Ugh... EPS failure

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

I would really look at the belt, if it's stretched out it will cause a fault.

 

[sriley531]

Did you visually inspect the wiring and connectors, then if good, check for power at the EPS connector?

I recall a recent thread about a truck with similar symptoms, where the guy felt something under his back while inspecting his EPS wiring. He found the offending object to be a piece of his EPS wiring that had been chewed off by a squirrel.
Or something like that.

Wiring looks clean as a pin. I'll hit it with a meter though just for grinnies.

 

[sriley531]

I would really look at the belt, if it's stretched out it will cause a fault.

I had already ordered a belt and have it on hand, might as well. Only took about 20 minutes to pull the rack so not like it's a huge time investment. Though the existing one looks pristine and the tension feels good to my highly uncalibrated finger. Haha

 

[hunterdan]

I have an OBD scanner, albeit a fairly inexpensive one. It showed no codes but I'm wonder if it's because it doesn't have the functionality to go that far. If it's a steering angle sensor, wouldn't that throw a CEL?

ETA: Pulled the battery cables and zip tied them together for an hour. Reconnected and fired up, no change.

You would have to access the steering module itself, it likely won't throw a general code. Alfaobd and the obdlink app can access the specific modules and scan them for codes. The obdlink app actually seems to be more precise in identifying some of the codes. But the key is actually selecting and scanning the steering module.

 

[Daw14]

Have you inspected the back side of that circuit board ?

 

[sriley531]

Have you inspected the back side of that circuit board ?

I did not. I popped the cover off last night and peaked around but did not remove it. The rack is still sitting on my bench so I'll pull the board loose when I get home tonight.

 

[sriley531]

You would have to access the steering module itself, it likely won't throw a general code. Alfaobd and the obdlink app can access the specific modules and scan them for codes. The obdlink app actually seems to be more precise in identifying some of the codes. But the key is actually selecting and scanning the steering module.

This one?

OBDLink MX+

The OBDLink® MX+ is the top-of-the-line OBD II scan tool to use with forscan and comes with bluetooth. Get one here today and gain access to your vehicle!

www.obdlink.com

 

[Ken226]

This one?

OBDLink MX+

The OBDLink® MX+ is the top-of-the-line OBD II scan tool to use with forscan and comes with bluetooth. Get one here today and gain access to your vehicle!

www.obdlink.com

Yea,

I've had one of those since about 2017. Never a single problem. It always works.

 

[hunterdan]

This one?

OBDLink MX+

The OBDLink® MX+ is the top-of-the-line OBD II scan tool to use with forscan and comes with bluetooth. Get one here today and gain access to your vehicle!

www.obdlink.com

Yes, and if you download the obdlink app, it's worth it's weight in gold, and free, for troubleshooting.

 

[sriley531]

Yes, and if you download the obdlink app, it's worth it's weight in gold, and free, for troubleshooting.

Yea,

I've had one of those since about 2017. Never a single problem. It always works.

Thanks. Ordered. I'll probably replace the belt and throw the rack back in tonight, see what it does and try the obdlink software if the message of death shows back up.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I wonder what other sensors there are inside the EPS rack?

You sure your battery is good, right? You are pretty thorough, I assume you tripple-checked the quality of the wiring to the EPS board, right?

I would probably put a ground wire right to the EPS.... just for grins. Even just a temporary ground wire.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I read this on a different ram site recently ....so check it out closely with a very Keen eye (and maybe a magnifying glass) when you remove the control board:

"There has been reported issues of poor solder joint on the control board attached to the EPS module."

I assume they are referring to either where the connector attaches, or the large wires attach. The board is sprayed with Conformit...to protect the circuits. But look for a gray-ish solder joint. Given how the board has probably gone through 10's of thousands of warm-up/cool-down cycles over the years, there could definitely be cold solder joints. Or you could just retouch some of the main solder joints ...then add a drop of hot glue over where the protective plastic coating was burned through by the soldering iron. I mean, you don't have anything to lose.

 

[sriley531]

I pulled the PSCM board out (sorry, no pics) and couldn't find a single connection that looked out of whack. The OBDlink MX+ arrive this afternoon so I hooked it up.

All you that are more knowledgeable please translate this for me, but it appears to confirm something in the power steering control module is nuked.

 

[Ken226]

Here is what my factory service manual says about that code:

 

[hunterdan]

I pulled the PSCM board out (sorry, no pics) and couldn't find a single connection that looked out of whack. The OBDlink MX+ arrive this afternoon so I hooked it up.

All you that are more knowledgeable please translate this for me, but it appears to confirm something in the power steering control module is nuked.

Yeah sounds like the module is doinked if none of the wiring or solder joints were bad. Out of curiosity, what size bit was needed to get the cover off, I couldn't find one that fit my truck when I had it off.

 

[sriley531]

Yeah sounds like the module is doinked if none of the wiring or solder joints were bad. Out of curiosity, what size bit was needed to get the cover off, I couldn't find one that fit my truck when I had it off.

I'm fairly certain going from memory it was a safety T20.

So I've pretty much come to the realization I'm buying a EPS rack and that's going to be that. Really disappointed as this truck has been fantastic for ~95k miles and now it's falling apart (recently broke exhaust studs and the front axles/half shafts wore out and started vibrating on the highway). I think at this point I'm going to fix it and send it down the road for something else.

 

[Burla]

I'm fairly certain going from memory it was a safety T20.

So I've pretty much come to the realization I'm buying a EPS rack and that's going to be that. Really disappointed as this truck has been fantastic for ~95k miles and now it's falling apart (recently broke exhaust studs and the front axles/half shafts wore out and started vibrating on the highway). I think at this point I'm going to fix it and send it down the road for something else.

Google is your friend.. it isn't your truck most fail when yours did, they are terribly puny axles have you seen them compared to a solid axle 2500? I would take it somewhere if it were me with respect, since the steering is electronic there are a few ways even a new one would still shut down or fry if what caused it isn't fixed. I once had a dealer replaced something that fried 3 times, it was a short, Because they fixed it, I only paid the first time, they paid the other two as it was under new part warranty.

The lifespan of CV axles on a 1500 truck, like other vehicles, varies but typically falls between 80,000 and 100,000 miles.

 

[hunterdan]

Google is your friend.. it isn't your truck most fail when yours did, they are terribly puny axles have you seen them compared to a solid axle 2500? I would take it somewhere if it were me with respect, since the steering is electronic there are a few ways even a new one would still shut down or fry if what caused it isn't fixed. I once had a dealer replaced something that fried 3 times, it was a short, Because they fixed it, I only paid the first time, they paid the other two as it was under new part warranty.

The lifespan of CV axles on a 1500 truck, like other vehicles, varies but typically falls between 80,000 and 100,000 miles.

The modules in the EPS are problematic. Yes there have been recalls on certain parts numbers of racks, but in my opinion, every single one of them needs to be recalled, or warranty extended to them. My rack failed after hitting moderate sized pothole at 40k miles on my 19 classic. I've hit bigger potholes since and haven't had the same failure. I also suspect more people have had modules fail before belt failures. Anyone that has had failures of the EPS needs to lodge a complaint with nhtsa to try and force a recall.

 

[Burla]

The modules in the EPS are problematic. Yes there have been recalls on certain parts numbers of racks, but in my opinion, every single one of them needs to be recalled, or warranty extended to them. My rack failed after hitting moderate sized pothole at 40k miles on my 19 classic. I've hit bigger potholes since and haven't had the same failure. I also suspect more people have had modules fail before belt failures. Anyone that has had failures of the EPS needs to lodge a complaint with nhtsa to try and force a recall.

I think there is a class action on this, another reason have someone fix it.\\\

I like my hydraulic they shouldnt have changed them

 

[hunterdan]

I think there is a class action on this, another reason have someone fix it.\\\

I like my hydraulic they shouldnt have changed them

I'd rather a massive recall or extended warranty. The class action suit just means lawyers get all the cash and the ones who've shelled out $1500+ for a new rack get $20 in a visa gift card for compensation.