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Ratcheting Click in the Steering wheel column

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by 2010priusowner, Dec 6, 2010.

  1. 2010priusowner

    2010priusowner New Member

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    I have a 2010 Toyota Prius that has always since day 1 had a ratcheting clicking noise in the steering wheel column.

    The sound occurs each and every time I pull out in reverse from a parked position then as I am pulling forward as the wheel straightens out the noise occurs I will try and record it I wonder can I post a sound file here?

    Before anyone start asking about CV Joints or going off their own separate diagnostic tree let me be perfectly clear the noise I am describing is absolutely 100% in the steering column not under the car outside the car or somewhere other than where I have described.

    So the question goes out to all of you other 2010 Prius owners does your steering column do this make this noise that is?

    It makes me think something is attempting to calibrate itself.

    If this is not normal could there be a tsb for this?

    the car only has a little over 2000 two thousand miles on it I was planning on bringing it up to the dealer during the 5,000 mile service.
     
    #1 2010priusowner, Dec 6, 2010
  2. Paul58

    Paul58 Mileage Miser

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    My steering column does not make any clicking noise...
     
    #2 Paul58, Dec 6, 2010
  3. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    no noises in mine
     
    #3 adamace1, Dec 6, 2010
  4. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    I have the same noise on mine - it sounds like something is being reset or as you say, calibrated - it is not a "worrying" sound, rather something "happening" in the first few seconds of operation.

    There is no TSB and as far as I know you are the first one posting about it. I never thought of doing it as I considered the noise normal. And I think it is. (until it breaks :D).
     
    #4 pakitt, Dec 10, 2010
  5. 2010priusowner

    2010priusowner New Member

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    I fixed the problem, by turning on the radio. Now I do not hear it!:rockon:
     
    #5 2010priusowner, Jun 25, 2011
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    ^ :)

    Did you bring it by the deal at all?
     
    #6 spiderman, Jun 25, 2011
  7. 2010priusowner

    2010priusowner New Member

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    No they are very bad all of them in my surrounding area in fact, it makes me wonder about, toyotas future when their dealerships are so bad!

    Very long boring story concerning the scummy dealerships, they call them stealerships for a reason but incompetent techs is taking it way too far.
     
    #7 2010priusowner, Jun 25, 2011
  8. msmit002

    msmit002 Junior Member

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    O.K., so now my 2006 Prius is doing EXACTLY what you describe. I had it in at the dealer and they can find nothing wrong. The CV boots/joints were checked; they're fine. The clicking and rough/rumbly feel of the steering wheel is still present. I usually get it when steering a good 90 degree turn at rather slow speeds (think parking lot, etc.)

    Now, Jiffy Lube just remarked that the power steering fluid needed to be changed since it black as my boss's coffee, so my mechanic is doing that today, along with giving the steering a once-over to try and find the problem.

    So, did your problem ever go away? Or better yet, did you figure out what was wrong?
     
    #8 msmit002, Feb 28, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  9. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    The power steering in the Prius is electric. I wasn't aware that there was any fluid to change.

    Tom
     
    #9 qbee42, Feb 28, 2012
  10. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    Jiffy Lube 1
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    #10 adamace1, Feb 28, 2012
  11. msmit002

    msmit002 Junior Member

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    Thank you, yes I now know that. Thank goodness my mechanic is honest and pointed that out to me. Nevertheless, your sarcasm is better spent elsewhere.

    So, the latest theory is that there is something wrong with the front transaxle on the driver's side. I'd really like to hear from others who can offer an opinion before my suspension conks out on me while driving my kids to school.


    The problem is that I cannot get the problem to present itself consistently. Some days the steering wheel feels like it will shear off right in my hand from the grinding and other days it seems fine..
     
    #11 msmit002, Feb 28, 2012
  12. Bwrx

    Bwrx New Member

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    Anyone have any ideas why the original poster's car is making the noise?

    I think my car is doing the same thing except the noise only occurs after the car has set a bit.
     
    #12 Bwrx, Mar 27, 2014
  13. V4Phan

    V4Phan Junior Member

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    Check the steering linkage. Two U-Joints that could be damaged or the metal clip that holds the rubber boot in place inside the cab .... I trouble shooting mine now
     
    #13 V4Phan, May 25, 2014
  14. priusrat

    priusrat Junior Member

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    My 2012 Prius II began having this EXACT same issue shortly after I bought it new. When I back it out of the garage in the morning into a K turn, the steering makes a faint ratcheting noise as I turn it. It continues as I turn the other direction going forward. I've had it at the dealer twice for it - left it overnight. In the morning, they claim they cannot hear it. I think it was worse in cold weather, even though I garage the car in a garage that is rarely under 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

    I just saw that there is a recall on the Prius steering column.
     
    #14 priusrat, Sep 1, 2014
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