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
- The sensor connector under the steering wheel or the clock spring
- The sensor itself
- The power steering ECU
What you can do yourself
- The power steering may switch off — the steering will get very heavy, especially at low speed. If this happens while driving, hold the wheel with both hands, slow down and stop in a safe place.
- With the ignition off, check the power steering unit connectors by the steering column (under the dashboard): corrosion, poor contact. Then clear the code and see whether it comes back.
- After repairs the steering angle sensor often needs calibrating with a scan tool.
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.
This is the meaning in the electric power steering unit (Kia bulletin CHA084). In the ESC unit this number may mean something else — check which unit the code was read from. This is the Hyundai and Kia meaning. On other makes this number means something else: if your car isn’t a Hyundai or Kia, change the make at the top.
Source: Kia TSB CHA084 (C-MDPS: Optima, Sorento, Soul, Forte, Rio, Sportage), static.nhtsa.gov
The explanation comes from the error code reference in the AvtoElektrik PRO app.