Steering wheel groans, how to fix?

[MortySnerd]

When I need to turn quickly, such as backing in and out of parking space, my steering wheel makes an awful plastic-on-plastic whining/grinding noise. It's coming from the interior of the wheel assembly itself, the steering mechanics are fine.

How can I clean this? I am worried about getting chemicals seeping into the airbag assembly. Thanks!

1999 LE 2.2 L 98k

-Mike

[cmjohnson]

Have you checked your power steering fluid lately?

If it's low, the pump will cavitate and you'll get a moaning/groaning noise.

There's not much inside the steering wheel mechanism that could possibly cause such a noise.


CJ

[Kep]

Mine does the same thing. Kind of sounds like plastic rubbing against rubber beneath the interior steering wheel cowling. I always figured that I'd try and squirt some silicone on the offending joint but I never got around to it. I've grown accustom to it now.

Your concern about the airbag is interesting. I hadn't considered that. I believe those are sealed units but I don't know that for a fact.

Kep

[MortySnerd]

Recently had my car serviced and found answers to this and several other problems I've been having. To anyone else experiencing this problem - for me it turned out to be my clockspring mechanism, also known as a spiral cable. Keep in mind my problem was noise only in the interior - you couldn't hear anything outside of the car, where power steering might be a more likely culprit.

Unfortunately, replacing the clockspring is pretty expensive from what I understand.

[GtariSSt]

Mine does this too. Passengers always laugh at it, but I've just tuned it out.

[new echo owner]

Try putting some lubricant on the steering shaft cover where it goes through the body to the outside. That is the most common cause; sprial cable is not as common. To replaced the spiral cable, you need to remove the air bag, steering wheel and the covers; but it involves the driver's air bag module, so care is needed.

N.E.O.

[JustinC25]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

Try putting some lubricant on the steering shaft cover where it goes through the body to the outside. That is the most common cause; sprial cable is not as common. To replaced the spiral cable, you need to remove the air bag, steering wheel and the covers; but it involves the driver's air bag module, so care is needed.

N.E.O.

+1 We use to see TONS on these, especially in the colder weather when I worked at the dealership. You can use a spray like power lube, but it won't last. The best way I've found to solve this is to loosen the clamp, pull the boot back, and use the silicone gel lube that comes in the tube to "Lube the Shaft" (pardon the pun), and put the boot back. This should fix the issue if it is from the steering shaft boot. You can check this by sticking your head under the dash with the car running, and wiggle the wheel back an forth. You will see right where the noise is coming from.

Justin

[cmitchell5254]

Lucas Steering Wheel Stop-Leak is yet to fail me when it comes to getting rid of a noise in your steering motion. Even if you don't have a leak per se', top your fluid off with this stuff and see if it works for you.

[MortySnerd]

Note to anyone else with the same problem: All I ended up having to do was put some grease on both sides of the steering wheel shaft where it passes through the firewall and in to the engine bay. For whatever reason, it sounded like the sound was coming from somewhere else, but upon very careful inspection, I found the true source here. Put some lithium grease on both sides and it's been totally silent ever since.

[Eye8Pussies]

^ similarly, I've found that silicone lube works the best- lithium grease for some reason never worked that well for my cars (I have 4 "camrys" - sienna, solara, etc.) and they all have that moanin problem. Lithium usually works for a bit, and then it stops.

silicone has lasted a long time now- with no noise! I guess the acid test will be this coming winter though!