Steering Wheel Moan

[MJH1280]

Whenever I turn my steering wheel to the left or right there is a moaning sound. It's not loud, but noticable. It's been going on for years and I've been ignoring it. Everyone who rides in my car notices it. Anyone have experience with this or know what it could be?

Let's keep the responses professional. I feel like I am setting myself up here.

[pmesfun]

I betting this happens when turning the steering wheel while stopped or barely moving, sounds like the power steering pump. When was the fluid last changed? How old is the power steering belt?

[MJH1280]

Not since I've had it. I'm the second owner and the car now have 188k. So it's just old power sterring fluid?

[MJH1280]

I topped off the power sterring fluid. It was below the minimum level, but not by that much. Hopefully the sound goes away.

[grampas_avy]

I had a noise when I turned the steering wheel that turned out to be the seal where the steering shaft goes through the firewall. Just sprayed some silicone lube and the noise was gone. Could this be what you're hearing?

[ChiTDI]

Originally Posted by MJH1280

Whenever I turn my steering wheel to the left or right there is a moaning sound. It's not loud, but noticable. It's been going on for years and I've been ignoring it. Everyone who rides in my car notices it. Anyone have experience with this or know what it could be?

Let's keep the responses professional. I feel like I am setting myself up here.

How up to date are you with servicing the recalls from Toyota?
Mine did that same thing, and after a recall service it was gone. Don't remember if it (recall ) was directly steering noise related or something else, but it's gone. I never mentioned it to the dealer.

[mrdrcheez]

I own two 2nd generation Avalons, and they both developed this problem. I just sent one in to the dealer about a week ago because I lost the only key (The dealer wanted 1300 dollars to replace this "smart key", which actually sounds pretty dumb to me. As a result, I had it towed back to my house and found an alternative solution) While it was there, they insisted on bringing the car up to date as far as recalls are concerned and one of the recalls was, sure enough, on the steering column. They fixed it right up.

LONG STORY SHORT: There's a recall on the steering column. Take it to a dealer and let them fix it; recalls are free until a car is 10 years old.

[avalonshoe]

Originally Posted by mrdrcheez

recalls are free until a car is 10 years old.

Really? My car is a 2000 and i got the notice back in june but havent had time to bring it in for the column fix

[bobflood]

Originally Posted by avalonshoe

Really? My car is a 2000 and i got the notice back in june but havent had time to bring it in for the column fix

Take it in. BTW, the sterring column recall is a safety recall and there is no 10 year limit. It should be done for free even on a 2000.

[alltracman78]

Originally Posted by mrdrcheez

LONG STORY SHORT: There's a recall on the steering column. Take it to a dealer and let them fix it; recalls are free until a car is 10 years old.

Recalls are ALWAYS "safety" related, and there is no time or mileage limit on them.
But that steering column recall has nothing to do with the moaning sound.
They don't touch that area of the column.

Originally Posted by grampas_avy

I had a noise when I turned the steering wheel that turned out to be the seal where the steering shaft goes through the firewall. Just sprayed some silicone lube and the noise was gone. Could this be what you're hearing?

This is most likely the problem. It happens a lot with these and the Camrys.