Strange sound in steering wheel

[johncastle]

Hi, lately i've been hearing this sound when turning the steering wheel on my 2008 XL7, it does not seem to be mechanical, it seems to be coming from inside the steering column. The sound is similar to the sound plastic tie wraps make when you close them, you know, like that plastic friction "ZIP" sound. Its annoying but I can cope with it because you can barely hear it with the radio on.

Anyways, has anyone noticed this on theirs???

[Goaterguy]

Yup, I have it too, sounds like plastic to plastic friction. My closest dealer is about 2 hrs away so I will wait a while until I can take the xl7 to it.

[johncastle]

Originally Posted by Goaterguy

Yup, I have it too, sounds like plastic to plastic friction. My closest dealer is about 2 hrs away so I will wait a while until I can take the xl7 to it.

Exactly, plastic to plastic. Well, the next check up is not for another 2000 miles, it doesn't seem like its urgent, so I'll wait. please post if you get it sorted out first. Thanks

[LordNikon]

I'll have to keep an ear out for this one.

[Scrad]

I noticed this from day one. Its been like that for year. At first I thought it might be the steering pump, but I can barely hear it and usually I only hear it in the driveway or in a parking lot while I'm going real slow. My wife doesn't hear it, but she wouldn't notice if the wheel was falling off either.

It has never gotten louder, so I never really was too concerned about taking it in to get checked out.

[crazzieannie]

I have that sound also its really annoying, thats why I have the radio on all the time, then you can't hear it, I am going to the dealership monday so I will ask them what it is and will let you know.

[badash]

That noise is common in the forenza too!!! you need to replcaed the clock spring... well that is what we have had to do here at my dealer ship..

[rplegend]

Recent purchase of 2004 XL7, I notice sound, suspect power steering, very soft,parking lot, both left and right. PS fluids fine, don't suspect tire sound, feel it ever so light in wheel, man just can't get a handle on it. Anyone else.

[zstalker]

Originally Posted by badash

That noise is common in the forenza too!!! you need to replcaed the clock spring...

Originally Posted by rplegend

Recent purchase of 2004 XL7, I notice sound, suspect power steering, very soft,parking lot, both left and right.

whoa whoa whoa...let's not get carried away, the Forenza/Reno are Korean-build cars from Daewoo, the 2004 XL7 is a Japanese-built truck from Suzuki, and the 2007+ XL7 is a totally different animal from both of those: it's a Canadian-built GM-based unibody vehicle. The Forenza and -2006 XL7 have many reasons for their noises, but I wouldn't even use them as a basis for beginning to diagnose noises on a 2007+ XL7.
When you're having the dealer give you a technician (whichever one is best at noises maybe) to listen to the noise in question WITH YOU. If you just say to them "I hear a tiny noise" they'll say " we couldn't hear it". If you make sure they can hear exactly what you're talking about, the very least they can tell you is it might be just a normal movement noise...it might just be a noise that the column (or whatever) makes normally.
~Erik~

[johncastle]

has anyone been able to fix this yet?? its getting worse and its driving me nuts, its starting to sound like your belly when you haven't eaten all day, lol