Power Steering Locked

MICHELLE PRIMEAUX

MEMBER
2006 CHEVROLET COBALT
2WD
AUTOMATIC
189,000 MILES

Steering wheel is locked and wont move I have been to a dealership all they did was clear the error codes and the problem reappeared. At first it was hit or miss, maybe would only happen once in a couple of weeks, now its completely stuck and the check engine light appears as soon as you turn the car on. I am out of options, apparently nobody has an answer. Could it be the battery? Could it be fuses?

10 Replies

JIS001

MECHANIC
3,408 POSTS

Do you have the fault codes they scanned last time or get it scanned again?

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 4:03 PM

MICHELLE PRIMEAUX

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6 POSTS

I do not.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 4:17 PM

JIS001

MECHANIC
3,408 POSTS

There was a recall for the power steering motor. Here is a link you can run your VIN# to see if it has been completed or still open.

https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/

To be honest with you, I am surprised the dealer would only reset the code and send you on your way without explaining to you what diagnostic steps were done and what the recommended repair would be? To me sounds like the power steering motor might be failing but would be nice if you could get those fault codes to get an idea as to what the computer is trying to say? Try the link and let us know what you find and if you can, get someone to scan the computer for codes.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 4:31 PM

MICHELLE PRIMEAUX

MEMBER
6 POSTS

Thanks, I plan on dropping it off again this weekend. I am so exhausted trying to figure this out. Previous owner says it has gone through the recalls. I will check out this link. Thank you

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 4:34 PM

JIS001

MECHANIC
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Please keep us posted as to what they find.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 4:40 PM

MICHELLE PRIMEAUX

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I definitely will.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 4:43 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Just to add to this one if they cleared the code and worked again it is not the fuse. But in the under-hood fuse box there is a thirty amp square fuse with a clear window on the top of it you can look through the window and see if it is blown. It is most likely the steering motor went bad. The Cobalt is a rebadged Saturn ion.I used to replace the steering motors on the Saturn ions all the time. You look for a certain code in power steering control module that tells you to replace the motor. If the recall has not been done then they should give you a new motor.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 10:11 PM

MICHELLE PRIMEAUX

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6 POSTS

So I wasn't able to get the codes that he cleared, but he did say he reset something with the steering get column that was causing the mixed signals and locking. Suggested I take it to a dealership so thy can officially solve the problem, I take it straight to the dealer and of course they won't waste their time with it because the error light isn't on. We explained what the mechanic said, and they just shrugged and said well if we keep it and the light never comes on we have to charge you $150 for nothing. So that's where I'm at. Car is running just fine now, but who's to say how long that will last.

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Tuesday, October 4th, 2016 AT 7:42 AM

MICHELLE PRIMEAUX