Alignment question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 645
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From: Tarpon Springs Florida
St. Jude Donor '12
Alignment question
If you have the front end aligned would a dealer / tire store know to reset the steering wheel position sensor? I have heard recently that this is very important for the car to perform correctly after alignment. Thoughts and comments from technically blessed members would be appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,394
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From: cumming ga
If you have the front end aligned would a dealer / tire store know to reset the steering wheel position sensor? I have heard recently that this is very important for the car to perform correctly after alignment. Thoughts and comments from technically blessed members would be appreciated.
z51vett
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Long Island NY
The steering wheel position sensor only seems to become a potential issue when the rack is removed or the steering shaft disconnected. It is then possible for the steering wheel to be one turn off with the tires straight ahead. As long as nothing was disconnected, which should be the case of just an alignment you shouldn't have to worry about it. Now, as far as the steering wheel being perfectly centered that depends upon how precise the person doing the alignment is.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,043
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The steering wheel position sensor only seems to become a potential issue when the rack is removed or the steering shaft disconnected. It is then possible for the steering wheel to be one turn off with the tires straight ahead. As long as nothing was disconnected, which should be the case of just an alignment you shouldn't have to worry about it. Now, as far as the steering wheel being perfectly centered that depends upon how precise the person doing the alignment is.
If somebody is working on the steering rack or shaft and disconnects the two without locking the shaft there is a potential for the steering sensor and the air bag clock spring to be damaged if the steering wheel is turned while disconnected from the rack. If it is turned one full turn the steering sensor will read wrong. If you get into multiple turns the sensor and the clock spring can be broken. This happened on my 03 Tahoe. I took it to a shop down the street to have the intermediate steering shaft replaced. At the end of the day they call me to come get it. When I walk in the owner asks if the Stability Control and Air Bag warnings were on when I brought the vehicle in. The knuckle headed mechanic didn't lock the steering column as required when doing that repair and both the steering sensor and clock spring had to be replaced. Not sure how many turns of the steering wheel it takes to break them but is more than one. When he was replacing them he subsequently broke the instrument panel so I had to go back again.
Bill
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 645
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From: Tarpon Springs Florida
St. Jude Donor '12
OK....thanks guys..... I'm interpreting: that as long as I'm using someone who knows what they are doing it probably won't be an issue and doesn't require resetting the sensor.....GREAT. I will make sure myself that the steering wheel is "locked". As usual..THANKS to those of you "in the know"!!!
