Steering Noises

Have been getting weird noises from behind steering wheel for a while so looked it up on internet.

Found this thread on Twingo site which exactly describes my problem.

http://www.twingo133.net/general-twingo-renaultsport/steering-noise-t14175.html

My problem seems to be getting worse mostly when stationary.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this on the Wind?

HELP!!!

At present the Wind is making my MGTFs & even the Alfa Spider look trouble free!!

I’ve not heard of this on the Wind since the Forum started nearly seven years ago and (touch wood) not had anything similar in over 200,000 miles of Wind driving, so maybe you’ve unfortunately got a rogue one.

Have tried spraying top & bottom steering column joints as advised on the Twingo chat room.

I'll give it some time & see what happens.

@Pittstop, if this solves your problem, would you mind putting together a brief guide on how to do this - i.e. which bolts to undo, where to spray etc? As our car ages, I want to try and record these tips and tricks so am building a knowledge base on the main website.

Unfortunately problem, although less persistent,still not yet solved so cannot give any wise words.

Will advise if I have a Eureka moment re this problem.

Similarly to the owner on the Twingo chat room. Since I sprayed top & bottom steering column UJs the problem has gradually disappeared.

No logical reason I can think of why this should work but fingers crossed for the future.

Excellent news

Good news, something to remember.

Typically 5 days after I'm getting hopeful it's started doing the chattering; which can also be sensed through the wheel rim;  from behind the steering wheel again. Only occasionally & usually when stationary. Still no apparent impact on the integrity of the steering which remains smooth.

Off with the cover behind the steering wheel for another look. 

Will it do it when I have the cover off? Not b*****y likely! I think I'll leave it off for a week or two.

In the area; just behind the steering wheel's centre where the noise seems to be coming from; is a white plastic ring with many dog toothed projections which seems to be associated with a black plastic rectangle with two white dots & two white rectangles on it.

The white ring & the plastic rectangle turn; in relation to the stalks etc which remain stationary; when one turns the wheel.

The ring is not a tight fit & might be a cause of noise should it somehow be vibrated & my ring seems to be broken as the attached picture shows. Is it broken or should it be like this? Anyone know?

Next time one of you take off the cover to change a stalk or something similar could you please have a look at your white ring to see if it is "broken" or not.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi Barbs,

Noise continues & has recently occurred more often.

Is there any chance that the French Winders you are in contact with have heard of this & might have some ideas?

Do they read our chats?

Would you be able to ask?

If not I might try joining the Twingo RS chat room to see if they can throw some light on it.

No problem will post it on the Forum and get back to you. Will also ask the great god Araf.

:p

I hadn't come across this before but it does seem to be a well documented problem across all Renault models and the dealer solution is around £1100

Steering columns with motors for the Twingo are cheaply available on ebay but they could fail after a few months, or there's a company (http://www.power-steering.co.uk/) that reconditions them and gives a lifetime warranty.  Not sure of their cost though.

Thanks Araf always good to see you around. And you car is still a member it joined with it's new owner.

Thanks for suggestion.

Have mailed Power Steering Co & await their response.

Joined the Renaultsport chat room where this has been discussed in the past & posted my problem.

To date no one has responded. Not like this forum where a new member gets a welcome response!!!

No response from Power Steering Co either.

Never give up is my motto so last week I had another go!!

Took off the pod covering switches etc (getting pretty proficient at this by now) then removed the trim panel below the steering.

This panel just pulls out & then one just has to disconnect the two wiring plugs (Mirror Adjustment & Traction Control Override switch) to be able to put it to one side.

I then tracked down the steering sensor (the black plastic casing surrounding the column) & the plug that takes the wiring away from it to the assistance motor (Orange).



The orange plug has a black plastic sort of sheath round it which I partially broke as I unplugged it. This view is after I reconnected it with the broken part of the sheath missing; revealing more orange; & before I wrapped some tape round it.

Anyway having disconnected the plug I sprayed contact cleaner on both the male & female parts & then reconnected it. (I also sprayed silicon lubricant on to the UJ probably to no effect.) 

250 miles later so far no weird noises.

FINGERS CROSSED

Hi Pittstop, Great advice if needed for future problems . Thanks.

Why can't something in life be simple?

Been getting the noise again particularly on starting up.

Decided to re-investigate what I had thought was the steering sensor & connector that I had cleaned up as per my photo & mail on 28th April.

This time I did it with the engine running & the noises occurring.

Disconnected the connector & the noise continued. 

So much for my theory & "cure".

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

What to try next is the question?

I'll give it some thought after a glass or two of wine.

Turn the stereo up... soz wish I could be .more help.

@pittstop,

After contact cleaner on the connector and silicon lube on the UJ the noise stopped for 250 miles?

1. Did anything else catch some overspray of either as you applied them?
2. Time to put some more silicon lube on the UJ?

You descried the noise as chattering at one point, and on a couple of occasions the lube on the UJ seems to have been a temporary fix. Also steering is smooth but noise is heard when stood. Could it be that enough play is present in the UJ to resonate and rattle when the engine is at tickover rate? Does it clear up when engine speed changes?

Hi Bandit,

No obvious change with engine speed but; as you say; if if it worked for 250 mls I'll squirt some more silicone into the vicinity & re-check the tightness of the UJ bolt..

A point I failed to mention on 11th June was that when I disconnected the connector with the engine running; not only did the noise persist; but the power steering still worked OK so I have to ask myself is the black plastic casing round the steering shaft not related to the power steering as I first thought.

Looked it up on Dialogys parts finder & it is not shown as a separate item, just an integral part of the; very expensive; steering column so I can't fathom out exactly what it is.

Anyway a little job for the weekend.

Passed MoT a few days ago.

I wonder what the tester would have done if this had occured during the test?