09 HHR LT - power steering msg on dash
 

Starting this new trend as the issue is not the motor as previously thought. Here is the original trend

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...g-motor-62880/

Summary of Issue: power steering msg on dash, still have power steering

What was done so far:
1. 60a Fuse under dash - Good
2. 2a Fuse on PAX side - Good
3. Tested motor by removing fuse, motor stopped working, reinstall fuse, motor works - Motor is good??
4. Ran new ground from TCM - No change, msg still on dash.
5. Used ODB2 computer - No codes, however this is a cheap amazon scanner - no option to look at power steering module.

So that leaves me no where, other then using a legit scanner (snap-on) to look for power steering codes, what else could the problem be?

Any codes would be either "B or C" codes, and should show up on cheap scanner.

Your speedo is dead and the trans doesn't shift? Or is the only symptom the message? You keep changing.

Only issue is msg.

speedo works, trans shifts fine.

Pilot
Then why post this video if speedo works and trans has no problems ?

That video was a reference to doing that check. It’s not my video.

The extra ground is just a lazy way of fixing the loose ground connection on the top of the trans to the radiator support. It is redundant grounding, there is already a wire directly from the TCM plug to the trans ground point; maybe it is different on Cobalt. Of no use in this case since the trans was not involved.
In fact, might be a problem since it exposes another place for someone to touch with positive voltage and fry the TCM. That happens often enough that there is a TSB on the subject. For some reason people throw hot wires around under the hood with wild abandon.

Things involved with EPS:
the Steering wheel position sensor/torque sensor
the PowerSteeringControlModule

Both require a new steering column

Check for loose connections and worn wires around the steering column

Description from Mitchell OnDemand, disregard the sentence about the motor needing to be replaced with the entire assembly

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...073f5bf039.png
non-turbo EPS

The plot Thickens

1. Every time I made a change I only checked by turning the car on, not driving.

so drove car around block, 2 mins in the power steering message went away, speedo works, tranny shifts all good.

now decided to drive it from my shop home, on the way home, steering msg came on, then tranny wouldn’t shift out of first.

now I’m limping it home, and something decided to work, tranny shifts hard, still no speedo.

since I did the lazy ground on the TCM, do you think the tcm is bad or some wire is loose?

You just finished saying the speedo and trans were not malfunctioning. Please make your mind up.

If all 3 symptoms are extant; the first thing I would do is disconnect the TCM plug and inspect and fix it for bent and displaced pins then put some dielectric grease on them.

Make sure the ground connection on the top of the trans near the oil filter is in good shape and the end that connects to the radiator support.

I take it that you just acquired the car. Do you have any history at all?

Sorry for the constant changes.

yes I just acquired the car. I drove it back from the seller to my shop with no issues.

the issues started the following day when I turned it on.

im trying to be as detail as possible as well as trying out what was already posted on the forum.

current state - power steering msg, no speedo, hard shifting maybe to max of 2 or 3z. Haven’t taken it up to speed.

i will try cleaning the plug.

It is very easy to bend a pin in these connections, double check it.
I don’t recall if you checked the underhood fuse block .