A fault code doesn’t yet mean the unit or sensor itself is faulty: often it’s the plug and connector leading to it.
Possible causes
- A loose negative battery cable (per a GM bulletin — Cruze 2011–2015)
- Low voltage: a flat battery or corroded terminals
- The alternator isn’t charging
- Power or ground of this control unit (fuse)
What you can do yourself
- With a poor power supply ABS, ESP and the power steering may switch off and the radio may restart. If the steering gets heavy, hold the wheel with both hands and slow down.
- Check that the negative cable terminal sits tight on the battery and the cable is bolted to the body: on the 2011–2015 Cruze it worked loose and the units stored voltage codes.
- Check the voltage: with the engine off — at least 12.4 V, with it running — 13.5–14.7 V. If lower, charge the battery and check the alternator.
- Check the voltage with the engine running: above 15 V the alternator or its regulator is faulty.
- Check this control unit’s fuses.
Stop and don’t drive on if:
- The red brake light is on, or the brake pedal feels soft or sinks
- The steering became very heavy, or the car pulls to one side when braking
OOleg’s tip: check the connector
Often the cause is simple — there is no contact in the connector (plug). Look at the connector from the back: remove the rubber seal and you will see whether a wire is corroded or has come off completely. Corrosion shows up as green deposits. Ideally, gently pull each wire towards you one at a time: a sound wire stays in place, while a corroded one simply comes off — it needs to be repaired.
Unplug and inspect connectors with the ignition off.
The code can come from the ABS unit or the power steering unit — check which unit it was read from. This is the GM meaning (Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC). On other makes this number means something else: if your car isn’t made by GM, change the make at the top.
Source: GM PI1398A, PIT5213B, PIT5427A (static.nhtsa.gov)
The explanation comes from the error code reference in the AvtoElektrik PRO app.