Yesterday I replaced the power steering assist motor on my 2009 SS. The old one was starting to be "notchy" when driving slow. The install when great and now the steering is smooth as silk. I am getting a service ESC however. Is it necessary to reflash the ESC after the motor is replaced? Thanks.

 

Did you disconnect the negative cable at the battery, before the motor swap? Try a battery lobotomy.

 

I did not disconnect the battery. I obviously disconnected the two electrical connectors first and then the motor. I didn't think this would trigger a service ESC code. I will try the battery lobotomy tomorrow and let you know. Thanks

 

The SS has a steering position sensor that needs to be calibrated

 

So the saga continues. As I said I replaced the power steering motor and the steering worked fine but I got a service ESC light. I took it to a GMC dealer to reset the ESC, and the software was not able to finish the reflash. So now the p/s doesn't work at all.

Their diagnostics said that the power steering control module on the column was bad. I was dubious of that finding but I told them to replace it. They did replace it but they still cannot get the system to reflash.

Any ideas?

 

Try a battery lobotomy, can’t hurt , it might reset the computer and sensor

 

Did you replace the power steering assist motor with the correct one ?
What I'm getting at is the SS assist motor is different from the regular HHR's. This is one of the 1st times of hearing someone replacing one in a SS, so I'll guess they aren't readily available. Hope you didn't replace it with one meant for the regular HHR.

 

Apparently this is the SS EPS motor

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...st+motor,14498

 

I did replace it with the correct one. Yes they are different and a non-ss one won't even fit on the ss column.

The dealer is going to contact GM on Tuesday so they can electronically see the car to try and figure it out. Perhaps the new motor is bad. The dealership has confirmed that all the part numbers are correct.

This is actually the second time in about two years that the motor failed. The other time it left me stranded and I needed a tow. When the motor failed, it wouldn't allow the wheel to turn hardly at all. It was like the motor has seized and was fighting me.

 

this is strange..
I mean steering jammed.

After blowing the fuse of my electric amp one day, I got a taste for driving without an amp. On a suburban highway, where the speed is high, the electric power steering does not allow you to deeply feel the car, so sometimes I just take out that fuse and put it in my pocket. Sometimes I drive like this for 3 - 4 days and the steering never jammed.
The steering wheel became heavier, the effort of the hand increased, but never to turn the steering wheel impossible.
At 50 mph, you won't feel the difference at all.

By the way, I have LT, not SS. But I don't think the difference is that fundamental.