This saved me big time. You may not have to replace your sensor and these steps will tell you for sure. 
This came from a member(ausvette) back in 2003:
Fix for me was the same as the fix for C1286 Steering Sensor Bias Malfunction code which many people have reported on and posted fiixes for in the past.
Despite the care we took the front wheels must not have been pointing in the same direction as they originallly were when the steering shaft was disconnected.
Quick check is to take a voltage reading from the light blue wire coming from the steering sensor with the ignition on and the front wheels pointing straight ahead. (Theres actually 2 blue wires, one is lighter than the other and closer to the centre of the plug.) Should read approx 2.5 V. Mine read 0.2 V . I disconnected the steering shaft and turned the steering wheel till voltage read 2.5 V. Reconnected the steering shaft and this solved the problem. We were out 360 degrees.
Car obviously thought ifrom the steering wheel output that the car was turning which the other sensors didn't agree with. Don't know why it didn't give us a C1286 code. Maybe cars with active handling give C1283 for this issue and cars without give C1286.
Despite the care we took the front wheels must not have been pointing in the same direction as they originallly were when the steering shaft was disconnected.
Quick check is to take a voltage reading from the light blue wire coming from the steering sensor with the ignition on and the front wheels pointing straight ahead. (Theres actually 2 blue wires, one is lighter than the other and closer to the centre of the plug.) Should read approx 2.5 V. Mine read 0.2 V . I disconnected the steering shaft and turned the steering wheel till voltage read 2.5 V. Reconnected the steering shaft and this solved the problem. We were out 360 degrees.
Car obviously thought ifrom the steering wheel output that the car was turning which the other sensors didn't agree with. Don't know why it didn't give us a C1286 code. Maybe cars with active handling give C1283 for this issue and cars without give C1286.
Last edited by hrdtopv8; Dec 10, 2004 at 06:52 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 31
Likes: 11
From: DFW
TRY THIS FIRST BEFORE DISASSEMBLING YOUR STEERING COLUMN:
This came from a member(ausvette) back in 2003:
I did the above procedures and it worked. I wasn't about to replace my sensor for the second time without exhausting all my options. This saved me big time. You may not have to replace your sensor and these steps will tell you for sure.
This came from a member(ausvette) back in 2003:
I did the above procedures and it worked. I wasn't about to replace my sensor for the second time without exhausting all my options. This saved me big time. You may not have to replace your sensor and these steps will tell you for sure.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
Please help!
I know this is an old thread but...This Saved me $$$$ BIG time! I was getting code 1286 and was about to replace the sps, After checking it with a voltmeter I was getting .25v output and when I turned the steering wheel 360 degrees I was getting around 2.5v so this let me know that the switch wasnt bad, all I had to do was disconnect the front bolt on the shaft which is much easier than removing the rear bolt near the firewall and success, no more c1286, thank you hrdtopv8!!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 31
Likes: 11
From: DFW
at the front of the steering shaft near the where it connects to the rack and pinion, I disconnected the coupler and rotated the shaft 360° and then I reconnected the coupler and that fixed it
