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steering wheel noise


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barryd2535
New User

Mar 3, 2010, 8:09 PM

Post #1 of 5 (2457 views)
steering wheel noise Sign In

2006 Chevy Trailblazer, 6 cyl.,36000mi. There is a high pitched whirring sound whenever I turn the steering wheel in either direction. Power steering fluid ok. It sounds like it comes form the column and not under the hood. Any Help? thanks


(This post was edited by barryd2535 on Mar 3, 2010, 8:27 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 4, 2010, 4:59 AM

Post #2 of 5 (2450 views)
Re: steering wheel noise Sign In

Hmm? Is this more like a trim part rubbing or some other funky noise? I know they are hard to describe,

T



barryd2535
New User

Mar 4, 2010, 8:16 AM

Post #3 of 5 (2445 views)
Re: steering wheel noise Sign In

Hi,
Thank you for your response. The noise does not immediately happen. It starts whirring when the engine warms up, (which is very fast) so I don't think it is any trim rubbing, for that would probably happen right away. This started about a month ago and the noise has increased in volume. It is getting pretty loud now. It sounds like a high pitched scraping or whirring sound. It even does it when the car is not moving. It sounds like it is coming from behind the air bag, right where the wheel meets the column. It sounds internal, not something on the outside like pieces rubbing against each other. It is like a high pitched motor sound that goes higher then lower as the wheel is turned. I tend to believe it is something mechanical and I am thinking of spraying something like WD40 into the column. Your advice? Thanks again,
barry


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 4, 2010, 8:50 AM

Post #4 of 5 (2444 views)
Re: steering wheel noise Sign In

Arggh! "Whirring, High pitched scraping" doesn't sound like simple lube is needed. There's a lot going on between wheel and column, horn, any controls on the wheel itself must pass thru and of course directionals and other features where parts could have let a spring go or something. I suggest letting a qualified shop do this in that it involves removing a wheel with an airbag and just what is causing it may not be known for sure till it's off,

T



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Mar 4, 2010, 3:10 PM

Post #5 of 5 (2441 views)
Re: steering wheel noise Sign In

My 1st thought was a dry horn switch plate. Basically you have a plate on one end of the column & in the steering wheel a spring loaded metal pole that is forced onto the plate with spring pressure. This is how you can have an electrical contact on a wheel that turns (unlike an SRS system where contact is more critical so a long cable is used). When the plate gets dry it will make a high pitched scraping sound.

The strange thing here is you say the vehicle needs to be warmed up. Thats not usually the case with a dry plate, it will make the noise all the time with the vehicle on or off. I usually see this more on imports and not domestics. What I've done on imports is look between the column & wheel and you can usually see the plate. I get a piece of cardboard or plastic, put some di-electric grease on the piece, get it in between the column & wheel and get it on the plate & then rotate the steering wheel..........






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