domesticpower
Track Addict
EDIT: I forgot to mention that, for what it's worth, the problem seems to occur more frequently on hotter days. I have no idea how heat could be an issue that Ford didn't run into, considering that I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and Ford did a lot of testing in California and I know I am far from the skill level of Ford's test drivers so I don't push as hard. The hottest it was while I was at the track was 27 deg C/79 deg F. It is the only thing that I am able to consistently relate to the problem though. My only guess is that because Laguna Seca is a faster track than the one I go to and I don't push the car as far, the car doesn't see as much airflow and heat builds up more under the hood.
Scroll to the bottom for a summary.
I have a 2012 Boss 302 and it randomly counter steers in the middle of a turn. It has done it in the middle of slalom exercises and at the end of accident avoidance exercises at HPDE (while the car is going 10 mph (15 km/h)) and in the middle of track sessions. As the steering wheel is turned in one direction, I feel the steering wheel tug very strongly in the opposite direction for only about half a second and then goes back. I don't know if it's AdvanceTrac malfunctioning and counter steering or it's a power steering problem. The car is never out of shape when it happens and tires aren't even be close to squealing (I have street tires that give a lot of warning at the limit). It has gone so far as to steer me into a skid off the track which could have easily caused a crash. It has happened with me and a couple of other driving instructors driving the car, with stability control on and off, and with the silver key and the track key.
I have gone to the dealership 3 times for this. The first time, when there were codes, they replaced the steering rack. The codes were C1B00 and U300. The second two times there were no codes and they didn't do anything. They said it was stability control counter steering to get the car back in shape, despite the fact that the car was not out of shape and it happens with stability control completely turned off. Every time it happens, the stability control active and traction control off lights come up on the dash and stay on but they go away once the car is turned off and back on.
The third time they said it was the track key... here is the paragraph they referenced from the track key document:
"Note: The Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) unit varies the electric power steering assist according to the vehicle speed message sent out on the network from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). While the set-point is being changed, the PCM is sending a false vehicle speed message to the instrument cluster so that the driver can select the desired set-point. The EPAS unit will interpret this as actual vehicle speed and can move the steering wheel suddenly if it is turned slightly. Consequently it is recommended to have the steering wheel pointing straight ahead prior to entering the Pit Lane Speed Control set mode. Note also that if the parking brake is engaged, the cluster will ding because the vehicle believes it is in motion. If the auto door lock feature is activated, the doors will lock as well."
I tried to explain to them what this actually meant but they were completely convinced that what I feel is the EPAS varying assist as a function of the track key...
I contacted Ford customer service, they opened a case and assigned me a customer service manager but they were no help. I was told that what's happening is because of suspension tuning, since the car is a street car and not a race car. I tried to tell them that I know of other Boss 302 owners that don't have the problem on the track but they stuck to their statement. I am no suspension expert but I have no idea how any kind of suspension tuning causes the car to counter steer briefly, especially when it is going 10 mph (15 km/h), while all 4 wheels are on the ground. If that is possible, I hope someone can explain it to me so that I can fix it.
I bought the Ford Racing steering rack - M-3200-EPAS - and installed it in hope that the problem is from the OEM rack and that didn't help.
The car has a Fays2 Watt's link and 285/35/18 Cont. Ext. Contact DW tires on 18x9.5 TSW Nurb. (40 off.) wheels at all four corners.
This is getting so frustrating that I am considering selling the car. Any help would be appreciated.
Summary
I have a 2012 Boss 302 and it car counter steer randomly in the middle of a turn at the track. It has done it in the middle of slalom exercises and at the end of accident avoidance exercises at HPDE (while the car is going 10 mph (15 km/h)) and in the middle of track sessions. As the steering wheel is turned in one direction, I feel the steering wheel tug very strongly in the opposite direction for only about half a second and then it goes back to normal. It has gone so far as steer me off the track and into a skid.
The dealership was no help and I contacted Ford customer service and they were no help either. They both came up with explanation that didn't make sense to me (above). The car stored codes once, C1B00 and U300. Every time it happens, the stability control active and traction control off lights come up on the dash and stay on but they go away once the car is turned off and back on and it stores no codes. It has happened with me and a couple of other driving instructors driving the car, with stability control on and off, and with the silver key and the track key.
I bought the Ford Racing steering rack - M-3200-EPAS - and installed it in hope that the problem is from the OEM rack and that didn't help.
The car has a Fays2 Watt's link and 285/35/18 Cont. Ext. Contact DW tires on 18x9.5 TSW Nurb. (40 off.) wheels at all four corners but is otherwise stock.
This is getting so frustrating that I am considering selling the car. Any help would be appreciated.
Scroll to the bottom for a summary.
I have a 2012 Boss 302 and it randomly counter steers in the middle of a turn. It has done it in the middle of slalom exercises and at the end of accident avoidance exercises at HPDE (while the car is going 10 mph (15 km/h)) and in the middle of track sessions. As the steering wheel is turned in one direction, I feel the steering wheel tug very strongly in the opposite direction for only about half a second and then goes back. I don't know if it's AdvanceTrac malfunctioning and counter steering or it's a power steering problem. The car is never out of shape when it happens and tires aren't even be close to squealing (I have street tires that give a lot of warning at the limit). It has gone so far as to steer me into a skid off the track which could have easily caused a crash. It has happened with me and a couple of other driving instructors driving the car, with stability control on and off, and with the silver key and the track key.
I have gone to the dealership 3 times for this. The first time, when there were codes, they replaced the steering rack. The codes were C1B00 and U300. The second two times there were no codes and they didn't do anything. They said it was stability control counter steering to get the car back in shape, despite the fact that the car was not out of shape and it happens with stability control completely turned off. Every time it happens, the stability control active and traction control off lights come up on the dash and stay on but they go away once the car is turned off and back on.
The third time they said it was the track key... here is the paragraph they referenced from the track key document:
"Note: The Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) unit varies the electric power steering assist according to the vehicle speed message sent out on the network from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). While the set-point is being changed, the PCM is sending a false vehicle speed message to the instrument cluster so that the driver can select the desired set-point. The EPAS unit will interpret this as actual vehicle speed and can move the steering wheel suddenly if it is turned slightly. Consequently it is recommended to have the steering wheel pointing straight ahead prior to entering the Pit Lane Speed Control set mode. Note also that if the parking brake is engaged, the cluster will ding because the vehicle believes it is in motion. If the auto door lock feature is activated, the doors will lock as well."
I tried to explain to them what this actually meant but they were completely convinced that what I feel is the EPAS varying assist as a function of the track key...
I contacted Ford customer service, they opened a case and assigned me a customer service manager but they were no help. I was told that what's happening is because of suspension tuning, since the car is a street car and not a race car. I tried to tell them that I know of other Boss 302 owners that don't have the problem on the track but they stuck to their statement. I am no suspension expert but I have no idea how any kind of suspension tuning causes the car to counter steer briefly, especially when it is going 10 mph (15 km/h), while all 4 wheels are on the ground. If that is possible, I hope someone can explain it to me so that I can fix it.
I bought the Ford Racing steering rack - M-3200-EPAS - and installed it in hope that the problem is from the OEM rack and that didn't help.
The car has a Fays2 Watt's link and 285/35/18 Cont. Ext. Contact DW tires on 18x9.5 TSW Nurb. (40 off.) wheels at all four corners.
This is getting so frustrating that I am considering selling the car. Any help would be appreciated.
Summary
I have a 2012 Boss 302 and it car counter steer randomly in the middle of a turn at the track. It has done it in the middle of slalom exercises and at the end of accident avoidance exercises at HPDE (while the car is going 10 mph (15 km/h)) and in the middle of track sessions. As the steering wheel is turned in one direction, I feel the steering wheel tug very strongly in the opposite direction for only about half a second and then it goes back to normal. It has gone so far as steer me off the track and into a skid.
The dealership was no help and I contacted Ford customer service and they were no help either. They both came up with explanation that didn't make sense to me (above). The car stored codes once, C1B00 and U300. Every time it happens, the stability control active and traction control off lights come up on the dash and stay on but they go away once the car is turned off and back on and it stores no codes. It has happened with me and a couple of other driving instructors driving the car, with stability control on and off, and with the silver key and the track key.
I bought the Ford Racing steering rack - M-3200-EPAS - and installed it in hope that the problem is from the OEM rack and that didn't help.
The car has a Fays2 Watt's link and 285/35/18 Cont. Ext. Contact DW tires on 18x9.5 TSW Nurb. (40 off.) wheels at all four corners but is otherwise stock.
This is getting so frustrating that I am considering selling the car. Any help would be appreciated.