JUSAYHI

Hi everyone. Its been quite a long time since I've been active on here, but hopefully you won't hold that against me!

I have a 2006 Corvette with 8200 miles on it and I started getting the "Service Active Handling" message recently. I took it in and the dealership said I have to replace the "Steering Position Sensor" for $675. This seems to me to sound very much like the recall issue. I had the clip installed right after the recall came out a few years ago, but I was not getting the "Service Active Handling" message at that time. Can the "Steering Position Sensor" be caused by the same recall issue? Can it be that the fix didn't fix it, or maybe only fixed it temporarily? I asked the dealer if this issue was included in the recall and I didn't get a straight answer. The answer seemed to be no this is something else.

I'm also getting an airbag error code. They said I need to replace the drivers side airbag and pretensioner $1100, the gas cap and vent solenoid $487, and the oil pan $1550???? The seal is leaking I think he said? I plan to get a second opinion, but I wanted to see what my trusted friends on the forum have to say.

Thanks!!!
Robyn

Bill Curlee

Robyn

Boy,,, they saw you coming!!!

By the way,,, You are saying it wrong. Its pronounced "STEALERSHIP"!

On a more serious note,, You need to STEP AWAY from the Stealership and locate a Corvette Specialty shop who will do a better job for a LOT less cash!

If you are from Maryland, someone here can surely recommend a reputable Corvette Repair Shop close to you. I live in Connecticut and when I need Tuning and or work that I need a shop to do, I take my car all the way to Corvettes of Westchester NY. There's also ECS in Jersey and some others.

I was born and raised in Baltimore but, its been a LONG LONG time since I've been there and cant recommend any shops there..

If it were me,,, I would do a little easy investigating on that Steering Wheel Position Sensor (SWPS) issue.

Remove the drivers side foot well under dash close out panel. Look up under the dash at the under side of the steering column. You will see the sensor and the sensor connector.

When I had this very issues with my 06 Coupe, I found that when I moved my steering column in and out, the wiring harness to the SWPS moves and was under stress. So,, I used a tie wrap to secure it so that it didn't put stress on the connector to the sensor:

The SWPS is to the right of the actuator that has (TTM) stamped on it and it has a RED comb inserted in it:




After I secured the harness with the tiewrap, the issue only happened sporadically.

SO,, I disconnected the SWPS connector and used a wooden popsicle stick and I FLEXED the male pins inside the SWPS so that they made better contact with the female pins inside the harness connector with the female pins that plugs into the SWPS.





Reassembled and reinstalled the tiewrap. PROBLEM SOLVED!

You could really have a bad SWPS but, doing the above procedure could solve the issue like it did mine.

You have to remove the complete steering column to replace that sensor.

Bill

Bill Curlee

Moving on to the NEXT issue.. Remove your GAS CAP. Look at the Rubber O Ring at the base of the cap. Its what seals the tank to the cap. If that O ring is dirty or cracked, the tank can not seal and it will set a DTC.

If the O ring is the least bit questionable, order a new one. There not expensive.

OIL PAN SEAL! The oil pan gasket is a heavy duty aluminum frame with an embossed O ring. Its pretty BULLET PROOF and seldom outright just fail. What usually happens is:

1. The oil pan bolts loosen up and can easily be retightened. Problem solved!

2. Oil leak from some where else (easily fixed) and the OIL PAN gets the blame for leaking. The Stealership gets $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to change the pan gasket! and also fixes the $10 part that was the real cause of the leak. GET A SECOND OPINION!


I would need a DTC number to speak more on the Air Bag issue.

Hopefully someone in the DC/ MD area can point you to a local good shop.

Let me know what you think

Bill Curlee

LOL! Heres a shop in your area to check out!!! Just saw the post on C6 Tech:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-dc-area.html

Bill

sevinn

Do you happen to have a check engine light on as well? Some CELs will throw active handling codes too.

JUSAYHI

Bill thanks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!! I so appreciate the time you took to address my issues and send pics!!!! I can't wait to take a look at your suggestions to see what I can find. Give me a chance to digest all your information and I will be back in touch to let you know how it goes, or if I have questions. I'm so thankful that you threw me a life line!! I was just sick over the costs and to think my baby was so sick when it looks so pretty! haha

As far as the post about the check engine light, not so far thank goodness. I will be on the look out for it though.

More to follow!!!!

JUSAYHI

I decided to take the vette back to a DIFFERENT stealership today, and I'm kicking myself for not taking it to Koons Chevrolet Tysons in the first place. I've always had good experiences with them, but its a bit of a drive, so I took the easy way out and took it to Ourisman where I got the outrageous estimate about a month ago.

Ok, so here is the update on the "Service Active Handling" message. The Koons vette specialist said the sensor is NOT bad like Ourisman said ($700), and he said he believes that the car just needs a front end alignment (Less than $100) especially since the message is intermittent. He said he isn't 100% sure the alignment will fix it, but he definitely said the sensor is not bad. Also, while he was under there looking at things he found a handful of change and returned it to me!

As for the airbag issue. Ourisman said the whole thing needed to be replaced ($1000) and the Koons guy said he just needed to tape up the wires because they had become "misplaced" a bit over time and were being struck when the seat moves, (about $300). That still seems steep to tape up some wires, but compared to $1100, I felt good about it.

Now for the gas cap/solenoid needing replaced according to Ourisman ($1100) I ordered a new gas cap a few weeks ago and put it on, and today there are no codes showing pertaining to the gas cap or the solenoid.

The only remaining issue that I didn't even bring up today was the oil pan issue. Ourisman said it needed a new oil pan ($1500). There isn't a drop of oil on the garage floor so I think he might have been seeing a slight leak because I don't drive it much....which seems to be self healing once I drive it.

To be continued.....

I know I could potentially save money by taking it to a private shop, but I have to say the value of proven trust is worth the extra money for me to take it to Koons.

sevinn

I'm glad you found someone you can trust.

I would never go back to Ourisman again as it sounds like they are really trying to take advantage of you.

For what it's worth you probably don't need a new pan as a gasket will most likely fix any leaks.

RICH 28

Wow, $300.00 to tape some wires. There is a lot of info on here about fixing the airbag connector under the seat. It just requires a couple of zip ties that you can do yourself. I did mine and the problem went away.

WW7

I have read a lot of the oil pan leaks were solved with just tightening the pan bolts..The fact that it stops leaking when it gets to running temperature would verify this could be the problem...WW
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JUSAYHI

I considered getting under there and tinkering around, but while I had it in there I decided to just get it done. The guy was so helpful and showed me everything he was doing and I didn't want to say ok, thanks for showing me, now I will go home and do that. Plus I would have had to pay the $125 diagnostic charge anyway.

I'm good at tinkering with broken stuff on my house, but quite hesitant on the vette.

JUSAYHI

So far no leaking on the garage floor. I will ask to have the bolts checked during my next oil change. Thanks for the suggestion.