My daughter is going to go for her license road test, so I set up a parallel-park practice course in our yard.

A landscape trailer simulated the car in front and a row of 4x4s simulated the curb.

I wanted her to try it repeatedly for about an hour. Since it was in our yard, I didn't have to be in the car so I did some work in my workshop.

After about a half-hour of practice she came to me and said the steering wheel was too hard to turn.

I went out and checked it and sure enough it acted like manual steering.

I thought maybe the fuse blew, but both EPS fuses were OK. No warning lights or MIL indicator.

I let the car sit for about 15 minutes and then restarted it, the power steering was fine again.

So it must have been too much for the motor and it overheated, shutting the motor down with some thermal cutoff system. After cooling down it went back to normal.

It doesn't look like EPS was designed for repeated fast, hard use. I wonder how it would do in autocross.

steve

 

There is a well publicized special warranty for that.

 

The HHR has never done that at any other time except this time under repeated turning (especially without the car moving).

Do you still think it's a defect?

If so, how would I prove it to them if it only happens under extreme circumstances?

Steve

 

See if there is a stored code, the kind that does not set CEL. C0475, C0460, C0545, C0252 not all code readers can read C codes.

It should have triggered a "PWR STEERING" message, not always though. If it happened more than 1 or 2 times it should be a "history code" that takes 100 cold starts to clear.

Well actually, I found a different TSB 06-02-32-002D which states

 

Thanks, Don.

I have a Blue Driver code reader which should pick up all codes. Tonight I will see what it says.

Steve

 

This is abusing the system and will overheat the motor... It's not designed for this.

 

That' exactly what it says. They actually designed it to shutdown before it overheats!

But remember when you were 16 and learning how to parallel park?

 

Mine did that coming out of a parking lot, turned the engine off and on and it reset. BUT this problem persisted to the point that it did it maybe a dozen times a day. I know it was in warranty the motor on my 2007 but I chose to purchase a new motor for $53 and installed in less than 1/2 hr. and has never done it in thousands of miles. Yours may just have been overworked but just to let you know my issue. I would rather spend $53 than deal with the dealer and wasted day.

 

Your instance was not the same. The OP's daughter was abusing it by practicing parking.

Yours would be covered under special warranty. If you kept the receipts you might be able to be reimbursed by GM.

For $53 you may have purchased the "old" unimproved part.