One question what the hell is that?! Came on a couple of days ago the manual said to hit the reset button to get rid of it (did it). Now when i went to start the car it came on again. I must have read the manual about a dozen times already it makes no sense at all. Do i have to take to person who can scan it or something? By someone meaning the repairshop

That's your Magnasteer power-assisted steering system. Do you have a GT? GTP? or GTP CompG?

the GT and GTP have the Magnasteer I system, while the latter has the Magnasteer II, which includes magnetic power assist, from what I've read.

The owners manual states that if you want to clear the message from the DIC and you want to view your odometer or trip mileage, etc (depending on the 3 or 5-button DIC you have), you'll have to hit the reset button, which temporarily disables the message so you can access the rest of the DIC.

If that message comes on the DIC, I would assume something has gone wrong with your power steering system. Get a code scanner and see what Chassis code it is.

Could very well be this DTC: C0450 Steering Assist Control Solenoid/Motor/Actuator Circuit = EBCM. Though, I'd make double sure by getting it read and cleared. Once it's cleared it may come back again. If it does, then there's a definite sure-fire sign of a malfunction. If it doesn't come on ever again, then it may just be an electrical fluke. In any case, just disregard it and continue on to be awesome.

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I have the Comp G package.

The funny thing is I hooked up a scanner to it but the scanner is not even reading anything. The light for it came on when I was trying to get on the road from a parking lot driveway, I took it pretty fast, but that shouldn't do anything it tho. But when I do make a turn something in the steering component makes a noise don't even know how to explain never heard of the kind before. But its been making that noise since I test drove the car which was 2 months ago.

Does it make a clunking noise? Scraping/rubbing? Whining? You have to have either a GM Tech scanner or a high-end scanner that can read GM Chassis DTCs. Taking a turn at high speeds can potentially damage some of the steering components, depending on driving conditions, the condition of your car, so on and so fourth.

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Somewhere in the lines of scraping rubbing and whining, wells thx tho looks like the car is going back to the shop again

I'm thinking it may have something to do with the power steering pump itself. If it's clunking and whining, there may be a short to the power supply to the pump, causing the Variable Effort Steering message to come on. Good luck, and let us know how things go!

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Had this issue before on my CompG. I think the mechanic told me it was the PCM? Not sure on that one. Will need to check my old paper work to be sure.
On my case, it would be hard to steer, but it was not the steering pump .. it was an electric component. I will check.

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2005 Black GTP CompG

SPO Grills/Spoiler
SE Front/Rear Fascia
5K HID
LED tails/license
Magnaflow tails
SSC Lowering Springs

Future MODs:
CAI - Waiting to be installed

No hardness in sterring at all? seems to steer fine... but now i've notice it coming on when i hit bump/pothole on the road along with the abs/tc light coming on.

Hmm.. also you may want to check your tie rod ends (part of the steering system) to see if there's any play in the wheels. Excessive play could cause some strange noises coming from the wheels and may trigger a DTC.

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Yup getting the tie rods fixed seems to have solve the variable steering light.

check out cheapabs.com

04 comp g's are known for faulty bosch ebcms...

Meaning, your abs light comes on, then your tcs light, then you have no variable power steering, then no stability control...

Someone mentions these kinds of problems every other week on here...

Im not saying thats your probllem for sure, but it should be a suspect...

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2004 GTP Comp G. The Daily Driver.
JULY 2011 GPONA COTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNwgZGrvJ0
1992 GTA Trans Am. The Toy.
2003 VW Jetta. The Spousal Unit.

thanks for the wedsite just send in the abs unit for my expedition, they estimate between 100-120 dollars comapred to the 600 bucks from the dealer.

Mine will be sent out shortly also... Let us know how it goes..

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2004 GTP Comp G. The Daily Driver.
JULY 2011 GPONA COTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNwgZGrvJ0
1992 GTA Trans Am. The Toy.
2003 VW Jetta. The Spousal Unit.