Steering Angle Sensor: Description
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Chrysler Crossfire. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
An optical steering angle sensor is used to sense the steering angle specified by the driver's actions. The steering angle sensor consists of two micro-computers which work together with a signal measuring ring to form one unit. There are nine LED's that are evenly spaced in the steering angle sensor. They are located in a light-beam barrier which eight different lenght blades pass through. The light-beam barriers are located in the clockspring and only when the two components (clockspring and the steering angle sensor) are clipped together do they form the complete functional unit of the optical steering angle sensor.