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Yaw sensor

Tiny
SKORPION725
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 80,000 MILES
I have a steering issue I've been throwing parts at for about a year now. A Napa shop had it a month and couldn't find it.
Basically what is happening is intermittently my ESC active toggles on around curves and when it does it seems as if it's coming on thinking I'm sliding off the road because the power steering module assists against me and the abs applies pressure to certain wheels.
The question is why?
I could make a list of everything I have changed and you'd laugh. Most recently I realized that my rear twist beam bushings were bad so I assumed that around curves the rear end was skating causing the ESC active to come on.
Replaced that also and it still does it.
Keep in mind it has never thrown a code for this. Just an intermittent ESC active, not service.
I have been reading about yaw sensors and it seems it possible that it could cause such an issue.
Do you think I'm on to something? If so, I cant seem to find any way to test or read data from it. So how do I test it?
Any ideas on how I finally can figure out whats causing this?
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Saturday, August 10th, 2019 AT 10:57 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi,

The yaw rate sensor tells the ORC if the vehicle is rolling over and lateral movement. It does not necessarily cause what you are seeing. It could but more likely is the steering angle sensor.

When these sensors start to read improperly and you turn the wheel it tells the ESC system that you are turning more than you are and the wheel speed does not match the angle and it thinks the tires are going to slip.

It could also be a wheel speed sensor but this is less likely if it only happens in turns.

The way to figure this out is you need to hook up a scan tool and monitor what these sensors are doing.

Let me know if you already replaced this and we can go from there, but again, it will require a scan tool that can monitor the data. Thanks
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Saturday, August 10th, 2019 AT 1:20 PM
Tiny
SKORPION725
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I had a friend who's a tech hook up his shop's Zeus scan tool and every ESC came on the speed sensors seemed okay from what he saw. He said he didn't see any data out of the ordinary, but I'm not sure he knew how to monitor them properly.
The steering angle sensor has been reset, but you think it could be working intermittently?
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Saturday, August 10th, 2019 AT 1:35 PM
Tiny
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Unfortunately, resetting it will not fix it if it is not reading properly.

The way to monitor this is to turn the wheel straight ahead and it should be around 0 degrees. Then turn slowly left and watch for steady movement of the degrees. I believe they should go negative and obviously on each complete revolution of the wheel be around 360 degrees. Turn it to full lock and see what it reads. Then turn back to center and make sure when the wheel is straight it is just about 0 again. Then turn completely to the right lock slowly watching to make sure it is steady increases.
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Saturday, August 10th, 2019 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
SKORPION725
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  • 9 POSTS
Sounds like it is a strong possibility it's the angle sensor. Something that stood out in the symptoms that I've noticed is that every time I make an adjustment/change a suspension or steering part and take it to get it realigned it does better and progressively seems to get worse the more you drive.
I read that could point to it failing.
Think it's worth it to change it? Or should I try to figure a way to see the data you described?
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Saturday, August 10th, 2019 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
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If it were me, I would change it out and if that is not it, try to get the data to diagnose it. I would be confident enough to take that chance. Again, it may not be this but based on experience I would go with it.
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Sunday, August 11th, 2019 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
SKORPION725
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  • 9 POSTS
I actually happened to offer a guy on eBay $20.00 for a new one and thought the same thing. Thanks for all your help. I'll let you know the outcome.
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Sunday, August 11th, 2019 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
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Sounds great. Keep us updated. Will wait to hear back.
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Sunday, August 11th, 2019 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
SKORPION725
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Hey, I got the steering angle sensor, but I haven't installed it.
I was taking the front wheels off to check some random things and saw that my front sway bar bushings are pretty shot.
Am I crazy for thinking thus could be the problem? I'm guessing ESC could possibly be coming on in curves when the bushings/bar moves?
Please tell me this could finally be what's causing my ESC to come on.
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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 5:24 AM
Tiny
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These are pretty bad but it is unlikely that it will allow the vehicle to roll enough to activate the ESC system. I have driven vehicles with the sway bar completely disconnected and it did not do this.

To me this seems like a sensor issue. Just seems the SAS is the most likely.
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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
SKORPION725
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Damn, I'm about finished with this car I think. It's unreal all I've done to still have this issue. It's unpredictability could potentially kill me.
I keep telling myself I'll eventually figure it out, but I don't have much more to lose trying.
I appreciate your help.
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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
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Haha. I totally get it. Let me know if I can help in other ways. No shame in unloading a vehicle. I have done it many times.
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Saturday, August 17th, 2019 AT 6:39 PM

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