Clicking sound from steering wheel?

by **DocJohn** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 6:51 am

I just bought a new '04 Solara SLE V6 (lunar mist). I've been driving it for only 2 weeks and I have noticed a fairly loud single "click" sound from the steering column after I complete a turn and move the steering wheel back on center.
This “click” doesn’t happen after every turn and has nothing to due with the turn signal canceling (it happens sometimes even when I don't use the turn signals).
Also I notice that my steering column does NOT lock when the ignition is in the “Lock” position and the key is removed. Is this normal?
I was wondering if anyone out there has experienced something similar in their '04 Solara, otherwise I’m going to take the car back to Toyota and have them check it out.

by **mattyboyl** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 7:12 am

This is not normal. The steering wheel does lock when the key is in the off position. Even with the cancelation of a turn signal, there is absolutely no noise associated whatsoever. I would have Toyota check it out.

by **DocJohn** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 7:31 am

THANKS, I'll have it checked out ASAP!

by **TW85** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 9:43 am

Actually it is not uncommon for steering wheels to make a rapid clicking noise when returning the wheel to center after turning with the blinker on. Wow, long sentence. Anyways, I think I have heard it a few times in my Solara and it is definitely noticeable in my parents' cars ('01 4Runner and '02 F-150). I wouldn't worry about the clicking sound.

Not being able to lock the wheel when the ignition is off is not normal. Have you tried pulling hard in either direction after turning the car off or are you expecting it to automatically lock? If the latter, then I do not know of any car that automatically locks the wheel.

by **DocJohn** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 10:00 am

I definitely tried racking the steering wheel from side to side after removing the key from the ignition and the wheel never locks (unlike any other car I've ever owned).
I really think I have a defect straight out of the factory (bummer!), so I'm calling Toyota service today to see if I can get them to take a look at it ASAP.
I'll post a follow-up note with whatever they turn up.
BTW: Nothing new here as far as factory defects are concerned. My wife was driving home from the dealership in her brand new '04 Mercury Mountaineer and the lumber support adjustment for the driver's seat broke the first time she tried to use it!

by **michaels artic frost** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 10:43 am

DocJohn wrote:My wife was driving home from the dealership in her brand new '04 Mercury Mountaineer and the lumber support adjustment for the driver's seat broke the first time she tried to use it!

That ain't good... :-?

Mercury Mountaineer.....hmmmmmm...

by **DocJohn** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 10:57 am

michaels_artic_frost wrote:
DocJohn wrote:My wife was driving home from the dealership in her brand new '04 Mercury Mountaineer and the lumber support adjustment for the driver's seat broke the first time she tried to use it!

That ain't good... Mercury Mountaineer.....hmmmmmm...

The defect in the new Merc isn't very good, but the fact that my wife bought it is. Since she got the Mountaineer, I was "allowed" to buy a coupe again.

I was driving a '01 Olds Aurora 4.0 (fast, but no fun; it had more interior rattles and squeaks than a cage full of rats). I really missed my BMW 328is coupe that I sold when my wife said we needed a big sedan for road trips, etc.

by **redkysolarase** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 11:07 am

Hate to hear you're havin troubles with your new car already man. Glad to see another member of the website is from Ky though.

by **DocJohn** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:09 am

Okay, so here’s my update after taking my car into Toyota service yesterday.
The service manager got in my car and demonstrated that my steering wheel does indeed lock as it should. My mistake was in expecting it to lock with only about a quarter-turn in either direction (as was the case with all my other cars). The Solara wheel needs to be turned nearly a full turn before it locks. So much for that “problem”.
As for the clicking sound I previously described; they had a service tech take a ride with me. I drove to a nearby parking lot and did everything I could to get the it to click, and turn after turn there wasn’t a sound. We figured that when the service manager locked the wheel, that might have solved the problem (maybe the steering lock latch was just dragging slightly).
Anyway, the car was fine all the way home. But guess what... this morning the “click” is back again! So its back to Toyota service on Monday... Scene 1, Take 2!
At least they were able to fix my left drift problem at this service visit, I’ll post the details on that under that topic.

by **mattyboyl** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:25 am

Just to let you know, it should not take a full turn to lock a wheel. That, to me, would seem impossible and not make sense since your wheels would always have to be turned to lock. In my car, it takes a semi-turn, 1/4 if that, to lock the wheel. I still think something is wrong with the steering wheel locking mechanism. It is possible that the mechanism is in a paritally locked position, therefore, hearing the clicks while turning when the car is in the on position. Keep us posted, there is definitely an issue here.

by **DocJohn** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:33 am

mattyboyl:

Thanks for your info! This is why I post things here. Now that I know the service manager is B.S.ing me; I'll confront him with these facts when I call him later today and bring the car back into Toyota.

by **DocJohn** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:10 am

Well, I brought my Solara into Toyota service for the second time yesterday. By then, the clicking sound while turning the steering wheel had gotten much worse and was now easily noticeable by the service tech. The diagnosis is a faulty spiral cable in the steering column. Toyota service said they had never seen a problem like this before (that really makes me feel good about my new car) and started a “case file” on it with Toyota. The dealership didn’t have the part in stock, so they had to order it, and it should arrive in a day or two.
I’ll post an update after my NEXT visit to Toyota service (this is getting REALLY tiresome!).

by **michaels artic frost** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:15 am

Hey John,

What dealership is this? I was going to have some TRD work done up in Louisville and I want to be well preped for these guys so they don't jerk me around.

by **DocJohn** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:24 am

michaels_artic_frost wrote:Hey John,

What dealership is this? I was going to have some TRD work done up in Louisville and I want to be well preped for these guys so they don't jerk me around.

Oxmoor Toyota on Shelbyville Road. The main reason I go there is that they are about 5 minutes away from my house, so its convenient. Back when I still owned it, I took my '93 Camry V6 XLE there for service for over 3 years and never had a problem.

by **michaels artic frost** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:38 am

O man!!! That's the TRD certified place...lol.

The guy I spoke with seems very nice though, he returned my call once about TRD lowering springs and has never called me back for a final price.

Clicking sound from steering wheel?

Clicking sound from steering wheel?

Steering click service visit follow-up.

Service update #2

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