Next dispatch: 00d 18h 18m 03s
Contact Us | Blog | Login | Register
My Garage
  • Parts
Hobbies Direct
Australia's Ultimate Hobby & RC Shop.
Part Finder
Loading...
Loading...
Start typing to search for a product.
  • Account
  • Account
  • 0
    Cart
Loading...
Start typing to search for a product.
  • RC Vehicles
    • RC Cars
      RC Cars
      • Trucks
      • Rock Crawlers
      • Buggies
      • On-Road Cars
      • View All RC Cars
    • RC Planes
      RC Aircraft
      • Planes
      • Helicopters
      • View All RC Aircraft
    • RC Boats
      RC Boats
    • RC Motorcycles
      RC Motorcycles
    • RC Construction
      RC Construction
    • RC Tanks
      RC Tanks
  • RC Electronics
    • Batteries
      Batteries
      • LiPo
        • 1S (3.7v)
        • 2S (7.4v)
        • 3S (11.1v)
        • 4S (14.8v)
        • 6S (22.2v)
      • NiMH
        • 7.2v
        • 8.4v
      • View All Batteries
    • Chargers
      Chargers
      • Smart
      • LiPo
      • NiMH
      • View All Chargers
    • Radio Gear
      Radio Gear
      • Radio Sets
      • Receivers
      • Servos
        • Servo Parts
      • Servo Horns
      • Accessories
      • View All Radio Gear
    • motors
      Motors & ESCs
      • Combos
      • Motors
        • Brushed
        • Brushless
      • ESCs
        • Brushed
        • Brushless
    • Wiring
      Wiring
      • Charging Leads
      • Balance Boards
      • Adapters
      • Extension Leads
      • Switches
      • Connectors
      • Wires
      • Sensors
      • View All Wiring
    • Cooling Fans
      Cooling Fans
    • Lighting
      Lighting
    • Power Supplies
      Power Supplies
  • RC Parts
    • Wheels
      Wheels
      • 1/5
      • 1/8
      • 1/10
      • Rock Crawler
        • 1.9"
        • 2.2"
      • On Road (1/10)
        • Touring (Rubber)
        • Drift (Hard Plastic)
      • Rims
      • Tyres
      • Foam Inserts
      • View All Wheels, Rims & Tyres
    • Hardware
      Hardware
      • Screws & Bolts
        • Screw Kits
      • Nuts
      • Washers Spacers & O-Rings
      • Bearings
        • Bearing Kits
      • E & C Clips
      • View ALL Hardware
    • Body Shells
      Body Shells
      • By Paint Completion
        • Pre-Painted
        • Unpainted (Clear)
      • By Style
        • Rock Crawler
        • Monster Truck
        • Short Course
        • Stadium Truck
        • Buggy
        • Truggy
        • Touring & Drift
      • View ALL Body Shells
    • Drivetrain
      Drivetrain
      • Pinion Gears
        • 1Mod
        • 0.8Mod (32dp)
        • 0.6Mod
        • 48dp
        • 64dp
      • Wheel Hexes
      • Drive Shafts
      • Drive Pins
      • Gear Boxes
      • View ALL Drivetrain
    • steering
      Suspension
      • Shocks
      • Linkages
      • Turnbuckles
      • Rod Ends
      • View ALL Suspension
    • engines
      Engines & Parts
      • Petrol Engines
      • Nitro Engines
      • Engine Parts
  • RC Accessories
    • Tools
      Tools
      • Hand Tools
      • Measuring
      • Bags, Tool Boxes & Organisation
      • View All Tools
    • Chemicals
      Chemicals
      • Oils & Greases
        • Shock Oil
        • Differential Oil
      • Paint
      • Adhesives
    • General
      General
      • Body Pins
      • Stickers & Decals
      • Scaled
      • Cable Ties
      • Tapes
    • Scaled
      Scaled
    • Apparel
      Apparel
  • Model Kits
    • Military
      Military
      • Vehicles
        • Tanks
        • Armoured Vehicles
        • Half Tracks
        • Motorcycles
        • Staff Cars
      • Aircraft
      • Ships
      • Soldiers
      • Weapons
      • Equipment
      • Sceneries
      • View All Military
    • Non Military
      Non-Military
      • Cars
      • Motorcycles
      • Formula 1
      • Aircraft
      • Boats
      • Figures
      • Educational
    • Modelling Tools
      Modelling Tools
      • Sanding
      • Saws & Files
      • Pliers
      • Scissors
      • Tweezers
      • Display & Work Stands
      • Knives
      • Cleaning & Organisation
      • Chisels
      • View All Modelling Tools
    • paints
      Paint & Finishing Supplies
      • Adhesives, Fillers & Thinners
      • Effects Paints & Kits
      • Finishing Supplies
      • Paints & Primers
        • TS Series
        • AS Series
        • LP Series
        • X Series
        • XF Series
      • View All Paint & Finishing Supplies
  • Slot Cars
    • Slot Car Sets
      Sets
    • Slot Car Vehicles
      Cars
    • Slot Car Track
      Track
    • Slot Car Spare Parts
      Spare Parts
    • Slot Car Accessories
      Accessories
  • Brands
    • 3Racing
    • Absima
    • Academy
    • AFV Club
    • Airfix
    • Alclad
    • All Racing
    • Alpha RC
    • AMT
    • ARC
    • Area RC
    • Argus
    • ARRMA
    • Artesania Latina
    • Axial
    • Axis RC
    • AZ Model
    • Beemax
    • Bittydesign
    • BlackZon
    • Blade
    • Blitz
    • Boom Racing
    • Bronco Models
    • BSI
    • Carisma
    • Castle Creations
    • Castrol
    • Caterpillar
    • CEN Racing
    • Chung Yang
    • Das Werk
    • DDA Collectables
    • DDM
    • Delta
    • Deluxe Materials
    • DJI
    • Dragon Models
    • Du-Bro
    • Dualsky
    • Duratrax
    • Dusty Motors
    • Dynamite
    • E-Flite
    • EasyLap
    • ECX
    • Element RC
    • Exway
    • Factory Team
    • FG
    • FlySky
    • FMS
    • Force Engines
    • Fujimi
    • Fujitsu
    • Fullforce RC
    • Futaba
    • G-Force
    • G.T. Power
    • Galaxy Carbon
    • GEN2
    • Gens Ace
    • GPM Racing
    • Grand Prix 3D
    • Great Vigor
    • Great Wall Toys
    • GRP Tyres
    • Hangar 9
    • Hasegawa
    • Heng Long
    • HiLantronics
    • Hitec
    • HiTec Oils
    • Ho Bao
    • Hobbies Direct
    • Hobby Engine
    • Hobby Plus
    • Hobby Tech
    • HobbyBoss
    • Hobbywing
    • HobbyZone
    • Horizon Hobby
    • Hornby Hobbies
    • Hostile
    • Hot Bodies
    • HPI Racing
    • Hseng
    • HSP
    • Hudy Tools
    • HuiNa
    • I Love Kit
    • IM RC
    • Infinity Power
    • Inox
    • Integy
    • Italeri
    • Iwata
    • JConcepts
    • Jetko
    • K&S
    • Killer RC
    • Killerbody
    • King Motor RC
    • Koswork
    • Kudu Case
    • Kyosho
    • LaTrax
    • Losi
    • Louise
    • LRP
    • Magnifier
    • Markhor RC
    • Matrixline
    • Maverick
    • MIP
    • MKS
    • MN Model
    • Model Motorsports International
    • Monochrome
    • Monogram
    • MonTech
    • Mr Hobby
    • MST
    • Muchmore
    • Mugen Seiki
    • MyLaps
    • NGK
    • NuNu
    • nVision
    • NXE
    • O.S. Engines
    • Olimat Engineering
    • Onisiki
    • Other
    • Outerwears
    • Pacific Balsa
    • Pandora RC
    • ParkZone
    • Peak Racing
    • PhatDad
    • Phoenix Model
    • Pitlane Hobbies
    • Plaig RC
    • Power HD
    • Prime RC
    • Pro Boat
    • Pro-Line
    • Protoform
    • Qusart
    • Raceform
    • Radiomaster
    • RC Maker
    • RC Screwz
    • RC4WD
    • RealFlight
    • Redback Racing
    • Reds Racing
    • Reedy Power
    • Reefs RC
    • Revell
    • RGT
    • River Hobby
    • Robinson Racing
    • Rovan
    • RPM RC
    • Rush
    • RW Racing
    • Ryefield Model
    • Ryze
    • SanDisk
    • Sanwa
    • Savox
    • Scale Modellers Supply
    • Scalextric
    • SkyRC
    • Solaris
    • Sparmax
    • Spaz Stix
    • Speedline
    • Spektrum
    • Surpass
    • Syma
    • T-Bone Racing
    • Tactic
    • Takom
    • Tamiya
    • Tattu
    • TDK
    • Team Associated
    • Team Corally
    • Team Durango
    • Team Magic
    • Team Orion
    • Team Powers
    • Thunder Tiger
    • TiTAN
    • TLR
    • Tornado
    • Traxxas
    • Trinity Racing
    • Trumpeter
    • Turnigy
    • Turtle Racing
    • Twister
    • UDI RC
    • Ultra Power
    • Vallejo
    • Vanquish
    • Vaterra
    • Venom
    • Virus RC
    • Vision RC
    • Vitavon Racing
    • Volante
    • VRX
    • Walbro
    • Walkera
    • WL Toys
    • WPL RC
    • Xinlehong
    • XK Innovations
    • Xpress
    • XRAY
    • Xtra Speed
    • Yeah Racing
    • Zap
    • Zenoah
    • ZooRacing
    • ZTW
  • Brands
    • 3
      • 3Racing
    • A
      • Absima
      • Academy
      • AFV Club
      • Airfix
      • Alclad
      • All Racing
      • Alpha RC
      • AMT
      • ARC
      • Area RC
      • Argus
      • ARRMA
      • Artesania Latina
      • Axial
      • Axis RC
      • AZ Model
    • B
      • Beemax
      • Bittydesign
      • BlackZon
      • Blade
      • Blitz
      • Boom Racing
      • Bronco Models
      • BSI
    • C
      • Carisma
      • Castle Creations
      • Castrol
      • Caterpillar
      • CEN Racing
      • Chung Yang
    • D
      • Das Werk
      • DDA Collectables
      • DDM
      • Delta
      • Deluxe Materials
      • DJI
      • Dragon Models
      • Du-Bro
      • Dualsky
      • Duratrax
      • Dusty Motors
      • Dynamite
    • E
      • E-Flite
      • EasyLap
      • ECX
      • Element RC
      • Exway
    • F
      • Factory Team
      • FG
      • FlySky
      • FMS
      • Force Engines
      • Fujimi
      • Fujitsu
      • Fullforce RC
      • Futaba
    • G
      • G-Force
      • G.T. Power
      • Galaxy Carbon
      • GEN2
      • Gens Ace
      • GPM Racing
      • Grand Prix 3D
      • Great Vigor
      • Great Wall Toys
      • GRP Tyres
    • H
      • Hangar 9
      • Hasegawa
      • Heng Long
      • HiLantronics
      • Hitec
      • HiTec Oils
      • Ho Bao
      • Hobbies Direct
      • Hobby Engine
      • Hobby Plus
      • Hobby Tech
      • HobbyBoss
      • Hobbywing
      • HobbyZone
      • Horizon Hobby
      • Hornby Hobbies
      • Hostile
      • Hot Bodies
      • HPI Racing
      • Hseng
      • HSP
      • Hudy Tools
      • HuiNa
    • I
      • I Love Kit
      • IM RC
      • Infinity Power
      • Inox
      • Integy
      • Italeri
      • Iwata
    • J
      • JConcepts
      • Jetko
    • K
      • K&S
      • Killer RC
      • Killerbody
      • King Motor RC
      • Koswork
      • Kudu Case
      • Kyosho
    • L
      • LaTrax
      • Losi
      • Louise
      • LRP
    • M
      • Magnifier
      • Markhor RC
      • Matrixline
      • Maverick
      • MIP
      • MKS
      • MN Model
      • Model Motorsports International
      • Monochrome
      • Monogram
      • MonTech
      • Mr Hobby
      • MST
      • Muchmore
      • Mugen Seiki
      • MyLaps
    • N
      • NGK
      • NuNu
      • nVision
      • NXE
    • O
      • O.S. Engines
      • Olimat Engineering
      • Onisiki
      • Other
      • Outerwears
    • P
      • Pacific Balsa
      • Pandora RC
      • ParkZone
      • Peak Racing
      • PhatDad
      • Phoenix Model
      • Pitlane Hobbies
      • Plaig RC
      • Power HD
      • Prime RC
      • Pro Boat
      • Pro-Line
      • Protoform
    • Q
      • Qusart
    • R
      • Raceform
      • Radiomaster
      • RC Maker
      • RC Screwz
      • RC4WD
      • RealFlight
      • Redback Racing
      • Reds Racing
      • Reedy Power
      • Reefs RC
      • Revell
      • RGT
      • River Hobby
      • Robinson Racing
      • Rovan
      • RPM RC
      • Rush
      • RW Racing
      • Ryefield Model
      • Ryze
    • S
      • SanDisk
      • Sanwa
      • Savox
      • Scale Modellers Supply
      • Scalextric
      • SkyRC
      • Solaris
      • Sparmax
      • Spaz Stix
      • Speedline
      • Spektrum
      • Surpass
      • Syma
    • T
      • T-Bone Racing
      • Tactic
      • Takom
      • Tamiya
      • Tattu
      • TDK
      • Team Associated
      • Team Corally
      • Team Durango
      • Team Magic
      • Team Orion
      • Team Powers
      • Thunder Tiger
      • TiTAN
      • TLR
      • Tornado
      • Traxxas
      • Trinity Racing
      • Trumpeter
      • Turnigy
      • Turtle Racing
      • Twister
    • U
      • UDI RC
      • Ultra Power
    • V
      • Vallejo
      • Vanquish
      • Vaterra
      • Venom
      • Virus RC
      • Vision RC
      • Vitavon Racing
      • Volante
      • VRX
    • W
      • Walbro
      • Walkera
      • WL Toys
      • WPL RC
    • X
      • Xinlehong
      • XK Innovations
      • Xpress
      • XRAY
      • Xtra Speed
    • Y
      • Yeah Racing
    • Z
      • Zap
      • Zenoah
      • ZooRacing
      • ZTW
  • More
    • Best Selling
      New Products
      • New Products
      • Coming Soon
    • Gift Card
      Gift Cards
  • Sale
    • RC Bundle Deals
      RC Bundle Deals
    • Model Kits
      RC Car & Truck Sale
    • Model Kits
      Model Kits
    • Gift Idea Deals
      Gift Idea Deals
  • Gift Cards
  • New Products
  • Coming Soon
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • How to: Steering servo troubleshooting

How to: Steering servo troubleshooting

Aaron Morris | 5th March, 2023 | 7 min read

Is your RC car not steering? Here’s how to troubleshoot and figure out what’s wrong.
 
To view this blog in its original YouTube form, click here.
 
RC Car steering servos have a hard life. They’re directly attached to your front wheels and cop all those vibrations and impacts from jumps and crashes. That little gearbox has a limit and when that limit is reached, will either strip or burn out.  But! Before going off and spending your hard earned cash on a replacement, let’s do some troubleshooting to confirm what component has failed.
 
There’s two overall reasons for an RC car not responding to steering input: 
- The servo is not receiving signal.
- Or, it is receiving signal, but physical damage is preventing it from normal operation.
 
Just because your RC car isn’t steering, doesn’t necessarily mean anything is faulty. 
 
The very first thing is to check all connections – make sure the servo is still plugged into the receiver properly. The steering servo plugs into channel one on your receiver, with the ESC going to channel 2. Remember: 1 to turn, 2 to burn. 
 
Make sure the connector is oriented properly. The signal lead (usually white or yellow) will usually be on the left, then positive, then negative. Your receiver will have a little diagram on it showing Proper Polarity Positioning. Also check that there’s no obvious physical damage to the servo wires, like frayed or cut wires, or wires that have been crimped at an extreme angle.
Next, check the settings on your hand controller, there may be a dial or switch labelled D/R. This stands for Dual Rate, but just think of it as Steering Amount. This is useful for turning down the servo’s movement so it’s not struggling to steer more than the car is capable of turning. Most servos operate in 60 degrees of movement left and 60 degrees right, so a total of 120 degrees of travel. However, your steering rack may only require 45 degrees to attain full steering lock. This is where D/R comes in. Turn down the D/R, and you will prolong the life of your steering servo and prevent unnecessary wear when the servo is trying to travel past the maximum steering angle.
 
Although D/R has a useful purpose, if it’s bumped or turned all the way down, you’ll have no steering at all. On some remotes it’s a toggle switch like this, and on others, buttons or dials. On the FlySky GT-2 that comes with a lot of cars it’s the dial on the right, and you actually turn it counter clockwise to increase steering amount.
 
If you turn up the steering dual rate and your car starts steering again, problem solved. 
 
So, if still no lefty-righty action, there’s more we can test to correctly diagnose the issue. 
 
Firstly, are there any signs of life at all from the servo? Does it move, but only in one direction, or slowly, or get stuck in one position? This is usually a sign the servo’s electronics have worn out or have been damaged, and it’s time for a replacement. 
 
If you are getting a normal-ish response, but it’s all grinding noises like the gears have stripped, then that’s exactly what has happened. It’s worth noting that if the car’s servo saver and steering assembly has been overwhelmed by an impact to the point that the servo’s gears have been damaged, typically the manufacturer will not cover physical damage under warranty.
 
Most RC companies sell replacement gear sets so you can repair it. Or, take it as an opportunity to upgrade to a stronger, faster servo.
Still no signs of life? Don’t worry, there’s still more troubleshooting to do. 
 
Rather than the servo being at fault, we might instead look at the transmitter and receiver. The receiver could be faulty and not telling the servo to move, or the remote control could be faulty and not actually be sending a steering signal. There’s an easy way to test this:
 
Remember how at the start of the video we said steering is always plugged into channel 1 and the ESC into channel 2? We’re gonna swap those around.
 
On a fully functional car, this will make the steering move with the trigger, and throttle with the wheel.
 
If you do this and there’s still no steering response from the trigger, but if you do have throttle on the wheel, then the servo has burned out, and needs to be replaced.
 
The other, much-less-likely outcome is the servo suddenly springs to life with the trigger, but you have no throttle with the wheel. 
 
Before getting a new receiver or transmitter, it’s worth reading through your transmitters specific manual and seeing if there are any other settings that would affect the steering signal output such as D/R & end points. 
 
With these newfound diagnostic abilities, you should be able to diagnose any steering problems with your, or your mates’, cars. 
 
Thank you for reading, I hope this blog helps steer you in the right direction while troubleshooting! ‘Til next we meet, bye! 
 
Related Products
FlySky FS-GT5 2.4Ghz 6ch Radio w/ FS-BS6 Receiver Built-in Gyro Failsafe
9 in stock
FlySky FS-GT5 2.4Ghz 6ch Radio w/ FS-BS6 Receiver Built-in Gyro Failsafe
SKU: FS-GT5
$140.12
HSP FlySky GR3E 2.4Ghz 3ch Waterproof Receiver
10+ in stock
HSP FlySky GR3E 2.4Ghz 3ch Waterproof Receiver
SKU: 28464
$32.74
Power HD Standard LW-13MG 13kg Metal Geared Waterproof Servo
sold out
Power HD Standard LW-13MG 13kg Metal Geared Waterproof Servo
SKU: LW-13MG
$47.85
FlySky GR3E 2.4Ghz 3ch Receiver
sold out
FlySky GR3E 2.4Ghz 3ch Receiver
SKU: RX-GR3E
$23.63
Related Posts
How To: Bind a FlySky Receiver and Transmitter (Remote)
28th March, 2019
How To: Bind a FlySky Receiver and Transmitter (Remote)
How to: Calibrate an ESC
14th July, 2019
How to: Calibrate an ESC
How to: Replace a Servo
14th July, 2019
How to: Replace a Servo
Comments
The Ultimate Hobby Store.
03 5292 1101

  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
YouTube Facebook Instagram
Shop
  • Parts Finder
  • My Garage
  • Gift Vouchers
Own a store? We wholesale.
Helpful Links
  • My Account
  • Delivery
  • Blog
  • Recalls

privacy | terms | sitemap
© All rights reserved Hobbies Direct 2025