and my EPS light doesnt come on

 

Same issue here, I wish fokissed had posted what the dealer told him.

I couldn't get anything out of them. As a matter of fact, they didn't even know it was electric steering!!

Happens mornings mostly and at very slow roll. NEVER had the EPS light come on.
I can't imagine it happening at high speeds (50mph?). What kind of turning would you be doing at that speed?
Anyway, if anyone has any advice, please let me know.

175,000 miles, original wheels with the up-sized tires since 15,000 miles (I can't spit out the sizes off the top of my head, but they are within the allowances of the OEM wheels).

 

Can you do this quick test for me? Go for a drive and when the steering starts to go soft then hard then soft, pull over let it sit for 8 minutes(don't touch the steering wheel). Then start driving and see if the problem is gone, if so let me know.

 

I have the same problem, but it only happens first thing in the morning. I'm starting to believe it's the torque sensor, but haven't had a chance to test it.

 

Learning03: unfortunately, I'm out of town and my girlfriend is driving the car. She says it's getting worse, and apparently the problem has happened to some extent further into her morning drive to work.

I'm curious what your theory is with the waiting 8 minutes?

Just a little more info: The stiffness in the steering doesn't seem to stick around for long at all. It's not like the power steering goes out completely, it's really just intermittent. In the time it would take to get the car to a complete stop, the problem would be gone. So to answer your question, after waiting 8 minutes, yes the problem is gone. After waiting 1 minute the problem is gone.

Suggestions?

 

The power streering is speed adjusted. Meaning the faster on go the less assist it gives you. It sounds to me like the speed sensor is bad and telling the steering that you are going very slow or fast for a second. There is a VSS(vehicle speed sensor) on the tranny. You might want to just make sure it is connected well.

Just my .02

Good luck.

Kevin

 

Any way to get a diagram or picture of where that speed sensor is?

 

We have a local with the same problem. Cold morning, and it would be as described. We swapped the EPS computer with a few spares I had and no change. We just swappd the rack and computer this time, and the problem is now gone. So whatever the problem was was in the rack. The torque sensor is what we think it was, but it was cheaper to buy a used rack.

The car was an 02 with over 120K mileage.

 

If the VSS was the problem the Speedo would show 0 and the EPS light would be on.

 

I searched it and saw that. I just didn't know if it was just a loose connection that was causing it.

Kevin