squeak while turning

need more info
1)starting to turn while stopped
2)starting to turn while moving
3) " " " " " fast
4)tire pressure
5)wheel alignment status
6)tire condition
7)all the time or just occasionally
?

 

Murray -

My '02 Prius just had the entire steering rack replaced for the exact same reason - squeaking (a rubber sound) when turning to the right. Never to the left.

It has 40K mileage and is (2) years old, but Toyota replaced it under warranty (or at least, no charge).

Hope you can get the same type of response from them on your car.

Ric

 

*Every single Toyota* I've driven, ranging from brand new to many years old has made occasional steering squeaks.. It's got to be some sort of rubber/plastic seal or grommet as the squeak does sound "rubbery". I've never paid much attention to it as it seems to be mostly intermittent and I've never had any steering problems because of it; I simply chalk it up to another Toyota quirk.. My Prius occasionally makes a steering squeak when getting under way after sitting in the hot sun..

 

JUST BROUGHT MY 2004 PRIUS INTO TOYOTA... HEARD A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, FELT IT ALSO.
AT FIRST THE MECHANIC DIDN'T "HEAR" IT, BUT WHEN I DROVE IT AND SHOWED HIM 3 TIMES... HE AGREED.
NOW THE TWIST - THERE ARE NOT STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES IN ALL TOYOTA SUPPLY IN U.S. MIGHT TAKE 2-4 WEEKS TO GET FROM JAPAN.
TOLD THEM I WANTED A RENTAL... THEY AGREED
FIND IT STRANGE THAT NO REPLACEMENT WHEELS ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL OF THE U.S.
ANYONE ELSE HAVING PROBLEMS?
ALSO... MY MILEAGE IS OFF... HIGHWAY GETTING 39-44 LOCAL DRIVING 38-40??
ANY COMMENTS. ALL THE 2005 PRIUS OWNERS I TALK TO SEEM TO AVERAGE 48-52 MPG??? :angry:

 

My 05 has had a loud squeak when turning sharp right or left, whatever the weather. Toyota technician spent an hour with it then said he did not know the cause. Conversation went something like this:
Me: "But is the car safe to drive?"
Him: "Oh sure. Quite safe."
Me: "But you say you don't know what the trouble is so how can you be so sure it's safe?"

No answer to that.
Or is there?

 

Mine just started doing this last week. Taking off from a stop, low speed, anything from a slight turn to the right. Not left, ICE running or not. 2001 Prius, 130,000 miles.

 

Not sure if the newer ones have a rack, as they are drive by wire. Aren't they?

 

Prius has a steering rack which uses an electric motor for power assist.

The throttle is drive-by-wire, which means that when you press on the accelerator pedal, that sends your request for power to the hybrid vehicle ECU which then decides how much power the gasoline engine and MG2 should provide in response to your request.

The brake system is also drive-by-wire, to the extent that when you press on the brake pedal, the HV ECU decides how much braking should be regen vs. friction, and provides appropriate instructions to the inverter to obtain regen power from MG2 and transfer it to the traction battery; and the skid control ECU which controls the friction braking system.

So it is a minor miracle when your Prius actually manages to accelerate and stop as you desire.

 

Thank you so very much!
I was beginning to fear that the problems accelerating and stopping were due to the 5+ fractures along my spine, along with several types of nerves being killed off before they reach my feet!