steering angle sensor replacement guide?
 

Hi guys, my 4x4 light is staying constantly lit on my X @ the moment, having scanned with DIS it shows a steering angle sensor internal fault, the sensor comes tomorrow & I was looking for a bit of guidance on how to tackle the job.
Any of you guys tackled it diy? tips? advice?
Any input greatly appreciated
2006 x5 4.8is

I've done this job. It's not fun. I followed the Bentley manual guidance. A few pieces of advice. BEFORE you disconnect the steering shaft halves, mark the shaft and the clamp in case you move the wheel while they're disconnected. It will make getting the steering wheel back to where it's supposed to be MUCH easier. Don't ask me how I know or how many tries it took to get things properly lined up again. ;)

The bolt that tightens the clamp has to be removed completely as it sits in a space on the shaft which keeps the shaft from being able to be pulled out if the bolt is in there. You can't just loosen the bolt.

Run your steering wheel all the way forward as you may need to use the motor to run it back while you brace the lower shaft so the two will separate. I had to put a screw driver through the clamp and brace it on the sub supports then run the steering wheel out which nicely separated the two. I couldn't make it happen without using the motor.

The new SAS has to be programmed. If you have the correct scanner or INPA you should be able to do it yourself. If not, you'll have to take it to a dealer or an indy that has INPA.

It's a couple hour job. I took longer because of having to repeatedly take things apart to get the steering properly aligned after moving the wheel when the two were shafts disconnected. It's a PITA because you are basically laying on your back in the foot well. Not comfortable.

Good luck!

Thanks for that bud👍🏻
I have INPA & DIS, I assumed the "matching" procedure on DIS would programme the new sensor then do the calibration, do you know if this is the case or must I use INPA?
Am I looking to force the lower column downwards or the upper column upwards to separate the two?
I watched a video on YouTube where the guy whacked the pinch bolt area downwards with a cold chisel & fear this is a bit extreme? did yours separate easily by wiggling,
Thanks again much appreciated 👍🏻

I'm not familiar with DIS, so I can't answer that one.

If you run the steering wheel adjustment all the way out then you want to lower the lower shaft. If you can do that by hand, great. I couldn't so I took the opposite approach and ran the steering wheel all the way in, then wedge a screw driver to hold the lower in place then ran the steering back out while holding the lower in place. It came apart quite easily when I did it that way.

Understand exactly, thanks:thumbup:, one more thing if I could please, when using INPA to add the new sensor do I just select "brand new sensor" in the appropriate section to code it to the car?
If not could you explain the procedure to code it?

Sorry again, but I don't have INPA. After I replaced my SAS I took it to my indy and he programmed it.

Thanks for the tips buddy, job done & I even managed to pair it to the system myself with DIS/GT1
4x4 light out & I'm a happy chap;):D

Good job! Glad it went well for you. :thumbup: