2002 Aurora Steering Noise

Hi; I just bought a 2002 Aurora with the 3.5 engine and 56k on the clock. I love the car however when I turn the steering wheel even while sitting and not moving I get what feels like a knuckling dry joint feeling in the steering wheel. It happens while taking slow speed turns in either directions as well.

I told the dealer about it before I bought it and they said it is normal on these cars because of the magnasteer. I don't buy it this is very annoying to me and I can't beleive Gm would make a car with this issue from factory.

Any ideas??

Marc

Anyone have any ideas? I think it is the intermediate shaft issue. How hard is that to do myself?

Marc

I had the dealer "service" the intermediate shaft at 45,000 miles on my V6 2001 and the problem went away for about 8000 miles. This time I had a new intermediate shaft installed. No problems so far.

When I was test driving used V6 Auroras before I bought mine it seemed like about half of them had the same steering problem.

Ya I just brought it to the dealer today to make an appointment to lube it. It does seem to be a common problem!

You would think Gm would have done a recall, they aren't even addressing the issue unless it is brought to their attention.
What ticks me off is I had it written up as a condition of sale and they passed it off as the magnasteer being loud no other issue!

So today I brought it in with the TSB I found from this site as backup and now they are going to lube it . Said it takes only an hour , if that is the case they should have done it before I took posession of the car instead of blowing it off!! I hate dealerships!!

Marc

Hi Marc Cannotr tell when this was posted
Gm is paying for the repair. I have been complaining about this since the car was new.
New intermediate shaft was all that it needed.Grease did not last that long
Dealer did the job. Approx $325.00

Thanks for the reply. The dealership lubed mine and it is a totally different steering system now! They wouldn't change for a new one . The car is out of the gm warranty.


Marc

Thanks for the reply. The dealership lubed mine and it is a totally different steering system now! They wouldn't change for a new one . The car is out of the gm warranty.


Marc

I believe I may have the same problem with my 2001. When I'm turning to the left, I feel in the steering wheel something grabbing, almost click, click like. Is this the feeling that the intermediate shaft gives??

Thanks.

You should feel it right to left and the steering wheel is hard to turn.

If you feel it only on the left roll down the window and listen to the left side to see if you hear it outside the car while moving. It could be the left cv joint going. They click when they are going bad.

Marc

Don't some of the 2001+ have problems with a vibrating hose on the power steering?

Yes that is a problem as well. One of the hoses needs to be lenthed to rectifie. But I don't think it made a clicking sound.

Marc

In The Service Bulletins There Is A Mod For This . The High Pressure Power Steering Hose Nedds To Be Replaced With One That Regulates The Pressure A Little Higher At Idle. You Dealer May Have Tossed His Documentation On This But It Is Spelled Out On The 5 Disc Service Manual That Is Floating Around. It Boosts The Pressure At Idle To Help The Steering

My 2001 3.5 l had the same problem. It was the intermediate shaft. I had to do the research myself and take the TSB to the dealer. Doesn't it suck when the guys who supposedly do this for a living can't do the simple research it takes to solve the problem!

I have a 2001 Aurora which is BACK in the dealer for the 3rd time due to intermediate steering shaft replacement. Knew immediately what is was due to the popping noise. Also spoke with 5 different mechanics from different dealers and all said they couldn't count the number of shaft replacement they had to do. There is a new part now that is supposed to be a "final fix" to this problem. Is is only with the Olds Aurora or all GM cars?

Just got my '01 back from the dealer with a similar problem. They replaced a loose right tie rod end which fixed it. Last year they replaced the intermediate shaft which fixed a similar feeling problem.

I have a 2001 Aurora which is BACK in the dealer for the 3rd time due to intermediate steering shaft replacement. Knew immediately what is was due to the popping noise. Also spoke with 5 different mechanics from different dealers and all said they couldn't count the number of shaft replacement they had to do. There is a new part now that is supposed to be a "final fix" to this problem. Is is only with the Olds Aurora or all GM cars?

My 2000 Tahoe needs occasional lubrication of the intermediate shaft as well as my 01 Aurora. The lubing seems to last about 30,000 miles each time.

I just bought the lube kit from the dealer - $13. I'm going to try and lube it since the dealer told me there was a "new lube." I figure if it doesn't work, it's only $13 instead of a new shaft which is around $150. Does anyone have a procedure for greasing the intermediate shaft?

Well the whole steering column needs to come out in order to get to the shaft , not to mention you better disable the airbag because if you disturb the intermediate shaft with it enabled you could set the airbag off!

Personally ......It is better to let the dealer do this job also there is a tsb on it so it should be covered.

Marc