Steering Column Shudders (Vibrates)

[whatshisname]

We're a Prius family here with two of them. When my daughter leaves for work in the mornings she backs her 2003 Classic out of the garage and while doing so, the steering column begins shuddering while turning either right or left. This does not happen while moving in a straight reverse line. Nor does it happen at anytime after warmup. Driving forward at any speed is smooth and trouble free. A conversation with the service manager at the Toyota Dealer developed the suggestion that the rack and pinion assembly may need repairs. I find this hard to believe since the performance is trouble free after warm up. Has anyone had this problem? Your thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by whatshisname

We're a Prius family here with two of them. When my daughter leaves for work in the mornings she backs her 2003 Classic out of the garage and while doing so, the steering column begins shuddering while turning either right or left. This does not happen while moving in a straight reverse line. Nor does it happen at anytime after warmup. Driving forward at any speed is smooth and trouble free. A conversation with the service manager at the Toyota Dealer developed the suggestion that the rack and pinion assembly may need repairs. I find this hard to believe since the performance is trouble free after warm up. Has anyone had this problem? Your thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

This is a known weakness in the NHW11s although usually seen in the 2001-02 models. Sad to say, it take replacement of the whole assembly.

Bob Wilson

[whatshisname]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

This is a known weakness in the NHW11s although usually seen in the 2001-02 models. Sad to say, it take replacement of the whole assembly.

Bob Wilson

Hmm. Thanks Bob for your interest. Sorry to hear that. Well, it drives ok after warmup. We'll just drive it until it quits. Then we'll see exactly what's wrong. That will be better than "let's see if this corrects it kind of repairs".

[ceric]

Originally Posted by whatshisname

Hmm. Thanks Bob for your interest. Sorry to hear that. Well, it drives ok after warmup. We'll just drive it until it quits. Then we'll see exactly what's wrong. That will be better than "let's see if this corrects it kind of repairs".

It is time to trade it in NOW, IMHO. Let the professionals fix it and resell it.
The entire R&P assembly will cost you $$$.

[whatshisname]

Originally Posted by ceric

It is time to trade it in NOW, IMHO. Let the professionals fix it and resell it.
The entire R&P assembly will cost you $$$.

Thanks Ceric. The trouble hasn't been firmly diagnosed yet. Let's hope it isn't the r&p assembly. Could be a hydraulic pump or something.

[tochatihu]

No hydraulic pump. The steering assist is an electric motor. It knows how much to help (and in which direction) based on a torque sensor. A clever concept but unfortunately includes old-school potentiometers that can become noisy/scratchy like a radio volume control. This leads to substantial confusion for the electric motor.

In this case, it may stay about the same or get worse. Most worst is when the power assist just goes offline. At highway speeds little Prius is easy to steer, but low-speed maneuvers require significant arm strength.

Some potential for safety hazard there, which is what you'd bring up in calling 800-331-4331. Toyota's complaints desk, who may or may not decide to help you buy a new one. Also, tell them that Toyota usta replace them under a warranty enhancement program (which has expired). Those negotiations always require patient persistence.

A new steering assembly installed by Toyota would be about $1600 (perhaps someone can verify this estimate?). Used (warranteed?) prices on car-part.com range from $50 to $250 today. The book says 4 hrs labor, but it would not be the simplest thing for an 'alternative' mechanic to install.

I an uncertain whether the ECU (computer) that manages the thing always needs to be replaced. Those are not exactly cheap either.

That's the story. For 2004 model year they started to make the torque sensor properly, with Hall-effect sensors. No more scratchies.

[joeman]

Originally Posted by whatshisname

We're a Prius family here with two of them. When my daughter leaves for work in the mornings she backs her 2003 Classic out of the garage and while doing so, the steering column begins shuddering while turning either right or left. This does not happen while moving in a straight reverse line. Nor does it happen at anytime after warmup. Driving forward at any speed is smooth and trouble free. A conversation with the service manager at the Toyota Dealer developed the suggestion that the rack and pinion assembly may need repairs. I find this hard to believe since the performance is trouble free after warm up. Has anyone had this problem? Your thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

You never said the mileage on your 2003 Prius, might be a good reference to us all the mileage of your car, when the problem started.

[tochatihu]

As Bob W indicated in post #2, this has been much less common in the 2003 model year. We all kinda thought that Toyota had improved the potentiometers.

So, an update please?

[eoghang]

Would my problem be this--only worse?
I have a Gen I with 180K. The PS error began coming on mid last week and is now on all the time. Though it does start ok, i.e., the steering is smooth as we take a sharp left out the driveway. But once we are on the highway the PS light comes on, stays on and steering on tight bends is an effort.

Sounds like I need to replace the power assist assembly. What is this exactly?
Cheers, John

[eoghang]

>This is my 2nd attempt to post to this thread. The first one vanished!

Do I have the same, only worse, problem as described here? I have a Gen I with 180K. The PS light comes on after driving it for a while. Starting off the steering is fine, we have a sharp left to get out the drive way and there's no problem. But once on the road the PS error comes on and it becomes obvious that the steering assist is not functioning. This makes local driving difficult but highway driving is fine.