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Does your steering wheel make a rubbing sound?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by calbear, Apr 6, 2012.

  1. calbear

    calbear Member

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    Often when I am turning the steering wheel, even a little it now seems, I hear a whooshing/rubbing sound and feel just a little bit of that rubbing. It feels/sounds like it's coming from the housing right behind the wheel itself, maybe where the shaft bearing is. Is this normal? Anyone else getting this too?
     
    #1 calbear, Apr 6, 2012
  2. UCBRUINS

    UCBRUINS Member

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    No noise from mine. I would get it checked out.
     
    #2 UCBRUINS, Apr 6, 2012
  3. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    My 2010 level 5 does that in the heat of summer, and has since it was new. The rubbing stops when it gets colder.
     
    #3 DavidA, Apr 6, 2012
  4. Godzuki

    Godzuki Active Member

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    No rubbing on mine either calbear...
     
    #4 Godzuki, Apr 6, 2012
  5. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Mine did it and a few repairs were attempted under warranty. In the end they removed some housing behind that cloth between the steering wheel and the dash. Not sure you'd want to do it as you can now get your fingers in when in the past you couldn't. But the noise was bugging me.
     
    #5 GrumpyCabbie, Apr 6, 2012
  6. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

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    All cars I've driven have made a sound when the steering wheel is cranked all the way to the stop position, just back off a touch when you reach that point.
     
    #6 Erikon, Apr 6, 2012
  7. calbear

    calbear Member

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    Thanks for the feedback so far. Erikon, it's not at the extremes of the travel, it starts even when just going off center. It's like the wheel is too close to the housing or something in the bearing is rubbing. But like GrumpyCabbie notes, the repair may be worse than the noise. I always worry about dealership mechanics monkeying around trying to solve something they know nothing about. I'd rather know from this group's expertise and experience what the issue/solution is and just bring it to them that way -- or just let it go if there's a greater risk in trying to solve it.
     
    #7 calbear, Apr 6, 2012
  8. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

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    It's making you unhappy, it's under warranty, so have the dealer look at it. There shouldn't be any visible signs of any repair, that would just mean a terrible job done by the dealer! If they have a good reputation (check comments and ratings online), then go for it! If they are iffy, find a dealer with a good service dept. and take it there for the work. Good luck!
     
    #8 Erikon, Apr 7, 2012
  9. calbear

    calbear Member

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    Yeah, I just generally have this fear about individual mechanics rooting around inside something that's factory-assembled and not intended to be messed with... It's not like changing brake pads. I would feel better if there was a TSB on this at least..
     
    #9 calbear, Apr 7, 2012
  10. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    On my C I have also have noise that sounds like its from the wheel rubbing in the column or maybe not? It does only happen sometimes and its minor so I don't think im worried about it.
     
    #10 priusCpilot, Apr 9, 2012
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