Electronic Steering rack and recall?

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JColdIron

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I am having what seems to be a common electronic power steering failure where the vehicle does not find the steering rack on start up and sends warning "Service Power Steering". Happens only under 45*F. Stick a heat gun under the rack for a couple minutes and it fires up like normal.

Noticed on one of the threads that turned up in search that a great deal of these are listed under a recall list by # on the rack. https://www.autoserviceprofessional.com/articles/345-ram-1500-recall

Mine is unfortunately not... has there been any updated recall list to include TIC02113A5262 coded steering racks? This is for a 2013 1500 4x4 Bighorn with 6.5' bed.

Is there some sort of reporting system that I can report this issue to get it on the recall list? Love the truck. Hate the steering rack. Not sure why the 1500 needed to be electronic when the 2500 is perfectly normal hydraulic assist.

Trying to find one is difficult as well. Probably because a lot of them have had to be replaced! Rock Auto out of stock. Remans appear available on ebay but with a $300 core sent to another state...
 

Jeepwalker

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Yeah that's a bummer. You might Log your issue with RamCares (search this site).

Have you attempted to wiggle the connector, or inspect the connector for corrosion or a bent pin?
 

Tach_tech

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Im not sure there actually is a recall to replace steering racks on 13-19 DS. I looked through our dealer software and can’t find anything. I’ve never seen a truck come in for a recall for that either.
 
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JColdIron

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Yeah that's a bummer. You might Log your issue with RamCares (search this site).

Have you attempted to wiggle the connector, or inspect the connector for corrosion or a bent pin?
Wiggled and check the connector. It is fine and now coated in the finest dielectric grease. I sent a message to the Ram Cares person that frequents the site asking if there was a place to register this kind of thing but have not heard back. It's only been a few min. I'll have to search for where myself.
 
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JColdIron

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Im not sure there actually is a recall to replace steering racks on 13-19 DS. I looked through our dealer software and can’t find anything. I’ve never seen a truck come in for a recall for that either.
This is the one I found. No idea if it is accurate. When I took it to Firestone they said it was a problem and that when they called the local dealer for parts they were told the rack was on national back order.

https://www.autoserviceprofessional.com/articles/345-ram-1500-recall
 

Tach_tech

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Ya I saw the link but it doesn’t give any recall designation which is odd.

After some more digging, I found it. It’s the VB8 recall and it only effected about 190 vehicles. So it’s a pretty small recall.
 
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JColdIron

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Ya I saw the link but it doesn’t give any recall designation which is odd.

After some more digging, I found it. It’s the VB8 recall and it only effected about 190 vehicles. So it’s a pretty small recall.
Huh, interesting. Guess mine makes 191...

Just got off the phone with Oreillys. They had the rack listed as available and to call and order. Well, it is in fact NOT available. Sigh
 

BeachRam

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A couple months ago, the shop that was replacing my shocks and tires got me a rack from Detroit Axle. Might be worth checking.
 

indept

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Wiggled and check the connector. It is fine and now coated in the finest dielectric grease. I sent a message to the Ram Cares person that frequents the site asking if there was a place to register this kind of thing but have not heard back. It's only been a few min. I'll have to search for where myself.

Huh, interesting. Guess mine makes 191...

Just got off the phone with Oreillys. They had the rack listed as available and to call and order. Well, it is in fact NOT available. Sigh
Why are you ordering it if. "Wiggled and check the connector. It is fine and now coated in the finest dielectric grease."?
 
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JColdIron

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Why are you ordering it if. "Wiggled and check the connector. It is fine and now coated in the finest dielectric grease."?
The connector checks out but the rack is still faulting in sub 45* ambient temp. I've followed the harness as far as I can and don't see any wear. Intermittent faults are a hard problem to diagnose.

So far I am checking availability. Have not even found one to order yet!

Love to hear back from RamCares. Search turns up a fair amount of similar issues with the Electric power steering. Whether that is recall worthy or not, who knows.

Truck has a 130k on it so somethings just fail. Just sucks this is a $2000 part that used to be a $200 part before they slapped a computer in it!
 

Jeepwalker

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So is your 'assist' dead now? Or still only goes out when it gets cold (i.e. mornings, etc)?

If you absolutely can't find a rack. What you could consider is removing yours and split the case. IDK if there are any videos on it or not. It would be kind of major surgery ...but if you're (or someone you know) is really good mechanic. Remove & inspect the board carefully. If it hasn't failed outright you'll probably find corrosion on the board (from residual flux that wasn't cleaned off), or a cold solder joint that can be re-soldered. That's frequently how it works with electronics if it doesn't fail outright.

But that's a lot of work. How tight does your steering still feel? Mine's got almost 170k and steering still feels tight.

If you can't find a new one anytime soon, make this guy an offer:
 
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JColdIron

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This says new ...is it the right one?:
Can't get the guy to reply to find out. But probably not. Mine is coded P68079506AE

There appears to be a separate part for the 8' bed model. I assume it might have a different turning radius or something?

The assist is what goes out. Only on cold mornings so far. Gets the "Service PS" warning and locks out the assist. Its undrivable.

But 5 min with a heat gun pointing at the PS rack and the computer works like normal. Its weird!
 

Jeepwalker

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Out of curiousity, have you been able to pinpoint the area where the heat improves it? Was that the spot you indicated in your picture?? Any idea what's behind the area you're heating up? You mentioned control board, is that where the board is? I wonder if there's a valve there, or a therrmister sensor to detect overload or something like that. Could be the sensor has drifted (??). I'm just theorizing out loud here.
 

undertow119

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I am having what seems to be a common electronic power steering failure where the vehicle does not find the steering rack on start up and sends warning "Service Power Steering". Happens only under 45*F. Stick a heat gun under the rack for a couple minutes and it fires up like normal.

Noticed on one of the threads that turned up in search that a great deal of these are listed under a recall list by # on the rack. https://www.autoserviceprofessional.com/articles/345-ram-1500-recall

Mine is unfortunately not... has there been any updated recall list to include TIC02113A5262 coded steering racks? This is for a 2013 1500 4x4 Bighorn with 6.5' bed.

Is there some sort of reporting system that I can report this issue to get it on the recall list? Love the truck. Hate the steering rack. Not sure why the 1500 needed to be electronic when the 2500 is perfectly normal hydraulic assist.

Trying to find one is difficult as well. Probably because a lot of them have had to be replaced! Rock Auto out of stock. Remans appear available on ebay but with a $300 core sent to another state...
Mine started having the same problem last week. Only when it's cold out (below 40 for me - seems fine at 40 and above).

Can you give me any more details on where you pointed the heat gun? At the connector or circuit board, or just the rack in general? Under the truck, or under the hood? Did you have any luck finding a nice rack? Sorry... *new* rack... :)
 
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