Vectra's Power Steering Nightmare: ABS & DSC Alert SOS

Hey there, I had the exact same issue with my '07 Vauxhall Antara 2.0 CDTI last winter. The steering angle sensor coding was indeed the culprit in my case. When it happened, I also got those warning lights and the steering was really heavy, especially at low speeds. Took it to my local garage, and they diagnosed it with their diagnostic tool. The sensor itself wasn't faulty, it just needed recalibration and proper coding. They had to reset the sensor to its default position and then recalibrate it with the car's computer system. The whole process took about an hour. Just make sure whoever works on it has the right diagnostic equipment for Vauxhall vehicles. This isn't a huge repair, but it needs to be done correctly to avoid any steering issues down the line. My garage found that the sensor had lost its calibration after they replaced my car's battery a few weeks earlier. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing that! My issue sounds exactly like what you described, such a relief to hear it might just be the sensor coding. Quick question: do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other steering-related problems pop up? Just want to know what I might be in for. Cheers!

Hey again! Just to follow up, yep, everything's been running perfectly since I got it fixed. Not a single steering issue since then, and all those warning lights stayed off. I paid 195€ for the repair, which was basically just for recoding the steering angle sensor. Pretty reasonable considering how much of a headache those symptoms were causing! I remember being worried it might be something more serious (and expensive!), but the mechanic sorted it out quickly. They hooked up their Vauxhall diagnostic tool, did their magic with the coding, and boom, problem solved. The steering went back to being smooth as butter, especially around those tight parking spots where it was really acting up before. Trust me, once it's fixed properly, you won't have to worry about it again. My Antara's been running like a dream for months now. Sometimes these modern cars just need a bit of electronic TLC, you know what I mean? Let me know how it goes with yours!

What a relief! Thanks so much for all the info. Actually, I just got back from the mechanic today, you were spot on! Took your advice and found a shop with proper Vauxhall diagnostics. Funny enough, my bill came to 210€, pretty close to what you paid. The mechanic showed me exactly what they were doing with the sensor recalibration. Took about an hour and a half total, most of that time was them running diagnostics to make sure everything was properly coded. The difference is like night and day! Steering's butter-smooth now, all those warning lights are gone, and that annoying shake has completely disappeared. Such a weight off my mind knowing it wasn't something more serious. Really appreciate everyone's help here, saved me from stressing out over what turned out to be a pretty straightforward fix. Time to enjoy my properly functioning Vectra again!