3 Signs of a Faulty or Damaged Steering Angle Sensor

 Technology encourages innovation, notably in the automotive industry. In the past, a driver had to rely on talent and a little luck to bring the vehicle under control after being forced to undertake an aggressive manoeuvre to avoid a collision.

In recent years, automakers have worked with automotive safety experts like SEMA and SFI to develop stronger stability control systems that help drivers maintain vehicle control during evasive manoeuvres. One of the most prevalent types of units featured in today's vehicles is the steering angle sensor.

If the traction control light on your dashboard has illuminated, make an appointment with a car service near me garage to allow a professional car mechanic to diagnose and repair the problem. A defective steering angle sensor is indicated by the Traction Control Light turning on, the steering wheel feeling loose, and the car responding differently after a front-end alignment.

The electronic stability program's steering angle sensor is one of its components (ESP). AdvanceTrac w/Roll Stability Control (RSC), Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC), and Vehicle Stability Control are some of the popular names for this advanced safety technology (VSC). Despite the differences in terminology, the basic function of the system and the various components that make it up are nearly identical.

One of the monitoring devices at the front suspension or within the steering column is the steering angle sensor. This device was previously analogue, sensing the voltage changes caused by the steering wheel and passing that information to the vehicle's ECU. Steering angle sensors are now digital and consist of an LED light that measures the steering input angle.

This is a component that is built to last the life of the vehicle. The steering angle sensor, like any other sensor, can wear out or entirely fail owing to a variety of causes beyond the control of most car owners. It will display a few common warning signs or symptoms if it breaks or starts to fail slowly.

A broken, faulty, or failed steering angle sensor might cause the following symptoms:

1.      Traction Control Light Illuminates - An error code is triggered and recorded inside the vehicle's ECM in most circumstances when a fault with the electronic stability programme arises. The Traction Control Light on the dashboard or instrument control panel will also illuminate as a result of this action. This indicator does not illuminate while traction control is enabled, as it is usually a default setting that must be switched off manually by the driver. When the steering wheel angle sensor fails, a malfunction indicator appears in the instrument cluster, alerting the driver that the electronic stability system is disabled and has to be serviced. Most domestic and international vehicles will have this warning light, which is the Traction Control Light.When the Traction Control Light illuminates when the system is operational, you should call a local certified mechanic to have the OBD-II error codes downloaded and establish what problem is affecting your vehicle's drivability and safety. To avoid a MOT test failure, check MOT expiry date and have a malfunctioning steering angle sensor replaced.

2.      Loose Steering Wheel That Has 'play' - Because the steering angle sensor is designed to monitor the movements and input provided by the steering wheel, it can sometimes send misleading information to the ECM, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. The information read and sent to the vehicle's on-board computer is inaccurate when the sensor is malfunctioning, misaligned, or damaged. As a result, the ESP may offer steering feedback or corrections at an inopportune time. Check MOT history to establish if the traction control light being illuminated in the past was a reason for a MOT test failure and if this issue was linked to the steering angle sensor.Most of the time, this causes a "loose" steering wheel state, in which the amount of steering input you offer is not reciprocated by the vehicle's action. Contact a mechanic if you find the steering wheel is loose or not responding as it should. They will evaluate the ESP system and solve the problem as soon as possible.

3.      After a front-end adjustment, the car drives differently - Today's steering angle sensors are coupled to many spots throughout the steering system. Because a front-end alignment aligns the front wheels with the steering wheel, it can cause issues with the steering angle sensor. Many maintenance shops make the mistake of forgetting to reset or realign the steering angle sensor after they've done their service. This can result in the aforementioned symptoms, such as the Traction Control Light, Check Engine Light, or a reduction in vehicle drivability. Have any illuminated warning dashboard lights checked by your local car mechanic before booking a MOT testing service as this will result in a MOT failure.