There is a sensor in the rack unit. Don't remember any the specs on it because I've never worked on a HHR unit.
But I do seem to recall the sensor has something to do with the "centering up".

Might try a search. Not just here, but a google search. I don't recall hardly any HHR's on this forum with this kind of issue.
Might also try the Cobalt forum and see if they've got some similar threads.

 

The sensor you are thinking of is on SS only, and applies to centering the steering not returning the wheel to center.

 

Thanks donbrew. That's twice today that you've "schooled" me.
Always nice to learn the correct facts. I did not know that was a SS only thing.

To photomatt: Sorry that my post above was incorrect about the sensor.

 

At least that is what I figured out trying to decipher Mitchell, they sometimes only make the distinction obliquely.

Actually, cars that have ESC do have a Steering Angle Sensor in the steering column, but as far as I could figure only the SS needs to have it calibrated. I have changed the "center" of my steering wheel without recalibrating anything, but I do have spurious ESC & ABS warnings that are possibly related (probably not).

But I am sure that it has nothing to do with returning the steering to straight tracking. That is a physics thing, camber caster toe & tire inflation.

 

DonBrew, I don't know if this pertains to your car but just in case. There is a service bulletin (11-5-25-001) concerning 2009-2011 cars with RPO LE8/LE9 and the ESC/ABS spurious warnings and it does indicates that it is related to the SAS not being correctly centered. Are there any DTC's set? Codes can be C0460 5A, C0460 42, C0280 and C0196. If not the SAS may need to be recalibrated and even possibly the ECBM software may need updating.

 

Yeah I checked into it. The SAS is just an eyeball adjustment, There are marks on the shaft and the wheel that are supposed to line up, then the alignment tech is supposed to center the toe up.

Mine may be because I moved the steering wheel 1 notch, and have since had an alinement performed. But, my $40 hubs may also be at fault. Next alinement I plan on resetting the wheel first. I had a guy check the ABS light when it lit up once, it said RF was the cause, he was doing it for free so I didn't push for more.

The ABS/ESC was cured by cleaning the wheel speed sensors in my case. Now I'm just getting ESC off by itself occasionally. As long as it doesn't go into course correction mode I'm not worried.

 

Hello everyone,

I have an appointment tomorrow with my regular mechanic to get a second opinion. I will let everyone know what he says. I do not trust the dealership so we will see. Thanks for the replies.

Matt

 

If you don't trust the dealership and you have a "regular mechanic", why go there at all? Obviously not for warranty reasons.

And how does he feel about being second string to someone you don't trust? What's that make him?

Just a strange thing to say, IMHO.

 

My regular mechanic is just fine being second string on this because, as I said in post #8, it has been terribly cold here in Wisconsin and he was buried in broken cars for quite some time. He is the one who sent me to the dealer in the first place because he was so backed up and knew that it would be sometime this week before he could get to it. The dealer replaced the steering motor anyway (under the warranty that is not a recall thing) and that did not help it, so..... I have done nights and nights of searching and have not found anyone with the same issue. The strange thing to me is the dealer seemingly ready to just start replacing parts at it. Everything I read about the power steering going bad just didn't seem to fit this problem. I am sorry Donbrew that you think it is strange... In the meantime, I will find out more tomorrow.

 

This might be too late, but I have seen things like this caused by packed-up snow and ice, too. They happen "over night" like that, too. Are you sure it's not just that?

I guess your mechanic should notice that if it is, I guess...