Service Active Handling

By Bob Popcke - 2007 Corvette Coupe, on June 17, 2012

The other day the "Service Active Handling" warning light appeared on the dash of my 2007 Corvette. I then took my car to Dimmitt to check it out; they knew of the problem, and performed the recommended fix, and so far it seems to work okay. I have included some discussion on this subject from the C6 Corvette Forum. After reading this discussion, it looks like a very serious problem, and should be made a recall. If you have a 2005-2008 Corvette, you should have this situation checked out.

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Service Active Handling - Consumer Action

Fellow C6 Owners of Corvette forum,

Doing a search on the term "Service Active Handling" brings up a litany of titles such as "wiped out on the highway" or "brakes seized" in your search results. After becoming a victim of a light speed incident of this failure I decided to do my homework. The information below is not intended to alarm anyone, but please take this thread seriously as your car may be fine, but it may be the life of a fellow Corvette brother you save by taking action.

GM made an "effort" to address the AH/TCS concern by releasing Technical Service Bulletin 06-02-35-002B THE BULLETIN WAS INTENDED TO CORRECT A FRETTING CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR CONNECTOR C202. This went from installing a zip tie to now inserting a "clip" to ensure the wire is not frayed or pulled taught.

Example of reported incident:

Quote:

Defect Investigations Summary

Make: CHEVROLET
Model: CORVETTE
Year: 2005-2008
NHTSA Action Number: PE08056

Summary:
ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2008, ODI OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE08-056 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005 AND 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE VEHICLES. SOME REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI AND SOME REPORTS TO GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CONTAINED IN GM'S RESPONSE TO PE08-056 ALLEGE THAT THE ESC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A SUDDEN AND INAPPROPRIATE BRAKING ACTION WITHOUT ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE LEFT OR RIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY. GM ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN JANUARY 2006, LATER REVISED IN OCTOBER 2007 (BULLETIN NO. 06-02-35-002B) CONCERNING ESC PROBLEMS IN MY 2005 AND 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE VEHICLES WITH THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL OPTION. THE BULLETIN WAS INTENDED TO CORRECT A FRETTING CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR CONNECTOR C202. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED (EA09-002) TO CONTINUE TO ASSES THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, AND SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.

I recommend any one with any concern with their Electronic Stability Control (Traction Control / Active Handling) system contact the Office of Defect and Investigation (ODI) both informally through the contact link and formally with an official reporting link. Also, for those that have not yet had an issue, but still drive a 2005-2008 model year; it may be in your future interest to also send a letter of concern to the ODI.

Here is the OFFICIAL report the ODI currently is operating with:

As you can see they have only a few limited reports of this incident when this forum alone has twice as many. If this is a systemic engineer problem the number of incidents will only increase as our cars age and wear.

Please be sure to address your concerns to the Engineer currently working on the case, Stephen McHenrystephen.mchenry@dot.gov (202) 366-4883 and the Office Director, Kathleen C DeMeter kathleen.demeter@dot.gov.

Use this form to contact ODI:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/contact.cfm
Please be sure to include the current investigation number EA09-002

Complete a formal complaint form here:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/

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Here is a copy of the Service Bulletin:

2005-2008: Service Bulletin: Stabilitrak/Active Handling Light On, Service Stabilitrak/Active Handling Message on DIC

Subject:
Stabilitrak/Active Handling Light On, Service Stabilitrak/Active Handling Message on DIC, DTC C0710 Steering Wheel Position Sensor (SWPS) Signal Set (Install Clip in SWPS Connector) #06-02-35-002B - (10/19/2007)

Models:
2004-2008 Cadillac XLR
2005-2008 Chevrolet Corvette with Steering Wheel - Tilt, Telescoping (RPO N37 or N38)

Condition:
Some customers may comment on a Stabilitrak® or Active Handling System light being illuminated. Also, this warning light will be accompanied by a SERVICE STABILITRAK or SERVICE ACTIVE HNDLG message on the DIC.

Diagnosis with a scan tool may reveal a DTC C0710.

Cause:
The most likely cause of a DTC C0710 on a vehicle equipped with telescoping/tilt steering wheel is high resistance in SWPS connector C202. Fretting terminal corrosion may be present in the SWPS connector due to the telescoping motion of the steering column. When the steering column is telescoped in and out, the female terminals within the SWPS connector may move on the male terminals of the SWPS. This movement between the terminals may cause a high resistance condition in the SWPS connector.

Correction:
Remove the driver's side closeout (insulator) panel.

Locate the SWPS connector that connects to the steering angle sensor, located on the lower center of the steering column.

Install the clip (1), P/N 19179794, into the connector. This clip will act as a terminal positive assurance (TPA) and prevent any movement of the terminals.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.