Steering TSB

[MrBell]

Appointment made Monday at Autonation to start the TSB replacement. Seems like the steering is getting worse, my 2019 Wrangler drives like a wet noodle at highway speeds.

Thanks to @JeepCares for their assistance. Hoping you have my back through this process.

Sponsored

 

[MtCamper]

Just picked up my Jeep. It's not a Cadillac but I'd estimate about 3/4 of the dead spot is gone. I'm really happy with the result and would recommend having the TSB repair is you are not happy with the way yours steers.

 

[JeepCares]

@JeepCares I can DM but I went into my dealer and showed the TSB as well as how it pulls to the right (if I let go of the steering wheel the Jeep moves to the right and has a dead spot as well). I can deal with it but for the price of the Jeep I dont think I should. My issue was that the dealer service manager said "test drove found no issue" and said if they find no issue, then they don't replace the steering box. I will be bringing it back to the dealer (or another) and requesting the same replace each time. I am not sure what Jeep is telling the dealers but it seems a holistic issue.

Please private message us so that we can assist with having this TSB completed.

I have a 2021 too but I'm wandering isn't that TSB only for 2018 - 2020 year model? I checked mine and already is the steel version. May be they have a new TSB for the 2021 already?

We're sorry to learn that you have steering concerns in your 2021 Jeep Wrangler. Please send us a private message for support.

Darlene
Jeep Cares

 

[Jasonep]

Thanks for the replies. Has anyone used Autonation Bellevue for their steering TSB?

I used autonation Bellevue. I was the first one done there. I worked with Joe, the service manager. He was great at working through my issues before the tsb. He even replaced the steering box once before the new part was available. Two days after they did that swap the tsb came out and he had no issues doing it again with the new part.

 

[THEREED]

Got mine back this evening and went for quick test run. Unfortunately the steering deadspot did not get addressed and may be ever so slightly worse. My service rep is very easy to work with and willing to help so I'm going to follow up with him in the coming days. I can confirm the trackbar did not get replaced (only applies to earlier JL like mine) and he's looking into rectifying that.

But I'm doubtful the trackbar is the main culprit. My suspicion is the steering software update was not properly applied even though his tech says it's been done. Sounds very similar to this post:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/steering-worse-after-tsb-fix.59652/post-1386692

I'll report back after he's had a chance to follow up. In the meantime here's a copy of the latest Steering TSB 08-003-21. Note this replaces the earlier 08-074-20 issued in 2020. As far as I can tell the newest one explicitly calls out wheel alignment needs to be done as well as steering gear part number for right hand drive vehicles.

Any updAte? I have a very similar situation as yours. I also was shown a report that shows the software but it is hard to read and the code listed for steering looks incorrect

 

[RubiRed]

Latest Summary:

• My steering is now confirmed on sales code 70FA and undoubtedly worse than before the TSB
• My experience with dealer was not perfectly smooth but they made it right
• I'm not sure what can be done still, perhaps @JeepCares can inform?

What took so long?
Two weeks ago my 2018 two door Rubicon was in the shop to get TSB 08-003-21 done. After getting it back I can tell it's slightly worse. I can confirm the steering box is replaced (visible after popping the hood) though they missed the track bar replacement (only applicable to early model). I did not get print out of steering software update (see this post) nor an alignment printout. I called the dealership soon after and found out the service advisor literally stopped working there an hour after I picked up my Jeep. So had to start appointment process again.

Fast forward to today. They replaced my track bar that was missed the first time, made sure the steering software was updated, and did alignment with printout. I picked it up and was excited for it to be better or at least on par with the original feel of the aluminum steering box. Boy was I disappointed... At least the manager had a good attitude to make it right. Hemade sure to hook up to their DealerConnect system and I can see indeed on 70FA (and not the old software 5SY). Although now I think about it I'm not sure why there's an extra 'A' in 70FA. @THEREED I see you're in the same boat as me! Let me know if you observe what I describe below.

Why do I say the steering is worse?
Not only does it have the wander on the highway, now even on city streets the center dead-spot feel is amplified! The way the power steering kicks in (or holds back the assist) really emphasizes the center dead-spot way more. If I were the programmer and my goal was to make the dead-spot the most pronounced, that's exactly the code I would write. It's hard to imagine Jeep intended this. Could the culprit be the extra 'A' in 70FA?

See my diagram. The center feels like it's gliding on air - like power steering is jacked up on caffeine. It coincides roughly with the dead zone. Then it abruptly stops the over boost. You really feel it, so much so I can hear a "tick" and sense a pulse when I hit that wall. Like the electric system suddenly cut power or changed voltage. It's fairly consistent but every now and then the tick isn't there, which makes me feel like this version of software screams Beta software.

So when I'm driving along in the green zone I make micro adjustments and the steering floats about doing zero steering. Then I make slightly more adjustment and it hits the wall with sudden jump in effort required (along with the tick). Instead of working cohesively with the mechanical system, it feels like the software has gone rogue and drawing more attention to its flaw.

From a steering feel perspective I regret doing this TSB. Overall it's a wash because I eventually want to go to larger tires and feel the cast iron steering box provides some additional peace of mind.

 

[THEREED]

Latest Summary:

• My steering is now confirmed on sales code 70FA and undoubtedly worse than before the TSB
• My experience with dealer was not perfectly smooth but they made it right
• I'm not sure what can be done still, perhaps @JeepCares can inform?

What took so long?
Two weeks ago my 2018 two door Rubicon was in the shop to get TSB 08-003-21 done. After getting it back I can tell it's slightly worse. I can confirm the steering box is replaced (visible after popping the hood) though they missed the track bar replacement (only applicable to early model). I did not get print out of steering software update (see this post) nor an alignment printout. I called the dealership soon after and found out the service advisor literally stopped working there an hour after I picked up my Jeep. So had to start appointment process again.

Fast forward to today. They replaced my track bar that was missed the first time, made sure the steering software was updated, and did alignment with printout. I picked it up and was excited for it to be better or at least on par with the original feel of the aluminum steering box. Boy was I disappointed... At least the manager had a good attitude to make it right. Hemade sure to hook up to their DealerConnect system and I can see indeed on 70FA (and not the old software 5SY). Although now I think about it I'm not sure why there's an extra 'A' in 70FA. @THEREED I see you're in the same boat as me! Let me know if you observe what I describe below.

Why do I say the steering is worse?
Not only does it have the wander on the highway, now even on city streets the center dead-spot feel is amplified! The way the power steering kicks in (or holds back the assist) really emphasizes the center dead-spot way more. If I were the programmer and my goal was to make the dead-spot the most pronounced, that's exactly the code I would write. It's hard to imagine Jeep intended this. Could the culprit be the extra 'A' in 70FA?

See my diagram. The center feels like it's gliding on air - like power steering is jacked up on caffeine. It coincides roughly with the dead zone. Then it abruptly stops the over boost. You really feel it, so much so I can hear a "tick" and sense a pulse when I hit that wall. Like the electric system suddenly cut power or changed voltage. It's fairly consistent but every now and then the tick isn't there, which makes me feel like this version of software screams Beta software.

So when I'm driving along in the green zone I make micro adjustments and the steering floats about doing zero steering. Then I make slightly more adjustment and it hits the wall with sudden jump in effort required (along with the tick). Instead of working cohesively with the mechanical system, it feels like the software has gone rogue and drawing more attention to its flaw.

From a steering feel perspective I regret doing this TSB. Overall it's a wash because I eventually want to go to larger tires and feel the cast iron steering box provides some additional peace of mind.

Yes!!!! I was wondering why mine had 70FA and disappointed with the result. Mine feels very similar to yours where the boost seems inconsistent throughout a steering cycle and my dead zone is worse than the last aluminum version. I find that at slow speeds the feel is better and the faster I go the more dead spot increases and steering has a lighter feel. I have not heard the tick nor any whine but as you describe the feel and response seems different throughout a full rotation of the steering wheel.

I ended up adding a Falcon 2.1 TS stabilizer which helps immensely adding a consistent heavier feel with better tracking but obviously doesn’t help my biggest pet peeve, the dead spot play. This is a band aid not a solution.

the big unanswered question for me is the difference between sales code 70F and 70FA and if that is the culprit. Is there some documentation from Jeep that has all of the sales codes listed? Is it possible the “A” has something to do with an error or incorrectly applied flash? I am hopeful that this is the issue as we have the correct hardware but not sure what to make of the software applied

 

[PNW_JL]

I'm experiencing the same you both. Next thing for me to try are the longer Mopar LCA's and see if there's any improvement.

 

[THEREED]

I'm experiencing the same you both. Next thing for me to try are the longer Mopar LCA's and see if there's any improvement.

Please keep us posted. I just drove about 200 miles today and am very frustrated. Under 40mph it seems good but over 40 the dead spot play is ridiculous. I am convinced it is software related especially since my sales code is slightly different than the TSB​

 

[THEREED]

Posted on another similar thread:

matter Looking closer at TSB 08-003-21, is it possible a dealer can not update the EHPS software but still add the Sales Code 70F? I am trying to understand if 2 distinct steps or if updating the EHPS is done by updating the Sales Code

 

[JeepCares]

Latest Summary:

• My steering is now confirmed on sales code 70FA and undoubtedly worse than before the TSB
• My experience with dealer was not perfectly smooth but they made it right
• I'm not sure what can be done still, perhaps @JeepCares can inform?

What took so long?
Two weeks ago my 2018 two door Rubicon was in the shop to get TSB 08-003-21 done. After getting it back I can tell it's slightly worse. I can confirm the steering box is replaced (visible after popping the hood) though they missed the track bar replacement (only applicable to early model). I did not get print out of steering software update (see this post) nor an alignment printout. I called the dealership soon after and found out the service advisor literally stopped working there an hour after I picked up my Jeep. So had to start appointment process again.

Fast forward to today. They replaced my track bar that was missed the first time, made sure the steering software was updated, and did alignment with printout. I picked it up and was excited for it to be better or at least on par with the original feel of the aluminum steering box. Boy was I disappointed... At least the manager had a good attitude to make it right. Hemade sure to hook up to their DealerConnect system and I can see indeed on 70FA (and not the old software 5SY). Although now I think about it I'm not sure why there's an extra 'A' in 70FA. @THEREED I see you're in the same boat as me! Let me know if you observe what I describe below.

Why do I say the steering is worse?
Not only does it have the wander on the highway, now even on city streets the center dead-spot feel is amplified! The way the power steering kicks in (or holds back the assist) really emphasizes the center dead-spot way more. If I were the programmer and my goal was to make the dead-spot the most pronounced, that's exactly the code I would write. It's hard to imagine Jeep intended this. Could the culprit be the extra 'A' in 70FA?

See my diagram. The center feels like it's gliding on air - like power steering is jacked up on caffeine. It coincides roughly with the dead zone. Then it abruptly stops the over boost. You really feel it, so much so I can hear a "tick" and sense a pulse when I hit that wall. Like the electric system suddenly cut power or changed voltage. It's fairly consistent but every now and then the tick isn't there, which makes me feel like this version of software screams Beta software.

So when I'm driving along in the green zone I make micro adjustments and the steering floats about doing zero steering. Then I make slightly more adjustment and it hits the wall with sudden jump in effort required (along with the tick). Instead of working cohesively with the mechanical system, it feels like the software has gone rogue and drawing more attention to its flaw.

From a steering feel perspective I regret doing this TSB. Overall it's a wash because I eventually want to go to larger tires and feel the cast iron steering box provides some additional peace of mind.

I'm sorry to hear this! To clarify, are you still experiencing concerns with the steering that you would like us to dig into? Send us a PM with more details.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[MrBell]

Update:

I picked up my 2019 Wrangler from the dealer yesterday with the new steering box. Total disaster. Steering wheel started violently shaking when I drove over an expansion joint on the freeway. The steering alignment was also way off... I had to turn the wheel to the left in order to get my Wrangler to drive straight even though they claimed an alignment had been done.

It boggles my mind the dealer returned my car in an un-drivable and super dangerous condition. Clearly the parts were just slammed in and no test evaluation was done. The service advisor told me they were under-staffed and even asked me if I knew anyone who they could hire. Really?

@JeepCares This is an unacceptable outcome. My Wrangler has now spent nearly a month at the dealer for various repairs including an electrical failure and a major coolant leak where the motor had to be disassembled.

 

[JeepCares]

Update:

I picked up my 2019 Wrangler from the dealer yesterday with the new steering box. Total disaster. Steering wheel started violently shaking when I drove over an expansion joint on the freeway. The steering alignment was also way off... I had to turn the wheel to the left in order to get my Wrangler to drive straight even though they claimed an alignment had been done.

It boggles my mind the dealer returned my car in an un-drivable and super dangerous condition. Clearly the parts were just slammed in and no test evaluation was done. The service advisor told me they were under-staffed and even asked me if I knew anyone who they could hire. Really?

@JeepCares This is an unacceptable outcome. My Wrangler has now spent nearly a month at the dealer for various repairs including an electrical failure and a major coolant leak where the motor had to be disassembled.

So sorry to hear this! We have located your private message and will continue to work with you there.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[MrBell]

My steering box replacement nightmare continues. Now pushing three weeks at the dealer with no outcome in sight. @JeepCares

 

[PNW_JL]

@MrBell is your Jeep sitting at AutoNation? Mine got taken in and resolved right away locally. I can get you in contact with my advisor. They worked closely with @JeepCares and myself to get this done.

Sponsored