Hi all,

I am hoping you can help since I am one month from the end of my warranty. Since my car was almost brand new, I have had problems with my steering wheel knocking. It only when going very slowly (like backing out of the driveway or a parking spot), it most apparent when turning to the right, and only happens in certain season. Yes, that is right, it is at it's worse in the fall, not quite as bad in the winter and absent the rest of the year, which definitely makes me think it is temperature related (I am in N. California). It is also worse if my MINI sits for a few days. One day I will have the knocks and the next day I won't. It is very unpredictable. You can feel the knocking in the wheel and hear it a bit. I heard one poster describe it as feeling like there are marbles in the steering wheel.

Anyway, first, they "aligned the coupler". This fixed it until the next fall when it came back. Then they replaced the upper and lower steering column with the "new and improved parts". Last fall, the knocking came back, but only for a couple of weeks and of course every time I tried to take the car in, I wouldn't have the problem that actual day. It was almost as if my MINI knew I was bringing it in and the problem would disappear every time I made an appointment ;-).

Anyway, this Tuesday the problem came back. But of course only for one day and I couldn't get to the dealership that day. I am out of warranty at the end of Oct. and I really want to get this fixed once and for all before then. I am afraid that it won't start knocking again until November when I am out of warranty.

Does anyone out there know what the problem could be? What are the symptoms of the steering pump problems. Could it be that? Or a universal joint thing? It really feels like bearings and being that it is temperature related makes me think that it is a lubrication thing.

Has anyone out there been able to get rid of the knocking for good? I would be grateful for any information people can provide.

Thanks!!!!
mczinn

 

Good question. Mine is doing the same thing. I was just thinking about calling the dealership and asking them to look at it. I want a permanent solution also. I'm out of warranty July 08, but I'll be putting the car in storage from November to March... so I won't have much time with it.
My question is "how do I describe it" to the tech? I To me it feels like a clicking and only happens in the morning when I back out of the driveway. After that it's gone. It is getting worse in the cold.
Hopefully someone has had it fixed and maybe they can post what was written on the service ticket as a solution so we can suggest that to the tech. Is there a TSB on the subject? If so, is there a TSB number we can reference?
FWIW if there is a TSB and they try fixing it, then you go out of warranty and it comes back you may hav a good chance of getting it fixed. I had a Honda where that happened and got it fixed out of warranty.

Crossing fingers for a solution. My dealership is a pretty good drive from here, so I don't want to go any more than I have to.

 

I think there are two separate problems that commonly occur....clicking and knocking. Mine is knocking. I used to have the clicking too, but that hasn't come back since they first aligned the coupler (whatever that means).

The knocking that I experience is much worse IMO. Really, like I said, it is like marbles in the steering wheel. You can really feel it when it is happening (and hear it too), but it comes and goes. Also, it lasts long enough for me to have the tech feel it. But so far their fixes have only lasted one season.

 

When stationary as in parking, when turning the wheel, there seems to be a certain point at which a clicking noise can be barely heard, but definitely felt. I can't recall if it does it while in gear, or in neutral. It started yesterday & I'll call the dealer tomorrow.
My mini is a C.E., 2006, with only 3600 km, so it's basically brand-new. What a drag!
Ed

 

I'd suggest checking control arm bushings and ball joints.

If the bushings are worn, it may cause a clunking noise which can be more easily heard and felt through the steering wheel when doing things like pulling out of the garage or parking.

I would attribute a clicking sound more to a worn ball joint.

Lastly, it could also be the CV Joint. This is easy to test. Go into a large empty parking lot. Turn the wheel ALL the way right (full lock) and drive slowly making a few large circles. Repeat turning the wheel in the other direction. It you hear a constant click click click click... sound then its a CV Joint.

Cheers.

 

Well to me it sounds like faulty axle shafy the CV hoints are wearing out.We dont gave much prblems with bal joints going bad. but I replacedalot of control arm bushings from 45K and up. Symptoms areclunk in front end when braking.I would go with these Factors MCzinnGuido out

 

Thanks! Is it possible for these problems that you mention to be weather related? The problem really does come and go and is always absent in warm weather.

Thanks again!
mczinn

 

rubber expands in cold weather and contracts in cold weather. bushings are made of rubber. cause and effect???....