Help with intermittent electric power steering failure causes and fixes

[jcgraff]

Hi. I'm usually on Genesis Owners about my 2019 G90, but today I need some help troubleshooting my son's 2015 Hyundai Genesis 3.8. The local Hyundai dealer refuses to work on it despite it being a Hyundai (they don't have the Genesis dealership) and previously selling them, as they say they've had "bad luck working on them". Same for the dealer an hour South. The dealer at which I bought my G90 has the worst customer service of ANY business I've ever done business with, despite going through a new service manager every year. I cannot get a return call (of someone on the phone) while they have my car last time for 8 of the 12 weeks they had it, and in the end, they still didn't get the trunk issue I've had since purchase fixed. So, they're not an option. The next closest is Cool Springs in South Nashville, 3.5 hours away, but just drove by them today and it looks like the shop is in a complete demolition/rebuild.

My son has tried to troubleshoot this himself by purchasing a code reader and even dropped it for a few weeks at the local import car maintenance shop, and got a call that they could not reproduce the complete lack of power steering that happens unpredictably.

He is thinking of purchasing a used electric power steering rack (he says this is the first year or two the Genesis had electric steering rather than hydraulic) and just getting the local import dealer to replace it for him.

Is intermittent failure of the electric power steering a known issue with these vehicles? If so, what are the potential causes? He has looked at the service manual documents but doesn't want to tackle it himself. He thinks it may be a network/communications problem since the steering motor works fine when it is working.

The error codes he's getting haven't been helpful.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Regards,

Justin

 

[joegr]

My first stab at it would be to disconnect the electrical connections related to the unit and inspect for corrosion. Clean them up with some de-ox spray and maybe put a little dielectric grease on the seals on the connectors and then re-mate them. See if that makes any difference with the issue. Are the under-covers still installed? I've heard of problems developing with the steering when the undercover is left off.

 

[jcgraff]

My first stab at it would be to disconnect the electrical connections related to the unit and inspect for corrosion. Clean them up with some de-ox spray and maybe put a little dielectric grease on the seals on the connectors and then re-mate them. See if that makes any difference with the issue. Are the under-covers still installed? I've heard of problems developing with the steering when the undercover is left off.

Just got a call and email with video showing issues. The video shows the voltage measured at the electrical connections to be as expected in the service manual. They are quoting him $8,000 to replace the "MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING MODULE". The car is only worth $9000 sold to an individual in great condition, and much less if traded in. It doesn't make sense to replace the steering module at this price.

My son looked the part up online and can get one for $1000, but none of the independent shops in my area are willing to work on the car. In fact, the local Hyundai dealers in my hometown of Tupelo, MS and an hour away in Columbus, MS refused to work on the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, even though it is a Hyundai! The dealer that it is with now is two hours away.

Does anyone know of any independent shops in Memphis, TN or Birmingham, AL that would tackle replacing the power steering module?

Or, is there a part of the steering module that can be replaced or overhauled, such as a bad electric motor, without replacing the entire assembly?

 

[jcgraff]

My son has decided to purchase a used electric power steering module ($500) and attempt to install it himself. This part cannot be purchased new from Hyundai, only as a complete electric steering rack with motor and control module. The Hyundai tech told him that the voltages measured at the module were within spec, which makes failure of the control module most likely.

 

[joegr]

I wonder if any programming will be required to make the replacement module work correctly?