Hello

I been having this strange feeling in my steering. I am going to refer to my steering wheel as a clock. As if the wheel was straight, that would be 12.

Anyways, if I turn my wheel as far left as 10 and as far right as 2. The steering is pretty stiff. And when going around a turn, the wheel does not make any effort to go back to 12. I have to force the wheel back. This happens whether cruising on a road. Or make a left or right hand turn at an intersection. If i move the wheel outside of 10 or 2 the wheel moves freely but if let go it will stop back at 10 or 2. Also If I turn the wheel even further left or right. I'd say 5 and 7. The wheel is stiff and will stay in that position unless I use effort to turn it.

I hope this make sense and hope someone can lead me in a direction. I expect to go to a dealer but I can't until Monday.

Also the car threw a CEL, it came up on my friends hand held thing as Coolant Fan 1, any ideas?

Thanks

 

nothing?

 

does the service powersteering ever come up on your instument cluster??

 

Sounds like not too many people are familiar with the problem youre having. If you can take it in to the dealership, please do so and tell us what they say.

 

No, that never came up on the dash. Everything seems normal besides the stiff steering.

 

I called the dealer this morning. Nothing he can do today but I am taking it in on monday. He said something about a computer update maybe something is wrong or they might have to order a whole new unit. He didn't say much just about the EPS (electric power steering).

 

Ten years ago I would have said a diverter valve in the rack but I don't know if the electronic steering uses sensors or not. One thing I have found is that if you ask enough people, you will come up with something that at least sounds plausible.

If I hear anything I will post.

Ps. Getting rid of my Cobalt SS for a Mazda Speed 3, I can't deal with all the problems with the Cobalt anymore.

 

Sound like something Mechanical.
I dont think the drive by wire would cause that,the alignment is set up in such away that the wheels are suppose to track straight again after turning,so what ever it is it must be creating quite a resistance.
Bad rack or other steering componet ,ball joint ,idler arms etc.
Sound like warranty work !

 

I mentioned that I got a check engine light. And the computer read Coolant Fan 1. Well today I checked the fuses. I got two 30A fuses that are blown. One for Coolant Fan 1 and one for Coolant Fan 2. I guess it is as simple as just replacing them.

But any reason why that would happen?

Car is going to the dealer tomorrow to have the steering issue checked out. I'm sure to mention this to him to. Any reason not to just go pick up two new fuses?

 

Unless there is an issue with the EPS program, this sounds like a rack problem. But the EPS unit does have some return programmed into it from Koyo, the makers of our column. They will probably just reflash the EPS board and see what that does. When I go to work tomorrow, I will try to ask one of our engineer's what it might be if it's mechanical. ( I work at a palce that makes Steering Columns for 74 companies, including all major car manu.)

 

There is a faulty staff arm or something.

Well thats fine, I am out of my warranty for the car 3 year/50k miles. Well I bought the extended warranty. Takes me to 5 years/100k miles. It's a comprehensive coverage so everything is covered w/ $100 detuctible. The guy said he tried looking it up that he can't find it. So I said ok no problem I'll be right up with the paper work.

He's like ooo yea that, thats what they call an aftermarket warranty? Can someone explain this to me? I bought this warranty through the dealership so its included in the loan.

I guess I should mention and I am not at the same dealer where I bought the car.

 

So they aren't going to honor the warranty? You should be able to use it anywhere. Usually if you go back to where you bought the warranty from they will waive the deductable, but you will have to pay it everywhere else...

 

I don't know if their going to honor it. I took a copy of the service contract. He said o this is an after market contract? I need to call and see if they want to pay for this?? There shouldnt be any calling... contract is right there. I don't care about paying the deductible. I want the car fixed under the warranty I bought.

 

I'm sure they will cover it. They are probably just making sure this part of the car is covered under warranty. Just give em hell if they try and dick you around.

 

Well I looked at the service contract to see whatever covered. They have it split up in to 5 different groups. Each group covering certain parts/areas of the car. There is 1-15 areas which are split into these different parts. I took the comprehensive part of the contract. This covers everything from 1 through 15.

I took the paper work up at 12, they said they were on lunch. I'm going back up around 130, 2 to see whats going on. If they want to waste more of my time. I am going to just go do what I should have done and just go back to the dealer where I bought the car.

I found out the reason why it seems they were giving me a run around.

The extended warranty given to me is basically a third party(I thought it was a gm extended warranty). The place fixing it has to write up a bill and basically call and ask permission before they actually do any work on the car. I guess to make sure they will pay it. The dealership came up with about 290 dollars to fix my car. The place is only paying about 230 dollars. Well they won't even pay that, I have to pay a $100 dollar deductible.

The dealership threw on a rental to get more money out of them, I don't need a rental. He can get all the money out of them he wants, I just want the car fixed and pay my 100 bucks.

Also, he said this has been pretty common on the cobalts and Malibu's.

An intermediate staff arm or some **** that goes from the column to the rack. I forget, he wrote it all down. I won't get it until the car is fixed. The weird thing is they were able to pull a code from the computer to tell them the problem. I had a computer hooked up to the car last week and the only thing I could pull was a coolant fan relay switch.