My new Hell, steering rack replacement/reflash issues

[AndrewD]

 Let me start buy saying GM is really crapping on people by not doing a recall on these racks. 

  I started with a torque angle steering sensore issue. This sensor being (built into) the rack it was "eat it" and do the whole rack. This is when I found out it is IMPOSIBLE to purchase a new r&p for these trucks. IF you can get one it is a reman. (And for anyone who looks or has looked in places like parts geek etc. They have one listed as new from Detroit Axle. IT IS A REMAN! Ask me how I know.) This all being said there is a long list (about 15) of part numbers of racks that have been succeeded because they will not flash properly to the vehicle. The newest is not even available from Detroit yet.

 

The shop that flashed mine first was able to flash everything BUT the torque angle sensor. I then purchased the short harness from GM that goes from that sensor to the motor side of the rack (it did look a little sketch from the get go). With the new harnes it now flashes, but the steering angle sensor is throwing a code. Steering works again but now the you can read the steering angle sensor through the rack but not through the PCM. 

I still have all the same service steering system warnings etc except the PS works now. I'm basically at $800 with this shop and they won't do anything else. They will only install a junkyard rack and flash it from here.

 

Has anyone on here run into a similar issue with flashing a rack to their vehicle, or does anyone have any idea of what I should try next? Possible PCM issue?

Edited August 23, 2024 by AndrewD

[rav3]

I'm curious on what year & model you have, as well as miles on it when u started having this issue. Did I miss this information somewhere?

[AndrewD]

Nope you didn't sorry. It's a 2015 sierra Z71. Has 93k miles. The sensor issue started started about a year ago slowly with a message here and there. Then it progressed to the point where it came on everytime I drove it. The the PS actually started to go out while driving. It would be back on after I parked it and started to drive again. Then it was basically just out all the time and would magically come back for a short time here and there when I had to drive it while searching for a rack.

[newdude]

What codes does it have currently?  If you have the actual DTCs or can get them.  

[AndrewD]

It's showing co544.5a

[rav3]

Your year truck had issues with poor or bad grounds. Search YouTube for this. Not saying it wasn't your steering angle sensor but there's lots of videos showing the steering (and other things) affected by a bad ground, specifically on the left dash. Just a long shot here, but start with the easy fixes 1st, then the harder & more expensive ones. I did the ground update even as a preventive maintenance upgrade after seeing all the bad ground issues on YouTube.  Good luck & hope you get it sorted out.

[AndrewD]

Thanks. I'll look into it. From the start the original issue was the torque position steering sensor. In doing this process I've come to realize that it was possibly the harness P# 38021685 the whole time (which I replaced). I have my factory rack still and I'm half tempted to plug it up with the new harness and see what happens. In theory it will still be flashed to the truck. If I could justify the cost of a new J-pass box, I would have one in the Mail already!