Steering noises

Tiny
INMYHEART28
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 18,000 MILES
For some time now I’ve had a click in turning the steering wheel. Every the repair shop said it’s not a big deal and it’s an expensive fix so I left it alone. Now when I turn the wheel right or left (not so much on lane change. More when backing up and turning the wheel.) I hear sort of a scraping like plastic rubbing hard on plastic? Do I need a new steering wheel or just something like steering fluid? Because of the fact that I use the highest quality motor oil and drive very little (maybe 2,000 miles a year) I have not had to bring the car in for an oil change but it’s almost there. Can this be fixed with steering fluid or is it more complex?
Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 2:46 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good evening,

What did they say exactly was the issue they found?

This sounds like it could be an axle CV joint in one of the axles.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-cv-axle-joint

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle

Roy
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
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  • 223 POSTS
Okay, so originally the “click” had something to do with turning and it was just worn out and it was something like when you turn the cover of a jar a lot. But that was 2 years ago and they said it wasn’t an issue. This has not been looked at. As for this issue do you see it as serious or expensive? You don’t think it just needs like more steering fluid or something?
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
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  • 223 POSTS
You see the clicking on turn is not a problem at all. My concern is this much newer issue of loud “plastic rubbing on plastic “ type of noise.”
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 5:40 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
The clicking on a turn is a problem. It will be a much bigger problem soon.

No, it is not fluid at all. This is the sound of something worm out that needs attention.

Roy
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 5:49 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
  • MEMBER
  • 223 POSTS
I was told 2 years ago that the clicking is nothing. It ran fine for 2 years. Now I have the plastic rubbing against plastic sound. Is this a seriously expensive issue?
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
  • MEMBER
  • 223 POSTS
I am hoping that even if I have to replace the entire connection between the steering wheel and the shaft it can’t be more than like $400.00, right?
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:01 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Well, now it is an issue and I would get it fixed now. 2 years ago it would have been cheaper to fix but now that it escalated to more noise, more damage has been done.

You need to have this checked as soon as you can before something totally breaks for you and leaves you stranded.

Roy
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:02 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
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  • 223 POSTS
Okay, but are we talking about more than a $400.00 or $500.00 job at this point?
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:03 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
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  • 223 POSTS
It’s a 10 year old car and I don’t want to spend like $2,000.00 on it. That’s my greatest fear, but I can’t afford a new car now.
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:09 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
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  • 223 POSTS
Is there any way to say what this is likely to cost?
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:09 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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If you have it checked out, then let me know the failure and I can give you a rough estimate based on your location.

I cannot guess on this until I know the exact failure.

Roy
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:34 PM
Tiny
INMYHEART28
  • MEMBER
  • 223 POSTS
So is it fair to say that whether or not this is an expensive job or an easy fix or something in between is unknown until it’s looked at and diagnosed? Is that a fair statement? Also, is it safe to drive it a little before it gets fixed or does it need to be looked at before I even drive it anywhere? Thanks.
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:41 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Yes, it needs to be diagnosed.

I would not drive it far at all until the failure is known.

I would not use the guy from 2 years ago that put you in this situation with bad advice.

Roy
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Sunday, July 5th, 2020 AT 6:45 PM

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