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Hard steering, codes U0129, P0141 and P0135

Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 144,301 MILES
A mechanic complaint that is customer steering is very hard. I scanned the car and saw U0129, P0141, and P0135 codes. For the "U" code I checked and saw that the brake module was left unplugged and when the mechanic connected that wire back to the module there was lots of smoke coming out there. So, in a hurry he unplugged it again.
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Friday, April 29th, 2022 AT 12:40 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
I noticed that the EPS light comes on ignition switch on, but when the car starts the light will shut off but will come back again within minutes or less as I show in the video below.
Please, how do I solve this problem permanently?
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Friday, April 29th, 2022 AT 12:51 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Just to be sure the power steering is not working but the brake module was left unplugged.

Can you get a picture of this or another video of what is happening when you plug this back in?

Basically, if there is smoke coming out of anything when you plug it back in then there is a circuit that is shorted, and that component is most likely failed. It may be due to wiring issue or the module itself was shorted.

So, we need to start with finding out what you have with this smoke because I am attaching the info on this U code as that is going to be the cause of your power steering issue.

Lastly the reason you have the light turning on and then off and back on is because when you turn the key on, the cluster does a self-check, and it tests the light. So, it turns it on and off. Then the power steering module reports the code, and the cluster displays the light.
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Saturday, April 30th, 2022 AT 6:35 AM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
First, I want to thank you for the prompt response and your assistance rendered. Unfortunately, I didn't video that incident. However, I have called the mechanic and just discussed that I would like to video that smoke issue so he told me that we should meet on Tuesday for that.
Hopefully, on that Tuesday I will video that and give you a feedback on that.
In addition, I noticed that 1 out of the 4 wires in the COP connector is cut off in all the 4 cylinders. One of the center wires. I will video this too.
Please, aside from that is there something else you would like me to check when I get there?
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Saturday, April 30th, 2022 AT 11:33 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Sounds like we have more than one issue. Yes, if you can get pictures of all this so that we can be sure to be on the same page.

However, we will focus on the power steering on this post and then we can get a new post started on the coil on plug issue if we need to address that.

Basically, we need to keep each post to one issue just so that others will find the solution if they are searching for it. They won't find a COP issue under a power steering topic but if you can get all the info when you are there and then just start a new one if it is not related to the power steering issue.

Lastly the smoke issue may not happen again if it was a module that was smoking. Basically, once the module fails the circuit is damaged and it goes to an open circuit and doesn't smoke any more. Which would explain the U code that you are getting but let's start with this info and go from there.

Thanks for the update.
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Saturday, April 30th, 2022 AT 1:02 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
Okay, that's a nice idea! I love the suggestion.
Let's be more focused on that u code.
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Saturday, April 30th, 2022 AT 7:42 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
That's another light that I captured- the ABS light. But their major concern was the hard steering wheel.
I also noticed that the deflated tire pressure light was on, on the dashboard.
In addition, I noticed that the dashboard steering wheel light as the mechanic showed me in another Corolla that he was working a different thing on but same model and year, I observed that there was a discrepancy there. In the car I worked on, with a hard steering- the steering wheel light remained on after it started but on the other car that the mechanic was fixing a different issue the steering wheel light went off a few seconds after it started.
He related to me that the steering wheel light should go off after a few seconds when the car starts and idled, and I saw and understood vividly what he was saying.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2022 AT 4:42 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
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Okay. If the brake module was the one that was releasing smoke, then that would make sense why we have that light on now.

However, we should have some codes directly related to that at this point. If we don't then let's address what we know we have and then any other issue that is not repaired by the steering issue.

Let us know what happens this week and we can go from there. Thanks
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Sunday, May 1st, 2022 AT 9:39 AM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
Okay thank you so much sir for your prompt response! Related to the hard steering wheel, what would you advice me to check when I get there on Tuesday?
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Sunday, May 1st, 2022 AT 10:48 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
I would focus on the U0129 code. Basically, that is telling you that the brake control module is not communicating on the communication network. That is going to cause the power steering motor to stop operating if the communication network is down.

So, if he said there were connector issues or wiring issues then that is what we need to focus on. If everything is connected and the light is on, and the power steering still does not work, then you most likely are going to have a wiring issue or the module has failed.

So, wherever the smoke was coming from is going to need to be replaced.

However, before you replace the module, just test the wiring for shorts to ground.
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Sunday, May 1st, 2022 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
Thank you so much for the quick response and your assistance!
However, the wiring diagram is not fully understood, can you please elaborate more on this also?
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Sunday, May 1st, 2022 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
What about it is not understood and I will see if I can explain it?

In quick summary the electric power steering assembly is shown on the left of the diagram and connected to it is the electric motor which is what gives you the power steering fluid pressure.

So, we need to make sure we have power going to the module and ground. Then if the motor is getting power to turn on.

Basically, I am just supplying it in case we find we have a possible electrical issue.
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Monday, May 2nd, 2022 AT 6:20 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
I have reached the mechanic so as to video that car problem but he's telling me that the car owner has not called him yet, he said he will, but I waited without seeing the call. But if he does, I will definitely video that and send it so that you can guide me more.
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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 AT 5:59 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
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Okay. Sounds good. Thanks for the update. We will be here when you are able to. Thanks
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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
The only thing I did when I posted the car question was to unplug the battery and clear codes.

On Monday, I reached the mechanic through phone call, and he said that the car owner said the steering wheel is softer than usual.
I'm so sorry for not getting back to you sooner! Thank you so much for your prompt responses and support!
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Friday, May 13th, 2022 AT 5:34 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay. So, if they are saying that the steering is softer than usual, I suspect that means the wheel turns easier than it did before? If that is the case, then that may be because the power steering was not working and now it is.

Thanks for the update and let me know if I am not understanding this.

If I am then I appreciate you keeping us updated.

Thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Friday, May 13th, 2022 AT 2:53 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 147 POSTS
Yes, you're right. That's what they told me that is softer now.
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Saturday, May 14th, 2022 AT 1:05 AM

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