Chassis, generic

C0252 Pump Motor Ground Circuit Open

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleRequired
Limp modePossible

C0252 has no entry in the publicly available J2012 tables, nor does any maker tie it to a pump motor ground. Saab and GM use it for stability control plausibility. The 2002 to 2010 Saab 9-5 with Bosch ESP sets it after a rare event while ABS or ESP is regulating, such as the car sliding sideways with locked wheels, or after a brief voltage drop at the steering angle or yaw rate sensor. The 2011 9-5 (GM) calls it Vehicle Stability Control Module Sensors Correlation Malfunction: steering angle, yaw rate and lateral acceleration disagree, or straight driving is not recognised within 2.5 km. GM bulletin PIC3171E links C0252 on the 2005 to 2006 Cadillac STS to a loose lower steering column bearing that corrupts the steering position signal.

Likely causes

Steering angle sensor not calibrated, misaligned or disturbed by column play
Loose or wrongly mounted yaw rate / multi-axis acceleration sensor
Incorrect wheel alignment after suspension work
Rare driving situation during regulation (sliding with stationary wheels)

Symptoms

  • ESP OFF or stability control lamp on
  • Unwanted stability control intervention when turning
  • Stability control and hill start assist disabled

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumWorkshop job
Parts and labour€0–800
Time0.5–3 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

steering angle sensoryaw rate sensorabs control module

Related codes

C0196C0186C0710C0460C0287

References: saabwisonline.com, saabwisonline.com, static.nhtsa.gov.