R/R steering wheel...now VSC acting a fool

[JakeTheSnakeNH]

Hi folks -

I tried to swap out my 2000 LC steering wheel with an ES300 wheel this weekend (sooo close, but no cigar). When I realized it was a no go and put everything back together, I got a rude VSC activation on a minor turn at speed during a shakedown cruise. Lights and beeps when activating, but no lights or noises otherwise or when driving straight. I had never had the slip indicator flash/beep or the VSC activate before, so I'm pretty sure this is a direct result of the steering wheel debacle.

Figured it might be a steering position sensor, tried zero point calibration (couldn't get the ABS or VSC lights to blink...did I mess up the procedure?).

Also tried disconnecting power to the clock spring, but not sure if that's where the steering indicator gets its juice.

The only thing that I can think might have been put back together incorrectly would be the poly ring that rides around the steering wheel nut. In my futile attempt to get the slightly larger shank of the ES 300 wheel to fit, I slipped it off. Seemed to go back on without issue. The little notched metal disc behind the clock spring may have moved a bit during the process...but it didn't look there was a special orientation for that piece.

Here are the pages I reviewed and was using to T/S:
Steering Angle Sensor code on 2002 LX470
VSC Zero Point Calibration
Slip Indicator issue while on highway

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

-JTS

 

[JakeTheSnakeNH]

Bump for some help, if anyone out there has any guesses. Tough week to have a problem, with plenty preoccupied with HIH!

I'm running in 4hi to keep the VSC off, but don't want to do that for very long.

 

[JakeTheSnakeNH]

Out of ideas, I ponied up and ordered a Techstream disc and cable, should be here in a few days. Anyone have the procedure handy to zero out steering position?

 

[BadReligion]

You may have accidentally damaged the clock spring during the removal/reinstall.

 

[JakeTheSnakeNH]

Thanks BR. Wondered if that might be the case, but thought that would show up with a code or airbag warning light, no?

 

[Natetroknot]

I had my steering wheel off about 6-7 separate times before I finally got all my instrument cluster LED's flipped to the right polarity and on more than one occasion the clock spring stuck to the wheel and completely unraveled on my lap - I had no dash lights at any point after re-assembly.

Did you disconnect the battery? That's why I got lucky I'd guess. Disconnected and reconnected each time. PITA.

 

[JakeTheSnakeNH]

Frustrating for sure. I did disconnect and reconnect the battery each time, out of fear of an unintentional airbag OPTEST. Unfortunately, i think that's what also screwed up the steering zero point cal. It sounds like the techstream procedure is fairly intuitive, I'll update once it arrives and I give it a go.

 

[JakeTheSnakeNH]

Finally got Techstream installed and hooked it up...was able to ZP reset and calibrate, but still getting VSC activation after getting up to speed. I'm going to tear it back down to the combo switch assy and look at that poly sleeve and disc behind the clock spring a bit more closely.

 

[JakeTheSnakeNH]

Figured it out this afternoon, and hints were buried in my first post. I tore it down to the combo switch again, and when I pulled the clock spring, noticed that the metal contactor ring has two tabs which are supposed to ride in the same channels in the poly ring that hold the clock spring tabs.



When I put the poly ring back into the combo switch housing the first time, I thought these tabs were seated in the channels, but they can easily get misaligned when putting the clock spring on. When I turned the wheel in one direction, it would move the contactor ring, but when turning it the other way, it wouldn't move for 175 degrees or so until the poly channel came around and hit the next tab.

Got it together correctly, ZP reset and cal with techstream, and I'm back in business with no VSC activation.