2011 Taurus SHO Steering Angle Sensor code U0428

[ticoscen]

Ok, mystery on my 2011 SHO....steering angle sensor error UO428.
It's NOT the square sensor the parts store and dealers say it is.
There is NO sensor in that location on the steering column.
Just a harness plugged into a dummy plastic thing where it should go.
So, does the 2011 SHO use the 2013 clock spring angle sensor instead?
Is the angle sensor in the EPAS? No body knows....

Hope someone here does.

Searched by VIN at the dealer but they won't give me a part number.
So, I'm sure the top secret part number is the wrong part that
everyone else goes to as the item.

It is NOT this one:
https://ebay.us/m/XtXDve

Not this one either:

Pardon Our Interruption...

This one located here:


The car has this PN on the column: AG1T-14B522-ACW
13123101 U107R 1 10265 1300

The steering column has two 16 pin connectors on it. One at the back and one on the left side of the column.
The 4 pin connector for that square steering angle sensor plugs into a dummy piece of plastic that does NOTHING.
So, it's sensing steering angle from SOMEWHERE? Where?
In the column or on the epas?

Anyone else run into this curve ball?

 

[Texas Marauder]

The steering angle sensor is on the input shaft of the steering rack unless you have the self park feature. It is not serviced separate from the steering rack. Cars with self park feature have the sensor in the steering column.

 

[ticoscen]

No self-parking on the 2011 SHO NON PP. It has ACC though.
I got under the car and looked at that area of the input shaft.
The sensor seemed to wiggle a bit and was loose in its hole.
So, I pushed it in, about 1/8" and put some glue behind it.
I think water was also getting on it and was backing out a bit.
The condensate drain is back there too and drips all near that area onto the sub frame and splashes.

So, pushed the sensor core in some, put glue behind it and put a drain tube on the condensate
out put fitting down through the subframe so it can drip away from all those harnesses.
And not hit the subframe and splash.
Cleared the codes and will drive it a bit to see how it goes.

UPDATE: Working great now. Whew...

NAPA and FORD both failed big time on this parts scenario.

Basically, one has to replace the whole RACK, unless that rack input shaft sensor is available separately.
Looks like a "hall effect" type magnetic sensor and its screwed in. So, it may be replaceable if
I can source the sensor somewhere.
Interesting they have the harness in the steering column connected to a dummy sensor.

There are THREE possible steering angle sensors for Gen 4 SHOs.

[1] The little, easy to remove and replace, square unit that mounts to the RIGHT side of the steering column.
(My harness connector was there BUT went to a dummy plastic place holder there, no sensor.)
Took that back to NAPA to get my money back....
Can be replaced without removing the steering wheel.

[2] The clock spring unit that mounts on the steering shaft concentrically. (not on this car)
I believe that (expensive one) is for the 2013 SHO's on up.

[3] Steering Angle sensor at the EPAS rack's input shaft on the side closest to the firewall.
That's the one the 2011 SHO has. NO dealer, no parts store understood this.
Not sure this part is even available but will investigate it.
Was able to push it back into place and glue it.

 

[ticoscen]

Final update on this scenario.
My 2010 SHO PP has the same EPAS and both my 2010 and 2011 SHO's had to have their EPAS replaced, about 3 years ago.
They had that grinding noisy turning issue.....
Anywho, both EPAS were "rebuilt" units.

The 2011 SHO is the car where my EPAS failed at highway speed.
Went to change lanes and lost all power steering! The steering wheel was like a TANK to turn!
Thankfully, the loss of power steering didn't happen on a tight two lane windy road or in the city!!!!

That 2011's EPAS steering angle sensor looks like it was drilled out and modified by the rebuild company.
The new core hall sensor installed into the old sensor body by the rebuild company was white and I could see the 6 very small gauge wires coming out the back of it.

They must have had some engineers figure out what kind of 4 wire magnetic "hall effect"
sensor they needed and slid it into an old sensors bracket via a drilled 1/2" hole.
They must have then glued it or interference fit the core white 6 wire hall sensor into place which later failed to hold it in place.
The sensor backed out enough to not read.

That 'weird ass thing" I managed to fix with some glue. At least I'm alive to do it and figure it out....

So, to maintain my fleet properly, I jacked up my 2010 PP SHO.
It has the normal looking sensor that is all closed up and black. (not holy...)

So, if you EVER need a replacement EPAS, I would make sure to take that steering angle sensor off the core unit's EPAS for posterity and future needs.