Thread: 2006 Grand Prix GXP Traction Control Light

I have a 2006 Grand Prix GXP. Yesterday i replaced the Intermediate Steering Shaft on it, which was no easy job. However, I got it done without any real problems. I pulled the battery connections and reset things. For some reason now I am getting the Traction Control Light/off indicator and the DIC is showing the Stability System Service light. Keep in mind I had no issue with either of these before the Steering Shaft replacement. I did not remove anything to replace the shaft other than the throttle body rubber inlet and the air filter. I also removed the master cylinder but did not disconnect any lines. I just moved it up and away so i could get my arm down to the ISS on top of the rack and pinion assy. When you start the car the T/C light doesn't come on until you move the car then it comes on and stays on until you turn the car off again. Today I checked all the wiring and connectors around the area I was working but did not see anything out of order. Anyone?

Unfortunately I do not have a scanner and I figured I would be headed somewhere to get it read. Just hope that helps.

Did you get it scanned? I know there is a steering angle sensor and brake position sensor down there. You could have bumped or damaged either one. Good luck.

Hey, Thanks for the reply. You were right on the money with the Steering Position sensor issue. I had it read by a buddy at an old Pontiac dealer and the error message was a C0710. The scanner showed the steering wheel in the straight position reading 360 degrees. He said it needs to read 0 degrees. He figured I probably damaged the sensor or he thinks it's out of position by one revolution, when I lost control of my steering wheel during the upper end hookup of the ISS. I am aware that you are supposed to hold the wheel somehow during the installation but I accidentally lost the damn thing at one point when I was fighting with the knuckle on the ISS. The thing is, the steering wheel once it is detached from the ISS will just go around and around. Which to me means that you have a fifty fifty chance of getting the wheel put back to 0 degrees. Unless when the wheel goes around and around it damages something. Which doesn't make sense either. The scanner wouldn't reset the calibration but he wasn't sure it was working a 100% because it is so old. My thought is before I spend $170 on a new sensor is to disconnect the ISS from the shaft and rotate the wheel back one revolution and see if that makes it think it's back at zero. I figure it couldn't hurt at this point. Thanks again for your reply. Any thoughts?

Sounds like a plan. The only problem with rotating the wheel with it disconnected from the iss is that you could have ripped the clock spring. When you rotate the wheel with it disconnected you can feel the tension on the wheel after about 2-3 turns in either direction. You can center the wheel by averaging the the total turns by half. If your airbag light is on you may have ripped the clockspring tape.

Thanks for all the responses. My airbag light is not on. I'm guessing the clock spring is the coil looking spring on the Position Sensor. I have no idea if the spring is still there or not I'm assuming it is since it's not laying on the floor. I have not looked up there enough to see. My airbag light does it's normal flash through when the car is started as does everything else. I've been up to my ears in **** the last couple days so I haven't had a chance to try my idea yet. I know when I was putting the ISS in and lost the steering wheel it didn't go around more than once or once and a half at most. If my idea doesn't work then I'll know i screwed the spring or sensor or both. I will let you know as soon as I try it. Probably tomorrow. Thanks to you all again.

FYI,
Everything works on my steering wheel. Horn is fine in all positions, all controls for the radio and tap shifters. I'm pretty sure my clock spring is fine. It could still be the position sensor, but I am going out to disconnect the ISS and try moving the steering wheel back one rotation shortly. Be letting you know shortly.

To any of you interested, I finally have victory. I went down to see my buddy at the old Pontiac dealer that is now a Subaru dealer and he let me borrow his old scanner. I went in and cleared all of the DTC's and then went in and did the Steering Angle Sensor Centering Procedure. Bingo!!! Everything is golden. This procedure has to be done when certain replacements are done, like ISS replacement, Rack replacements, etc. Thanks again for all of the responses.

$99 dollar VCXNano can do anything a Tech2 can do. Pretty nice value for something at that price.

How often do you have to buy the GM subscription for the VCXnano? And I'm guessing you don't need the subscription for everything? I did some reading on it and it is pretty tricky to setup up front and I heard some buyers say they didn't get the proper disc with when they ordered it. So they had to return it a couple of times. Although, when you follow a certain path exactly while setting it up, it works quite well. Can you expound on your experience with it. Thanks mainecrab!!