Steering Angle Sensor Issues after Rack Assembly and Pinion replacement

So we had our steering rack assembly and pinion replaced on our lifted 2017 4Runner TRD off road along with the power steering hose, then alignment at the Toyota dealership.

After the repair and before alignment the power steering, vsc and multi-terrain (flashing) lights are stuck on with error codes c1433, c1884 and c15f1 and the steering angle is also stuck at -864 degrees and doesn’t change when turning the steering wheel while checking live data.

I’ve tried a scanner tool to recalibrate the steering angle sensor but the tool immediately says steer angle calibration is unavailable for this vehicle. Also the diagram on the dashboard that shows the vehicle doesn’t show the front wheels on the vehicle. It typically shows you the direction the wheels are turned. It does show when a door is open so that function is working but isn’t able to detect anything with the wheels. I’ve tried zero point calibration about 5 times to no avail.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is killing me after an expensive repair for the rack assembly and pinion replacement.

 

Who did the work? Was it the dealership? Why isnt the place who installed it fixing the problem?

 

It was a friend of a friend who works out of his house and specializes in working on Toyotas. My friend has brought his Toyotas to him for 20+ years and he has done work for us 10+ times without issue. He’s very good but his knowledge on all the electrical components of newer cars is limited and he wants to keep it that way doesn’t take on jobs he’s no comfortable with, etc. His sweet spot is older Toyotas but he still doesn’t a lot of stuff for us. He suggested I bring it to the dealer after we talked about whats going on. He also offered to put on a new steering angle sensor at his regular rate but said he would only be guessing that was the issue and it might not resolve the problem.

I was thinking maybe he simply forgot to tie the wheel off during the rack replacement and thus the clock spring or spiral cable was damaged???

 

thats unfortunate. Did he install an OEM rack or aftermarket? it may need to go to the dealership.

 

He used OEM parts. Leaning towards just bringing it to the dealership so that I can be done with it.

 

I did a google search and I am seeing exactly what you're seeing that it may just be unplugged. Unfortunately it appears you have to take off the steering wheel to get to it

 

Hmm.. I think I’ll try calling him again and see if he thinks that could be a possibility. Then go from there.

 

yeah, take it back to him. Ive seen on youtube people trying to get the steering wheel off and the airbag explodes. Plus why should you even attempt this, you paid for a job the job is incomplete.

 

Here is my question though, why would the mechanic have to take apart the steering wheel to do this job? It should be all from the underneath the vehicle. Im stumped just like you are. You didnt have this problem though before taking it to this mechanic, correct? I guess what I am saying is I dont believe he would have taken apart the steering wheel to do this job. BUT does that sensor connect to something on the rack and pinion?

 

Yeah, he on a call he actually said he didn’t have to do anything with the steering wheel. Everything was outside the vehicle, so you’re correct on that.

 

that was merely a guess that the sensor on the wheel would "tie" to something on the rack and pinion. However, you're correct, the youtube videos I watch shows them tying rope around the steering wheel to keep it centered.

 

i just watched several video and i DONT see anything (sensor, plug, wiring) on the rack and pinion itself. Dont know if you have to take it to a dealership, do you have a good mechanic by you?

 

Steering angle sensor is by the clock spring or attached to it. He shouldnt of needed to get anywhere near it.

Think you just need to go to dealer to recalibrate it or find someone with a scan tool that can.

 

Well, thank you for your help. I guess I’ll ask him if he tied the steering wheel off. The interesting thing is it feels completely normal driving it around town, but there’s no way I’m taking it on a long drive or somewhere remote in its current state.

I’m relatively new to the city I live in so I don’t know of good mechanic yet so I asked him if he has any reasonable and good shop that he trusts that he thought I could bring it to and he said all that he knows of are dishonest for the most part.

 

yeah no problem, it sucks being in that position and just chalk it up to lesson learned. But yeah, you would think the guy would at least try to help you. Next step is the dealership to get it fixed. I just paid $1,800 to get lower control arms because the alignment bolts seized and the alignment was off. Totally sucks having to drop that kind of cash. MAYBE their scan tool can do the re calibration and thats all it is. Please let me know what the "fix" is

 

I have a scanner tool, but when I go to the recalibration function for the steering angle sensor and try to complete the process it instantly times out saying that recalibration for this vehicle is unavailable, which leads me to believe that it is not getting any type of response from the steering angle sensor.

I then went and tested the steering angle sensor recalibration function with the scanner to see if it worked on my Tacoma and it immediately worked and completed SAS recalibration.

This all leads me to believe that the mechanic who replaced the rack didn’t tie the steering wheel off to keep it straight and that caused damage to the clock spring or spiral cable which I believe would cause issues with the steering angle sensor, but I could be wrong about that? Does anyone know whether the steering wheel has to be tied off for rack
and pinion replacement?

 

Had similar lights come on when I removed my steering wheel and re-installed. On top of the ZPC zero point calibration did you do other calibration? I did zero point and downhill assist calibration and it cleared the lights on my dash. Link for info;

 

I did try the ZPC + crawl control recalibration but only both once so maybe I will try that again. Can I ask you if one of the lights you had on was the steering wheel with the !, which is the power steering light. This is the ODD one that I don’t think is typically on when you just need to do ZPC

 

So the mechanic that did the job told me that he thinks the dealership should have done the steering angle sensor calibration after they performed the alignment… is that correct?

 

Yes the wheel should of been tied off when replacing the rack and pinion to avoid it from turning.

Dealership at a minimum they should of at least told you they couldn't of calibrated after.

 

Thanks, I really appreciate your help!
Do you know what damage could be caused by not tying the wheel off?

 

Could of also damaged the clock spring.

I believe the Toyota the SAS is attached to the clock spring and can be replaced separately. My friends Tundra the SAS was attached to the clock spring.

 

What kind of scanner tool did you use? For the more modern 5th gens, only a toyota techstream scanner will be able to do a zero point calibration. Don’t remember what years can be done without techstream.

I’ll link this forum member’s experience changing out the steering rack. It might be helpful to review it to see where the problem may lie. https://www.4runners.com/threads/steering-rack-replacement-on-5th-gen-4runner.33012/

 

I bought an Innova 5610rs. But for the zpc a scanner isn’t needed.

 

If those faults won't clear, then you more than likely need the spiral cable (steering angle sensor integrated). Your zero point calibration can't be completed with a problem on that circuit. Centering the new rack and securing the steering wheel after removing the intermediate shaft prevents damaging the spiral cable.

 

Mechanic wouldn’t say he tied the steering wheel off but rather he said it was in “locked so it could not move during the entire process.”

Does this “locked position” make sense to protect the integrity of the spiral cable or do you think it damaged the spiral cable?

 

I think he's talking about when you take the key out and if you wiggle your steering wheel that will force it to lock.

However, to me - that is not a sure bet the steering wheel will not move.

I would point fault at whoever replaced the rack.

 

Dealer says the following… ouch!!!


Issue: Active dtcs C1884, C1433, C15F1 Regarding steering angle sensor circuit.

Correction: Complete replacement of steering angle sensor (spiral cable with sensor cable sub-assembly) w/ calibration of yaw and g rate sensors.

 

Dealership did repair as described above and had my 4Runner back within 90 minutes. Crazy they charge $1500 for that with the diagnosis. Must be an expensive part.

 

Not really they just charged you dealership prices.