Prius (2001-03) :: Loud Howling When Steering Wheel Is Turned
Jan 29, 2011
2003 Prius - While driving I am notice a howling noise whenever I turn the steering wheel to the left. There is no such noise when turning right and there is no such noise when I turn the wheel to the left while the car is stopped (and the engine is still running).
Is this due to a worn bearing in the steering hub?
A worn wheel bearing?
A worn out drive shaft gear?
I want to know what to look for before tearing the front end apart...
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I have a UK 2006 Mk2 CDX+ which I was driving last night - seemed ok, got to our driveway, turned the steering wheel fully left so I could manoeuvre the car into the driveway when I heard a loud "clunk" noise.
I thought I ran over a bottle or something so carried on reversing, when I got out I noticed the car was parked diagonally! Thought this is strange, I don't park like that and tried again, a bit better but still not parallel! I then noticed the steering wheel was hard to turn, a grinding like noise is heard when I turned so I decided I would need to take into the local in the morning.
Started the car today and drove out and got immediate sensation that steering was not connected to the wheels, the SW was off centre by miles and turning left/right was very sluggish. Lucky the garage is only down the road (but it's not Hyundai specialist) from me as I would not risk driving it down main roads in this condition. Guy at garage asked me to fully turn the SW left to right and we can see that the front of the car actually moved during the process. He is going to take it up on the lift to look underneath.
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I have an 02 Elantra GT. I was dropping off a friend who knows cars and went to turn around, turned the wheel to full lock to make the turn and heard a squeal. I asked my friend what it was and he said it was the P/S and I just needed to add some P/S fluid. I got some fluid and sure enough when I went to fill up the reservoir it was below to MIN line, not too much below but still below it. I filled up the fluid and didn't hear the problem for the rest of the day but this morning I heard the same noise when I was leaving for work. I figured the fluid had to work its way though but am not sure if there is something else I should check or do.
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I'm having an issue with my 2004 Elantra.
When I turn the ignition in my car, it makes a very loud noise at the front of the car. This goes away after about 3 seconds, but when I turn the wheel to either side, it makes a very high screeching sound. This persists until I've been driving for a few minutes then it goes away.
I hesitate to say the following, but it also feels as if my steering wheel is a bit "harder" to turn, but maybe it is my imagination. What it could be? I checked power steering fluid and it is at normal levels.
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I have a 2010 6.4L turbo diesel. Without a trailer on a mtn incline I have no issues. She will fly up the hill and she is quiet when I'm not pulling the 10,000 Lb trailer. When pulling the trailer, I have a loud howling noise and reduced performance. I had it at the Dealership and I had them check the engine/turbo and they found no problems? I asked if they tested under load and they said yes?? Someone suggested that the "Waste gate valve" was defective.
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I have been getting increased noise coming from the back of my car for the past month. So I jacked up the car and spun the tires and heard grinding noises in the rear right. I have a 2012 ToyotaPrius plug-in with 33,000 miles. When driving the car around 40 miles an hour there would be a howling sound coming from the back of the car regardless of the type of pavement I was driving on.
So I took it to the dealer today and they had it up on the rack in about an hour later they came to me and said it needed new tires and it would be about $700 and that this was likely causing the noise. I said that there was no way that it was the tires so I went and showed the mechanic how old the sound was coming out of the back right wheel. He listened with his stethoscope on the wheel bearings and said that he did hear some noise in there but still thought it was the tires.
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I've got 2 identical 01 models with 150-200k miles that are having issues with the steering wheel chattering and shaking occasionally, like a pump is gravitating or something. I've only noticed it at low/no speed when turning the wheel. It shakes for a second or two, then quits. No fault lights on, and no codes pulled with mini vci...
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Years and years ago, I had an issue with my trusty '02. The steering wheel would shake VIOLENTLY back and forth. I went round and round with Toyota, but at the end of all the angry phone calls and emails the issue never got fixed, but they paid for an after market steering rack. I wasn't about to pay the 4-5K to get the issue fixed, so I just pulled the PS relay, and have been driving merrily along with no power steering for about 90K miles. I'm now at about 195K.
About a month ago, I noticed some symptoms.
1) some play in the steering.
2) when I went over some bumps, I could really feel the bounce, and it felt like metal bumping into metal.
3) when I punched the accelerator, there was a delay and a "thunk" feeling.
I was coming up on a major servicing, so I took it in to the dealership. They sorted out a few things that I knew were overdue (wheel bearings, battery coolant, transaxle lube), and came to the decision that the steering problem was that I needed a new rack. I told the gobsmacked mechanic that I just happened to have one, and they put it in, and they recalibrated the steering sensor paddles so that I would again have power steering. When I started the car up in the dealership lot, VIOLENT SHAKING. They took it back in, and declared that was because my ignition battery was marginal (which it was), and that a new battery would sort this out. I thus spent far too much money on a new battery. Two days later, wheel starts shaking, and again I pull the relay. All is normal again.
The questions are these:
1) Can that kind of shaking be repaired?
2) Could it really have been a battery issue? (the battery reads a nice even 12.6 and has a wonderful warranty)
3) Was my issue just tie rods the whole time?
In the meantime, I'm going to get 238K (distance from earth to moon) if it kills us all.
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Our 2001 Prius has recently been having problems with the steering wheel locking (not in a position where this would be normal/expected, but in random positions--takes several minutes of wiggling and turning the car on and off to get it unlocked) and the key getting stuck in the ignition (just as if the car weren't in park, except that it is). They might be unrelated, but started occurring at the same time.
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Only had this car for about a month and 1200 trouble free miles. Really in great shape but with 276K miles on it. Really runs great and feels like a new car inside and out.
Yesterday, a cool morning, 38 deg.. Started at the Ready, backing out of my car port and cut the wheel partially to turn 90 deg. to enter the street. Came to full stop and shift lever is still in Rev, before I could shift to Drive. The steering wheel shutters like I was going over a rough. Jerking slightly from left to right about 2-3 degrees. Stopped within about a second and I still had normal steering response. I continued onto the street and made a ran a 300 mile round trip on freeway and surface streets without any further problems.
I know the power steering is electric assist over mechanical linkage and can only imagine that there was a power glitch in the power convertor and I was feeling pulses from the feed back in the power steering drive. No hydraulics to blame, I don't think.
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At 100k I took my 2004 CR-V in for belated 90k maintenance. Besides the routine stuff, they had to replace the ball joints. They also rotated and balanced the tires, which are about 15k miles old.
Took the car home, and immediately noticed a loud clicking in the right wheel when I turned it hard at slow speeds, parallel parking, etc. Took it back to the shop and was informed that it was a spindle problem. Mechanics said this was merely a coincidence, not a result of their recent work, but nicely charged me only for parts not labor. They had to replace the ABS sensor in the course of this work.
Next day, had to take a long weekend trip, about 500 miles there and back. Half-way through, noticed two things: groaning/clicking noise in brakes at slow speeds, and a slight but detectable vibration through the gas pedal when traveling 30-50MPH. Also a faint "wobble" sound at this speed as though coming from front right tire.
Took it back to the shop: was told that brake rotors were rusted and this was responsible for groaning/clicking--something to do with warping due to the rust + car getting warm from long drive. They lubed up the rotors real good and there is no more sound, though I've not driven it a long distance yet.
BUT, faint vibration in gas pedal and wobble noise at 30-50 persists. Mechanic said that when they rotated the tires, they noted that they had gone "out of round," but thought balancing might bring them back in round. Is it possible that the sound & vibration are just from the tires trying to find their level? Is this the kind of thing where I'm all of a sudden looking at 4 new tires (seems premature)? Any other front-end possibilities? Should I take it to a tire shop? I have found my mechanics pretty good over the past couple of years, but this recent series of visits has made me slightly leery...
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So I have come into ownership of a 2003 Prius and now I'm having issues with the power steering. I contacted Toyota and they told me the recal for the pinions was completed in 2012. Now own in the car I've noticed the steering wheel will start to violently shake and just last week while driving I got the warning triangle and the PS symbol and I lost all power steering. All this happened while driving on a highway. Toyota wanted to charge me 150 to diagnose the problem which I declined and took it to my well trusted mechanic. He told me the rac needs to replace. I've done a lot of research on this problem and have found many people complaining that even after having the recall done, they still had a problem and also were told the rac needs to be replaced.
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I was sitting in a parking lot waiting for someone for about 2 mins when I went to drive away I turned the steering wheel and the car stalled. This never happened to me before it has not happened again yet. I did also have the A/C on if this makes a difference. I figure the ac clutch engaged at that same time or some fluke thing happened.
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Having issue when turn steering wheel so slightly either way there is a clunking in the wheel? I took my car in for some maintenance yesterday and 1 was to look into seeing what it was. They said a couple of cars came in like mine and it was a gear on the end of the column that the teeth are worn or even broke. The gear isn't expensive but the labor is. I am also getting the 60k mileage service as well. I should've gotten the extended warranty. Gonna be about 650.00 but i love the car and i`m planning on keeping it and once its done the wife gets a new one, i keep this and get rid of our 98 malibu.
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For the past month or so, I've noticed an unsettled "wobble" of the front end of my 2015 GTI SE PP when backing out of my driveway and turning the steering wheel. It feels like the front end is extra nose-heavy (yes, it's a front wheel drive car- I get it) or like the steering is too boosted and is over steering beyond my inputs. I am now noticing it when I enter a driveway going forward with the front wheels turned.
Tires (the god-awful all-seasons) are at 37psi, alignment should be fine (no potholes, curbs or off-road excursions) on a 4-month old car. No suspension mods yet. I had each side up on jack stands looking for suspension pucks in the front and found none. This is really impacting my enjoyment of the car and what to check. I'll be putting the front up again this weekend to look for any bent suspension pieces or loose parts.
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Took delivery of car and alignment is way off. Steering wheel is turned left when car is straight. The dealership is trying to charger me for a alignment. Car has 2500 miles on it and came from factory this way.
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I just bought this nicely used 1991 GMC Sierra 1500 series pickup truck for $650. It started up and ran fine when I gave the seller the money - the few leaks in the break lines.
Easy fix right!
So my son (19 that knows it all) and I went and changed all the brake lines (made everything one size 3/8 line.) Filled it up with break fluid and started the truck. I had my so pumping the breaks and holding them (his first time) I bled the far rear (passenger side) then I had him turn the steering wheel to the right so I could bleed the front driver side.
He turned, and turned and turned until the engine died.
Now the truck only runs when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the right or all the way to the left.
Going to pull the codes to see what the heck is going on....
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About a month ago, my 2010 RX 350 that has 60000 miles started making a creaking noise whenever the steering wheel turned. My steering column has exhibited the squeaking noise that most of these RX models do since I bought it and is oiled every time I bring it in for service. This creaking is much louder and very annoying. The service provider told me they did not know what was wrong and the only solution was to replace the whole steering column, which was a $2500 part. I have a total lemon and have already had all the suspensions replaced.
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Snap or crack sound emanating from the front end whenever the steering wheel is turned or the suspension unloads/loads?
I've noticed it for awhile now but didn't think too much of it but now that it's warmed up enough for the windows to be down, it's starting to annoy me
I read the TSB a few months back regarding the rubber coupling in the MDPS unit but it seems more like a suspension noise to me.
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My Touareg started to have a weird sensation recently. As I turn to the Left the vehicle turns Left more then my steering wheel is turned, It seems to dive in that direction. It just started do do this going Right also. I thought I saw something on this topic before but was unable to find it.
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2002 sc430 73k miles.
I have a slight steering wobble (not really shaking/vibration) at higher speeds and only when I turn the wheel to the left or right a little (maybe a 1/2 inch). If I am driving straight down the highway it is smooth at any speed 40-90mph no issues. If I move the wheel to the left or right I feel the the wobble in the wheel. If I go back and forth a little, constantly, with the wheel it continuously wobbles.
I had recently addressed some other vibration issues by installing new LCA #2, continental DWS tires, and had the front end aligned (front -.3L and -.5R for camber, Rear -1L and -1R camber, front and rear toe set to -.07, if I recall). I couldn't really remember if I felt this wobble before because the tires and LCA's needed to be done badly. I am not sure if I should replace the struts either since ride feels good.
My steering feels darn good and responsive at low speeds and does not wobble when turning the wheel slightly. I have purchased new oem steering rack bushings but have not installed them yet (purchased as a preventive maintenance part when i had some free time, before I discovered this issue).
I have read a few threads about alignment of the steering rack causing issues if it is not perfectly centered. Not sure if that would cause anything like this. Love driving the car but the wobble is rather annoying when i turn the wheel a little to change lanes at 75mph.
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