DIY - Complete Steering Wheel Column Removal - For Vehicles w/Electric Power Assist Steering
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- i had a random Electronic Power Steering (EPS, EPAS) assist failure which wasnt the fault of the torque sensor, a common problem on many of the ford and other makers vehicles, mine being a 2009 ford escape. the electric assist motor would randomly just quit working. it would be very hard to turn when driving in low speeds as in a parking lot because there was no power assist.
some people have a Power Steering Code B2278 : EPAS
there was no steering wheel vibrations or random movements to either side. it would just quit working with no warning. the only way to revive it would to restart engine until it came back to life, sometimes after one restart or multiple restarts. i got a used one from wrecker from a 2010 model, pulled it out myself for $140can. u can use any column from 2008 to 2012 ford escape.
i will be doing a tear down on the old control module, im thinking the problem is in the circuit board and not the motor itself
power steering assist failure,motor,steering,ford,escape,2008,2009,2011 2012,,2012,torque sensor,vibrating,no steering,hard to turn,steering wheel,turning,Electronic Power Steering (EPS).B2278
Thank you so much. That job would of cost over $1000. You showed exactly how it's done. It help me fix my car and I am sured it was useful for everyone else. I had to do the job twice because the first steering assit motor I ordered was defected.
To anyone watching if you change the motor and your steering wheel is stiff then your motor is likely defected.
This is an excellent video, one tip to get to the pinch bolt once you have the tilt bolt out turn the power steering 45 degrees counterclockwise to make viewing and removing the pinch bolt. Pretty straightforward from there
Thanks very much for this.
Just moved to the US and picked up a 08 escape and power steering went out.
Your video saved me a lot of money/ heartache and head scratching. Took me around 2 1/2 hour, but should I have to do it again I think I could do it within a hour.
Universal joint was the biggest pain, trying to get it back on. Glad I did this instead of changing the torque sensor now.
Again thank for taking the time to make this!
thx
Excellent video, thank you so much for putting this together. Great visuals of where the bolts are and the bolt sizes. Dealership want $2800+ to replace the steering column, thanks to this video I was able to do it for $400.
thx
Where did you get the steering column replacement? Our dealership said they can't order it and they have no eta on when they can. We were also quoted 2900...
Ebay, believe it or not. There are some reputable junkyard sellers on there.
ur a lifesaver. I didn't know how to do this for my fusion but with this, I did the job. Much appreciated.
np
Got my power steering back, Thanks for the great video, very helpful!
Extremely helpful video, doing this job on 09 tribute now. Thank you!
yw
thank you for this! just got the exact symptoms in a 09 ford escape. hopefully i don't break anything on the way out !
Many thanks planning to reper 2010 Escape
glad to have helped
Hi sir! Thank you for sharing.
I am actually doing this job now. I am stuck at the pinch bolt. My wrench is turning left ,but it doesn't seem that the bolt is loosening. Did it feel like it was loosening when you did it. The motor is going lower but screw doesn't seem to be loosening. Any suggestions please?
@16.51 in video you need to make sure socket is set onto bolt, if your sure socket is set onto bolt but ratchet is turning your ratchet is in the wrong position for rotation/unscrewing bolt
@@diyvinny6300
Thank you. I just needed a longer ratchet. You mentioned in the video that a longer one would be better. Something like a breaker bar. It worked. I change the part,but the steering wheel turns stiff. Do you think it needs re-calibration?
if you bought it used, of course it is, then it could be you got a bad part, my wrecker gave me, if i remember correctly, 30day warranty@@moneycryptocurrency1024
Thanks for this very helpful!!!
I used a 1/4 ratchet with a 10mm socket to remove and put back on the long tilt bolt.
was this due to a power steering fault. Struggling with this now we replaced the torque sensor same fault. Also runing a tire pressure sensor fault and seemed to see these could cause other faults sounds weird but kinda lost im about to get a whole replacment used colum like you did...
idk what the actual fault of my power steering was, i know i didnt want to spend the money on the oe part, and do the tedious installation where i could kill it with a bad installation.
was not going to buy the doorman part unless i got it for free.
replacing the steering column was the easier and cheaper solution for my situation, but all you need is the bottom half of the column which is where the motor and computer module and torque sensor reside
ah so technicly i only need the motor and computer. my worry is installing the torque sensor could have failed or it isnt the torque sensor thats bad. so i feel like my best bet is to do the whole column like you did.@@diyvinny6300
Thank you so much! Question: Did you have to reprogram like the dealer requires? Or is that to take your money 💰!!???
i did not need to reprogram anything, i was told you might need to relearn the right and left turning stops, google it, but for me iirc i didnt even do that. yes, dealers are called stealerships for a reason
Thank you and let's go Brandon
Thanks again. It only cost me $250 used, and I did the labor, and like you said, no rogramming anything
I’m about to do this. I tried the sensor with no success. Going to hit up some wreckers.
i didnt think it was my sensor as i didnt have the usual sensor problems but even if i did it was cheaper to get the whole steering rack as to just getting an oe sensor. and imo easier than trying to replace that torque sensor
@@diyvinny6300 yeah if I did the whole rack it would have saved me time and money. Might as well do the whole rack and sensor together. If you barely mess up on the sensor then it’s no good.
Thank you for the help
Hello everyone, quick question.. so I’m having my steering component redone due to my intermediate shaft being worn and faulty.. but I thought to also get the steering column redone as well.. I wanted to know if it’s possible to just replace the steering column (but keep my original steering wheel and attach to the new steering column) or is the steering wheel automatically connected to the column? I have a 2008 ford focus btw..
idk about the focus but best to find a ford focus forum and ask there for a correct responce
Thanks a lot for the video, i am beginning to experience this issue on my 2009 Escape but a lot of people are saying is the torque sensor. please is there a way to ascertain its the torque sensor or the entire column. i really will appreciate your guide on this to move on with the change. my car is from kansa factory. thank you
if u watch some utube vids a bad sensor has steering wheel shake or turning on its own. i didnt have those symptoms. it was easier and more cost effective to replace the steering column which has the torque sensor included. if just replacing sensor use only ford brand, theyre not cheap though, but if u install wrong youve basically ruined it and need to buy another one, but i think they discontinued making them. i wouldnt trust a dorman sensor.
@@diyvinny6300 Thanks a lot, I got the steering column completely changed and is fine now.
@@harryofume8792how much did it cost you?
Can someone help me with this delima.. I’m trying to replace my steering column assembly (2098 ford focus se 4 door sedan ) but all the items on the internets says it’s for a manual transmission.. I just want to know which steering column is the correct one for my car
I had this problem fixed by my Mechanic, he did it, and it was very difficult to align properly. He had to get another sensor. Big question: Will this be permanently aligned? I am afraid that when I drive the car, it will suddenly freeze or turn to full left or right when I am driving, especially during high speed.
your mechanic just did the torque sensor, it needs a precise installation to work correctly else u need to buy another torque sensor.
i did not go that route as mine only had a random no power steering problem and didnt know exactly why it did so just easier and cheaper to buy a used column which includes the sensor. theres nothing to align except maybe a front wheel alignment.
if used steering column doesnt work correctly the wreckers always provide a certain length of warranty depending on the wrecker. its a crap shoot for this part because its a common problem with this model, so try to get closest to a 2012 model year vehicle as possible.
mine was from a 2010 and its been over a year and hasnt failed.....yet. ymmv
@DIY Vinny Thank you for your timely response! My mechanic was advised that the issue was the sensor and that the steering column was the only solution until Ford came out with this part. My biggest question is: Can this happen while I am driving on the road. Obviously, I am concerned for my safety and others. I was fortunate that this message appeared while I started my car last week. Your advice is greatly appreciated.
@@jaydendean6939 ford never provided a fix for this problem other than replacing torque sensor, sensor was never redesigned afaik but newer was supposed to be better. will used steering wheel pull to one side while driving, idk, mine has been fine for over a year, ford never actually fixed the problem as it seems even after replacing sensor it could still eventually fail again, they left us hanging
I got the b2278 code on my 08 escape so I assumed it was the torque sensor. I took it to a dealer and told them to just change the part, no diagnostics. I had to sign an agreement that it may not fix the problem. Sure enough it did not fix it. Now after seeing your video and reading about your symptoms, I think its the column, not the sensor. Now do i have a brand new sensor in a garbage column?
If I went to a wrecker to fish out a used column, how will i know if that one is not junk? Or if its sensor is old and will eventually fail?
the part from wrecker usually comes with a warranty, so all u would loose is your time, time i have, money i dont. ive put mine in over a year ago and its still working. if it fails ill do it again. i paid ~180 w/tx, if it lasts a few months im ok with that, its still cheaper than any alternative. but most of the ecapes at the wreckers already had the steering columns pulled out so call b4 u go and get as close to a 2012 year model as u can, newer supposedly better. i still have to take the old circuit board out for the steering motor to see if anything can be fixed
@@diyvinny6300 Thank you for your video and the quick reply 👊
why does it shake? could it be rockanpinnion too?
if yours is shaking it could be front end issues and/or tires or wheels out of balance
Did you need to program?
no, maybe calibrate by turning wheel in either direction till it stops, i did need alignment as steering wheel was not centered when driving straight
did u need to have someone flash the steering control module to make it work?
no i did not flash module, but they do say u need to calibrate it with a scantool but i just turned steering wheel fully left and right then to center position to calibrate it. not sure if that was necessary as i didnt notice any changes from b4 calibration. steering worked as expected without doing anything special.
I can't get my steering wheel to slide back on??
the actual steering wheel? it only can go in one position, try to match up the indentations.
if youre talking about the shaft to the ujoint, with a screw driver widen the gap at the ujoint socket where the pinch bolt goes
@@diyvinny6300 yes I've tried I think the plastic is damaged. I got it to slide back on old motor but it won't on the new
What’s the bungees cord for
i thought i needed it for the clock spring to make it not over trurn in either direction, but clock spring stays in its center position, so i used as a more of a precaution
How do you know if its good or not?
you dont until u drive it for awhile. salvage yard offers 30 day warranty on upull parts. but for 120+tx its something im willing to take a chance with , try to find later models with low mileage but thats easier said then done.
new units are not new but re manufactured but they dont say what they "re manufactured", on rockauto, was around $800 +tx and del, but currently not in stock
@@diyvinny6300 thanks. Hopefully i can do it myself im not trying to pay 1200+ or everybody gifts going back ...lol.
@@YKBNuNu i will be doing a tear down on the old control module, im thinking the problem is in the circuit board and not the motor itself
@@diyvinny6300 ok so if its that it would be cheaper/easier?
Did u have to set the amout of turns on the shaft or does it matter
i dont know what u mean, but the steering wheel can only go into the shaft in one way
@@diyvinny6300 you know how the old cars were when you could only turn the shaft its self like 2 and half turns either way ? I didnt know if they had to go on in a spacific spot so it wouldnt turn more one way than the other. If that makes sense lol.
@@bobobrazil1973 k, the u-joint on the end of the shaft can only go in one way, the steering wheel portion can only go in one way, so it doesnt matter. but my steering wheel was not in the exact same position as my old one, about 1" off from center, so your alignment might not match exactly as to the donor vehicle so i have to get an alignment done but i have not done that yet as my truck still drives straight even though steering wheel is not.
did you have to jack up the front wheels or turn the steering wheel to the 11oclock position to do this ? thanks
no i did not have to jack up the car, i had the steering wheel at center position
How many labor hours do you think this is total?
at the wreckers took a little longer a it was my first try, but i would say it took me,for removal and installation, about 4 hrs max, but depends on getting that long bolt out and difficulties getting the u-joint out and back in, but also because i had a stroke a few years back so im a little slower
@@diyvinny6300 thank you sir!