2011 CTT - adaptive power steering not adapting..

[deilenberger]

SO - you try to do something nice, like have my '11 CTT with 106,000 miles on it detailed.  Guy did a great job EXCEPT he sprayed down the engine compartment with a pressure washer. I didn't spot that until he was done doing it.

 

When I picked it up the steering felt funny - like there was no assist. I guess there was some since I suspect it's about undriveable without the assist. No error messages on the dash, but scanning it with my Foxwell NT530 turned up an error code along the lines of "Failsafe Steering Engaged"..  I cleared that code and the steering returned to normal, very light and easy at slow speeds, becoming stiffer as speed increased. So I figured it was just a one time thing.

 

The car was OK for several days, but in nice weather it often sits for a week or more in the driveway (I'm using the Boxster with the top down). Last night - bad weather so the Boxster stayed in the garage and the Cayenne was called into duty..  and again - the assist wasn't what I expected it to be. I haven't hooked up the diagnostics box yet, maybe get to that this afternoon.

 

I'm thinking it's probably a soaked connector somewhere that's dropping electrical power or a signal that regulates the steering rack assist.

 

Anyone else had this issue?  Any pointers would be a nice thing.

 

Thanks!