Intermittent ACC Cancellation Issues

[pbrevo64]

Hey all, been dealing with this issue for 6+ months now, but over the last couple months it has became significantly worse. Quick facts: 2020 JTR, 46,000 miles, stock wheels/tires, only suspension change is a 1" front suspension spacer. The issue I am running into is that my ACC and cruise control randomly cancel themselves, with the message "ACC Unavailable Service Required" (or "Cruise Control Unavailable Service Required" for regular cruise control). Rather than it being similar to issues others have had where the message is displayed and ACC is unavailable for the rest of the drive, it only flashes for a split second. The same also applies for regular cruise control.

It started with just low speed turning when parking, where it would beep at me after a long drive using ACC but only canceling it rather than turning it off once I reach my destination. Over time, it would happen more and more, but primarily at low speeds, until it finally started occurring on the highway on bends in the road. It now is to the point where it cancels and gives me the error while driving straight or nearly straight. Some days I can go the whole day with it not happening at all or only happening a couple of times (I commute 30+ miles each way), but other days it will happen 20+ times on my commute.

Rough order of my thoughts over the last 6 months of this:

1. I thought it was a normal thing with ACC, as it started while parking, so often around a change from drive to reverse after a long trip.
2. I connected that it was happening when turning the wheel significantly, which led me to believe it was a wheel speed sensor harness getting stretched, or that had a loose connection. I checked all connections, and removed any and all dirt I could from the brakes, rotors, axle area, and any connectors near the wheels.
3. I found on the WK2 forum that some Grand Cherokee guys were having similar issues, but theirs stemmed from a poorly installed sensor (theirs is located in their bumper I believe). Their issues seemed to be constant, rather the intermittent issue I am having, which made me believe that the sensor was not the culprit (I would presume that a bad sensor would lead to a constant issue).
4. I began noticing that the issue would happen at the same steering angle.
5. During a night drive, I caught out of the corner of my eye that the lights on the steering wheel would flash on and off, and noticed it was consistent with the ACC error/cancelling. I confirmed that none of the steering wheel buttons work when this happens.
6. Lastly, I had the ACC service error light come on while I was at a stop light (steering wheel must have been turned just right), and if I hit the underside of the steering column, it would go away momentarily.

My current thoughts are that there is a wiring harness in the steering column, or a connection in the steering wheel that has a short or a bad connection, and is therefore sending a signal that there is no steering position value, which would cause both ACC and cruise control to throw an error. I should note, the Jeep does still steer when the lights go out and I have the ACC error.

Has anyone else had this happen to them, and had any success remedying the problem? Alternatively, those of you who are familiar with the wiring within the Jeep, or have taken apart the drivers side of the dash, do you have any suggestions on what harness or connectors to start checking first?

Below are a couple videos that I had my passenger take that show the issues happening:






TL;DR My ACC sporadically cancels and gives me an error multiple times a drive. It seems to be only at certain steering angles. The lights and buttons on the steering wheel also stop working when this happens. I think it is a bad connection in the steering wheel harness.

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[sass JT]

Did you or shop put in the spacer?

also did you straighten your steering wheel with the draglink adjuster?

 

[pbrevo64]

Did you or shop put in the spacer?

also did you straighten your steering wheel with the draglink adjuster?

I installed the spacer, and did not adjust the drag link after. I added the spacer to compensate for bumper and winch weight, and the alignment check came back good afterwards. There was 8 or so months between installing the spacers and this issue starting.

 

[pbrevo64]

Quick update, I tore into the dash a little last night, I did not see anything visually concerning, and snugged up all the connections behind the airbag, and down the steering column (that I could reach). I ensured all fuses were seated as well. Put everything back together, and went on a two mile test ride and still had issues at low speeds. This morning, ACC worked the entire drive to work, but I will keep an eye on it the rest of this week and see if the issue persists. If it does, I might have to take it into the dealer if nobody else has had similar issues.

 

[pbrevo64]

Thought I would post another update. I have not had the chance to bring it into the dealer, but after driving it a couple weeks after snugging up the wiring as best I could, I noticed some changes. First, the ACC only cancels about 3/4 the way to full lock, and in one direction only (win!). The other change is now my heated steering wheel cancels itself sometimes, but I cannot seem to find a repeatable instance that causes this. Did some searching on the JL forum, and a few others have had this issue (plus sometimes it is red hot, other times it is only warm) and most had to have the whole steering wheel replaced, which is not something I am wanting to deal with out of warranty. Will post more if I have any new changes.

 

[pbrevo64]

Finally got around to resolving this issue a couple weeks ago. Ended up being the clock spring. Replaced the clock spring, and all the issues with ACC and steering wheel functions are gone. The DTC's have yet to reappear as well.

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