Purchased my 2003 Suburban Quadrasteer new and was lucky enough to do it when the option cost the most. Soccer Mom/Family travel vehicle. ~120K miles.
Would buy a new one if I could, since everything every one says is true about how great Quadrasteer is. That is when it is working.
Unfortunately we were not among the many posting here that seem to have gotten a bullet proof setup.
Over the last 11 years we have had it in the shop twice before at about $1K each for various module change-outs and harness "adjustments" that always seemed to keep it running for about a year. Then over the next several years it would degrade until we either brought it back in to the dealer, or as I stand now, I am learning the systems myself with the intention of self repair forever. Degrade is to kick out of 4WS back to 2WS and state "Service Quadrasteer"
We REALLY do not want to live without this truck with it's Quadrasteer functional.
The challenges as I see them to owning a Quadrasteer are as I seem them are as follows:
1) Replacement Module Availability
2) Expertise/Equipped to repair
These are now what I believe to be the three most likely modules to fail.
For my 2003 Suburban:
26091590 Sensor Kit, Rear Wheel Steering position. Available
26108739 Motor Kit, Rear Wheel Steering Actuator. Available
15087554 Module, Rear Wheel Steering Controller. Discontinued?, Unavailable? Some seem willing to take money ($1200-1300), but doubt they have stock.
As far as Expertise, the basic problem is that there were so few sold and they are all spread out, that no dealer ever gets to work on more than one or two if any. As far as equipment to diagnose, the diagnostic codes for Quadrasteer and controls are not part of the OBD2 specification and are proprietary to GM. You can only get this DTC information, perform a relearn after a module replacement, or download any updated software using the GM TECH2 diagnostic tool. This leaves you at the mercy of the dealer that has not experience with the system.
I have decided to solve the Expertise issue by learning this system myself. Given other issues I have fixed on this complex vehicle related to bad wiring and connectors, I am highly suspicious that some previous module replacements were not needed. I have been able with many hours of searching to locate all the schematics, diagnostic info and part numbers via google.
So far the dealer that sold me the car was cooperative when I brought the vehicle in for a quick TECH2 scan. They said $99, but I came prepared and got screen shots of all the data screens on the TECH2 in about 15 minutes that I needed, so they did not charge me. Note that you can get a TECH2 for about $3-5K, but if you want to update software, you also need to buy a license for online access for a fixed time or annually. There are Chinese knockoffs available for around $450 with shipping, that may or may not be at least able to read the Quadrasteer data streams, if they work at all. never heard of anyone trying one of these cheap ones with Quadrasteer. If you have and are reading this, please chime in. I would take the risk and buy one if I knew it should work. The data available via the TECH2 in regards to the Quadrasteer system is quite extensive and far more than just DTCs. Actual voltage readings from all the sensors involved, and for the battery feeds to the controller module. Steering angles etc.
In my case, the Quadrasteer is working fine and we captured readings for straight ahead and steering wheel 180 right and left. Then "Service Quadrasteer" message appears and it shuts down to 2 wheel steering. The TECH2 is still communicating with the controller module, and to our surprise, the Main High Current Battery feed which had been at 13V was now reporting only 2.5V, while the Switched Ignition Battery input was still reporting ~13V. So, this is either in the Wiring from the battery, or inside the Main controller module where the voltage sensing circuit resides. That would be the discontinued module.
I am still in mid diagnosis as I write this. The main power wiring is as follows. Directly off Battery + Terminal red wire to a stand alone 125A Mega fuse hidden under the plastic cowl of the engine compartment fuse block. Then from this Mega Fuse over red wire all the way back to the Quadrasteer Control Module. There is a main black ground wire that also runs from the Alternator bracket in the engine compartment all way back to the Quadrasteer module. I read that sometimes the Mega fuse is loose. Mine seems OK, I was unable to detect any voltage drops in the engine compartment on these lines. Next stop is back to the controller module itself.
My fear is that this will be internal to the Controller Module. If your reading this and you have a Quadrasteer controller module GM 15087554 to sell, please let me know. Otherwise I may have no choice but to crack mine open and reverse engineer it.
Any chance anyone has Schematics for the internal circuits on the Quadrasteer Controller? Ex. Delphi employees?
Sorry for the ramble.
Would I buy a used Quadrasteer vehicle?
Maybe not today, but if the guy selling it could look me in the face and say he has never had a lick of trouble with it, then I might just have to trust him, as I cannot live without one any more.
If controller modules truly cannot be replaced, I would have to think twice about getting hooked on this particular drug.