Am not sure if anyone on here has ran into this issue but when my car is cold and and I use it for the first time in the day I turn the steering wheel all the way in one direction I hear a squeak coming from somewhere behind the steering wheel? This is a new issue and never had this sound before.

 

It sounds like a worn drive belt. Look for the wear indicator mark on top of the belt tensioner. If the arrow is pointing to the right side as indicates in the pic below (when standing from the passenger side), then the belt is worn.

 

I've experienced this in the last month or two. First thing in the morning, pulling out of my garage, turning from full left to moderate right, there's a little squeak/groan. It doesn't repeat for the rest of the day. In my case, the "squeak" is right behind the steering wheel (like something in the steering column needs a little lube), not in the engine bay.

JTso, where is this found? Is it a DIY replacement, service only? Warranty, or normal maintenance?

 

My 06 started doing this a few months ago, and it sounds like the squeak noise is coming from the steering rack - probably the seal on the rack's input shaft. And it goes away within a few seconds.

 

I had creaking in the steering wheel in one of my old cars. The power steering fluid was the culprit. Changed it and all was ok afterwards.

 

You mean the belt replacement? If so, the belt is a wear and tear item which you can DIY as a normal maintenanace item. However, if the tensioner or other steering related item is at fault, you should be able to get it repaired under warranty.

 

I am bumping all of these in hopes of some info ebfore i head to the dealer today. anyone?

 

I haven't gone to the dealer yet - let us know what they find.

 

went to the dealer (courtesy acura, sanford, fl)

tried to tell me i was out of warranty. Nope! 70 mi left.

I will be shocked if they hear anything after not hearing it 10k mi ago.

Now i gotta be without my car for another day (B 1-2 service due!) and wait until the morning when its cold to test it out, but its not cold enough down here this time of year!!!

ARGH so freaking frustrating!

 

I have the same problem too. It is NOT the drive belt. Something thats link to the steering columb/rack . I notice that it does it when the idle drops around 500rpm..Maybe old fluid.

 

ok so my last chance to get it fixed under warranty failed. they did not hear it this morning when it was cold (nor did i after i picked it up).

no choice but to let it go, unless i can get an extended warranty before tomorrow (probably not though - have 52445 mi, 55 to go until warranty is out.)

UGH Oh well i guess. dont know wat to do except hope acura will pay for it when a tech finally does hear it (with records from dealer, of course).

 

I suspect that if you have documentation showing you brought your TSX to the dealer before your warranty was up, and they couldn't find the problem, if it resurfaces later you'll be covered. It's probably worth checking the warranty fine print.

BTW, my steering wheel makes a small squeak once every morning when I back out of the driveway. Doesn't really bother me that much though.

 

I have the same noise lol. It doesn't really bother me, it only does it when I turn the wheel full lock left or right once in a blue moon.

I personally think its the steering wheel rubbing on the plastic cover behind it.

Some one should try and spray some Armor All in the crack between the steering wheel and plasic piece behind it.

 

this noise just started happening this week! it almost sounds someone is hissing at you, but very quietely lol hmmm hopefully someone can diagnose it

 

Has anyone diagnosed the cause of the squeeking?

 

Issues reported and documented before the expiration of the warranty are covered. This is to prevent the dealer from saying he cannot find the problem and stall until your coverage expires.

It is possibly the steering column bushing, which can be lubed. It helped mine a short time for a bit, but it could be the solution for you.

 

i'm not sure if what i had is the same problem you guys are describing.

i also had a ever so slight groan/squeek/moan noise when turning the steering wheel. dealer tech was able to replicate the problem. i got a new power steering rack as a "fix". i didn't even ask for it! warranty is a good thing.

since the change, the noise is gone.

 

Hi, I have experienced something similar in the past few weeks. Only seems noticable just the once upon a cold start up and the steering wheel is turned quite a bit. It's not very loud but is noticable. It's not a big deal but it was not there when the car was new so as far as I am concerned it should not be there at all.

 

... Don't confuse a groaning noise coming from one of the power steering components with a mild squeaking coming directly from the steering wheel assembly.

Mine is happening more, so when I go in for some oil & other fluids change, and examination of my seat problem, I'll ask them to lube it if it's not much labor ($).

 

update:

according to the shop foreman at my local dealership, there should be a service bulletin coming sometime soon. until then, all dealerships are told NOT to change out the power steering rack. i guess i got lucky.

my local dealership apparently performed something like 10-11% of all power steering rack changes in the entire country. this was something corporate TOLD them to do to fix the issue, then the dealership got audited for doing it too much!

just an FYI for all you guys who have groaning/squeaking issues from your steering wheel and have warranty left on your cars.

 

Do you know how much it cost the dealer to fix your problem?

 

Mine's done this for 5-10k miles now.
I'll ask them to check it out next time I'm at the stealership.

 

Just found this thread with a google search & signed up.

My dealer was also unable to duplicate the problem. I've since recorded the sound with my phone a few times and am returning to the dealer this week to let a tech hear it and hopefully recommend something.

Symptoms are the same - it only happens occasionally when temps are cold (mornings and late evenings lately,) not necessarily when the engine is cold. I'll post an update if they're able to fix it.

fyi my car is a 2006 6MT.

 

Is there any chance you can post the sound you have recorded so we can compare the sound we are hearing? Thanks.

 

The tech who serviced my car this morning said that a "grommet" needed replacing. I may just take the cover off as per the Hondata prep instructions (here? ToVTEC?) and try lubing it a little.

 

Had that issue when I first bought my jeep with only like 30k on it. Changed the power steering fluid to synthetic almost 100k miles ago...no squeak or groan from the power steering pump. Pretty impressive really.

 

Grommet is a little vague - what was he talking about?

 

Dunno. I want to find the DIY Hondata reflash thread pictures and remove the cover myself and see what's up in there. It might just need lubricating as others have implied.

 

i've had this problem for 15k or so now, and have complained about it while under warranty - need an oil change in 2.5k more, so will mention it again. like the idea of recording the noise with a phone... clever

 

this happened to me just recently. 75K the heat pan was hanging on with just a couple of screws.

 

I was having the same problem - squeaking coming from the steering column when turning at slow speeds, mostly in the morning, although recently it seemed like it was happening more frequently. I just got it back from the dealership today and they replaced the rack (under warranty). They said the lock washers were bad.

 

Lock washers - I call BS on that. Lock washers do not wear out or go bad. Ask again please.

 

Yea, I'm calling BS on that one too. Lock washers don't go bad. They don't move, rub against anything, or flex. There's nothing that happens to them that would cause them to go bad. They can be missing, or improperly installed, but that's not a lock washer problem, that's an idiot-who-can't-put-together-a-car problem.

 

Hi ,

I had the same issue and i replaced the Power Steering fluid and i no longer have this issue..

The color of the old fluid is pretty bad..

Considering how easy it is to change the PS fluid i am planning to change it every 30K miles.

 

^^how do you change it? Turkey baster method?

 

I have the same problem I was going to take it in anyways to fix some burnt out lights, if they wont fix it I will make them change the fluid.

 

I really have nothing to useful to contribute to this, except to say that it's so nice to be in the company of friends. I have had this problem in my '06 for at least a year and a half, and thought I was alone. Clearly I'm not, you're describing exactly what is happening with mine, primarily under colder conditions. I've just dealt with it, but will keep track of this in case someone determines a good DIY to try.

 

So has anyone heard or better yet seen the a TSB for this?

 

I've looked through the TSBs and didn't see one. They're listed in the FAQs if you're game to read 'em all.

I can't remember if posted this, but Leith Acura in Cary told me the squeak/groaning was a worn out grommet ... looking at parts breakdowns, I couldn't see a "grommet," it may be part of the steering column assembly. I requested a PS fluid change, too (I'm over 70,000 miles), and the service rep said they don't like to change it unless there's a problem in the system. Hrm....


I've been lazy, that's my only excuse for not going to my dealer where the extended warranty is serviced.

 

So the service writer hears "squeak" and says "worn grommet". It's his way to sound highly educated, and how can you prove him wrong. I still have 6 months to get mine fixed, and it's getting worse every day - no intermittent problem this time !