Norm-L
SCCoA Member
I have a 95 SC 5-speed with 32,000 miles. Today a new problem arose. The car has been sitting for 3 weeks, on stands for the last week while I detailed the suspension and chassis. When I fired it up, the steering felt like it had tight spots. I then realized they weren't tight spots. With a neutral steering wheel, all is fine. As I add load by turning the wheel gently, the steering pulses. If I hold light effort on the wheel, it has a very steady pulse, about one/second. The pulse gets stronger with increased effort.
I drove it. After about 2.5 miles, it was fine. After another half mile, I parked it. When I restarted the car, the pulse was back. Again, it went away after 2.5 miles. As soon as the pulse went away, I stopped in the road, shut the car off, and restarted it. The pulse was back.
More testing...I started the car in the driveway (with the steering pulsing) and waited. After about 10 minutes (more than it would have taken to drive the 2.5 slow miles), it was still pulsing. Apparently not time related. I then drove it and, in about 2.5 miles, the pulse went away.
During this testing, I also noticed that the ARC was not working. The light would NOT come on under any circumstances including using the switch. As soon as the pulsing stops, the ARC works again.
This time, I drove it another 5 miles trouble free. When I got home, I shut it off, restarted it, and it was NOT pulsing and the ARC was fine. I don't know what will happen the next time I try.
Is anyone familiar with this problem? The dealer is willing to take $95 to diagnose it, but my SC is in showroom perfect condition inside, outside and underneath. I don't want to leave it in the hands of a mechanic I don't know. I seem to get my vehicles damaged everytime I have to leave them somewhere for work that I can't do myself.
I'd appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.
I drove it. After about 2.5 miles, it was fine. After another half mile, I parked it. When I restarted the car, the pulse was back. Again, it went away after 2.5 miles. As soon as the pulse went away, I stopped in the road, shut the car off, and restarted it. The pulse was back.
More testing...I started the car in the driveway (with the steering pulsing) and waited. After about 10 minutes (more than it would have taken to drive the 2.5 slow miles), it was still pulsing. Apparently not time related. I then drove it and, in about 2.5 miles, the pulse went away.
During this testing, I also noticed that the ARC was not working. The light would NOT come on under any circumstances including using the switch. As soon as the pulsing stops, the ARC works again.
This time, I drove it another 5 miles trouble free. When I got home, I shut it off, restarted it, and it was NOT pulsing and the ARC was fine. I don't know what will happen the next time I try.
Is anyone familiar with this problem? The dealer is willing to take $95 to diagnose it, but my SC is in showroom perfect condition inside, outside and underneath. I don't want to leave it in the hands of a mechanic I don't know. I seem to get my vehicles damaged everytime I have to leave them somewhere for work that I can't do myself.
I'd appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.