4 Signs Of A Bad Or Failing Steering Angle Sensor
Modern vehicles are equipped with a rich sensor or PCM of sensors from a central computer. The sensor is a steering angle sensor and is responsible for checking the stability and traction of the car. This sensor is connected to the car’s stability technology and is retrieved under a different name.
Each manufacturer has a unique name for his vehicle’s stability technology, but another name does not change the fact that the technology used by all manufacturers is essentially the same.
This article explains the symptoms, location and replacement costs of low steering angle sensors. Start with the signs you need to pay attention to.
Insufficient steering angle sensor symptoms
The most common symptom of insufficient steering angle sensors is warning lights on the dashboard. Depending on the model of the car, it can be either a traction control light or a motor light. Another rare issue is severe or strange steering after wheel alignment.
Each sensor can wear out due to constant use. It is generally known that electronic components have a specific lifespan. As soon as a component reaches the end of its life, its efficiency decreases. However, all auto parts that fail will spend the signs that you will notice and ask to take prompt action.
Here is a more detailed list of bad or missing steering angle sensor signs that need to be searched for.
1. Check the motor light
The old car had sensors that were opened in the ECU. Checking the engine light means all ECU issues, so this light on the dashboard can mean any number of issues related to the drivetrain.
Traction control and engine control unit are connected and require a signal from the steering angle sensor. If this signal is incorrect, a warning light will be illuminated. If this light is visible on the dashboard, the steering angle sensor may be bad.
2. Illuminated Traction Control Light
As mentioned earlier, the steering angle sensor is also connected to the traction control system. The traction control system uses steering angle sensors to measure how much the car is rotating and adjust it when driving on slippery surfaces. If the steering angle sensor does not provide the correct signal, the traction control light will be illuminated.
You may also notice other warning lights such as ABS and airbag lights. The airbag is usually integrated into the steering angle sensor section. Therefore, if the steering angle sensor cable is broken, there may be problems with the airbag.
3. Turn the heavy steering wheel
Most modern cars use electric power steering. For this power steering to function properly, the steering angle must be measured once the power steering pump is started. The steering angle sensor is responsible for dealing with this job.
The sensor may have sent inaccurate information to the car’s computer, resulting in unnecessary auto-tunes. The sensor may not function and no information will be generated to achieve the ECU. This triggered the light control light and prevented the power steering from working.
4. After wheel alignment, the auto looks strange
This applies if you have an electric power steering pump with most modern cars. If the vehicle drives a little odd or strangely even after wheel alignment, this can be due to a failed steering angle sensor.
It is important and necessary to reset the steering angle sensor after alignment. If your mechanic doesn’t do this, you can have this problem. In this case, in such cases, it is necessary to visit the mechanic again, reset the sensor, and the wheels will be redirected.
What is a steering angle sensor?
Modern vehicles are scattered with sensors installed in computer vehicles to take necessary measurements related to specific conditions. Steering angle sensors are extremely important for the car and its performance. The steering angle sensor captures the steering angle, as its name suggests. There are two types of steering angle sensors: analog and digital.
These two sensor types use different methods to identify the steering angle. Additionally, the car’s widest range of sensors, digital sensors use LED lights to recognize wheel angles, rotation speeds and other important information. The sensor then forwards this information to the ECU and adapts the way the car controls traction control. Steering angle sensor position
Steering angle sensors are found on most car models behind the steering wheel around the steering column. Some cars can enter steering equipment, but that’s pretty rare. Some cars have two steering angle sensors, so replacing the appropriate angle sensor is important. In many cases, the steering wheel must be removed to view or access the steering angle sensor.
Diagnosis of missing steering angle sensors
If your diagnostic steering angle sensor is broken, and you have the right equipment, this is very easy. Diagnosing with multimeters is very difficult in most cases and it is much better to use diagnostic tools. Connect the diagnostic tool and check live data for the traction control system or engine control unit sent by the steering angle sensor.
Straightening the steering wheel requires a zero-degree signal to rotate. Turn a little to the right and turn a little to the left to determine if the value changes. Otherwise, the steering angle sensor may be defective. In this case, you need to check whether the sensor receives electricity and mass. If this is the case, it is probably a faulty steering angle sensor that will cause it.