Hi All, New to this community as I just got my 2009 TSX a few weeks ago. My 1990 Integra finally gave out on me so I had to retire her and get the TSX. Love the new car but still miss the Integra.

Anyways, there is one thing that concerns me and I'm not convinced the dealer is giving me a straight answer. I hear a 'whirring' sound that reminds me of a metal coiled wire being pulled through a hole, sorry that's the best way I can describe it, when I turn my steering wheel in either direction. It's even loud enough for my wife to hear in the passenger seat but only when we are moving slowly [ex. parking, pulling into the garage] but not when driving on the road. It doesn't interfere with the handling or turning. Has anyone experienced this noise? Should I plan to ignore my dealer and bring it in anyways?

Thanks in advance....

 

There's a rattle issue that some people have had associated with the wire coil in the steering wheel (required so you can have buttons on the wheel itself). It could be related to that. I forget the technical name for it at the moment... grr.

 

Hi LukeaTron, Thanks for the info. It is a bit of relief to hear it might be normal sound.

 

What you are hearing is either the clockspring or the Steering wheel shroud rubbing against the column, If it sounds like a constant whir and you cannot feel it, and it gets louder the faster you turn the wheel, it is the clockspring. There is a thin ribbon cable that is round inside the hub (6 times with the ability to go lock to lock without stressing the cable). The edge of this cable can rub on the clock spring housing making the noise, or against itself. This can be fixed via lube/mylar/design relief, or best to have the dealer replace it as there are variances to the housings. The purpose of the ribbon cable is to provide power/communication for the airbag, horn and steering wheel controls.

Check to see if the back of your steering wheel shroud is rubbing on the stalk levers or the column itself. Normally, this sound will come and go as you turn the steering wheel.

 

Interesting, okay I'll go home tonight and check it out. I'm glad it doesn't sound that critical and I can still drive it a while before something breaks off. :-) Thanks so much.

 

It won't break (at least for this reason), just annoy. The clockspring is not the most robust and does have a higher warrantee rate, not just Acura, but all OEM's. Noise has become more of an issue due to the ribbon cable having to be larger/thicker due to more functions on the steering wheels. Prior to airbags, a metal contact ring was used for the horn and cruise controls if they were steering wheel mounted. People did not hear that.

 

Mine makes the exact same noise as you described. I have driven two other 2009 TSXs and they made the same noise. I believe it must be a characteristic of the this new vehicle.

 

If the only time you hear it is when you are flipping the wheel around fast, say when you parallel park, then I would not worry about it. However you should not hear it during normal driving. I know TRW makes a very quite clockspring that Acura/Honda should look into into the future.

 

So is this noise something I should have checked out because I have the same issue.

 

i dont think its an issue at all, i think it has to do with the new electronic steering assist. my guess is its the potentiometer used to detect the position of the steering wheel.
i noticed it too when i got my car, but i never thought twice about it. there have been so many complaints here about the lack of feedback and lack of on center feel in the steering due the the new electronic assist and im pretty sure this noise comes from the new system. its just how it is.
the only issue i have with it is that what ever is making the sound, seems to limit the speed at which you can suddenly turn the wheel.

 

I second that.

 

Not to derail this thread, but try turning off VSA before suddenly jerking the wheel.