2004 ION Quad coup - Power Stearing

We have a 2004 Ion 4 Quad Coup. We bought it new, now it has 65,000 miles on it. Twice reciently while my wife is driving it, the power steering quits working. Shut it off for a while, start it and everything is fine. The first time it went for somthing over 1,000 miles before it acted up again. Last night power steering went out, the idiot light lit and she heard a chime. This morning it worked fine for me. I drove it over 70 miles w/o a problem.I checked for stored OBD2 codes - nothing there all seems fine.

This is the first car I have owned with electronic power assist! Has this happened any one else? Any sugguestions?

Thanks

DenyP

Being a fairly new system for GM, there have been some issues with the 'electric' power steering. You see it mostly crop up on 2004-05 years. It's a sealed system with grease used as lubrication. Hopefully replacement cost will get cheaper as time goes on! :uhoh: I'd be surprised if the steering system threw an OBDII code, but you never know. As usual, I'd start by reading the code & posting it here.

Joel

Hello. I have a 2005 Saturn ION 3 Quad Coupe. My problem is EXACTLY the same as yours. It seems completely random. Sometimes it kicks off within minutes, sometimes it takes hours of driving. My car has 43,000 miles on it. They say the electric power steering module is shorting to ground and the dealer wants $897.50 to replace it. I think they're turning the screws on me. If it was shorting to ground I'd think it wouldn't work at all. It makes me think there's a loose wire or something else.

What did you end up doing?

I looked under the dash and located the EPS module and the motor that is attached to it but I didn't see any obvious problems.

Oh and the dealership was nice enough to offer to extend my warranty for the part.

They want:
$2,144 for 3 years/36,000 miles
$1,544 for 2 years/24,000 miles
$1,256 for 1 year/12,000 miles
or $1,416 for 18 months/18,000 miles

I wonder if they use KY or just ram it in there dry.


Jeremy

EDIT: Oh and I'm the original owner. Bought it when it had 43 miles on it in July of 2005

EDIT #2: I just ordered the whole assembly from LKQ for $111.30 Hopefully it'll have everything I need on there.

Since I made this post, I have not been able to get it to act up GRRRR. Dealer price for this part is around $800.00. Please give me some info on LKQ. I wouldn't mind replaceing the modual for $100.00 - $200.00. I bought mine new as well and love the car otherwise!

Deny

Their website is http://www.lkqcorp.com/home/home.asp

You should be able to find one near you. They have locations all over the place. I called the one in Melbourne, FL. The man told me it would cost $111.30 for the part and that the assembly includes the EPS module and motor. It is being shipped to the melbourne location from somewhere else and will be there on Monday. I will let you know the results.

Strange thing though, since me and my step dad went under my dash and messed around with some wires going to and from the EPS module, I haven't had a problem. I have heard the *click* that usually comes with my losing power steering but I have yet to lose power steering. It could just be part of the randomness, I don't know.

I had to basically put the seat all the way back and lay on my back in the driver's floor to see good under my dashboard but you can see the EPS and the motor right there, plain as day, made in japan.

It being out in the open like that I can understand if someone's foot may have hit something to knock it loose. I know I have big feet :grinyes:

Ya "Big Feet" LOL Me too. I did the same thing, got under the dash and wiggled the connector. We have driven it a couple thousand miles now without an incedent. I couldn't be so lucky as this to be the fix. Let me know how the install of your unit goes. My wife drives this car most of the time and is often 150 miles away. I cringe at the thought of it going out while she is driving and that far away from me.

Best of Luck

DenyP

I picked up the steering column at the LKQ melbourne place. It came with everything from the steering wheel down to the power steering assembly. Minus the air bag of course. Air bags are big money apparently runaround

I haven't used it yet because I haven't had any power steering problems since. I drive ~120 miles or more a day. Who knows?

Jeremy

Hopefully u dont have to change it, they are a bit of a pain to do