Steering wheel column looseness in vertical axis

3312 Views 52 Replies 9 Participants Last post by kwinter, 13 d ago

Santirx

Discussion Starter · 8 mo ago

Hi everyone, not sure if anyone has experienced this… I did a search and could not find anything similar.

The other day, I grabbed the top of the steering wheel and felt it gave a little (moved down). After that, I noticed a little wiggle (maybe about 10mm up and down). The electrical adjustment system works well, but it just have this wiggle…

After inspecting the area, I found this piece of plastic on the all-weather mat directly below the steering column. Not sure if it is part of the issue…

I took some video of the looseness/wiggle:

Steering Wheel:
https://flic.kr/p/2nTxxVx
Steering Shaft behind brake pedal:
https://flic.kr/p/2nTyt9h
Steering Shaft seen from below (underside):
https://flic.kr/p/2nTxywC
I think the issue may be with the motor/rod that adjust vertical position… that’s my suspicion without having removed the steering column trim. As nothing else seems to be abnormal.

I’m going to take to dealer. Hopefully there is some goodwill, as this is something that is not supposed to happen.

Fortunately it doesn’t hinder the operation of the steering wheel. It doesn’t move while driving, unless I deliberately move it.

Would like to listen to any ideas or if any of you had seen this before.

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iconoclast

· #41 · 7 mo ago

Porsche denied Goodwill.
However, service manager offered 50% …$1,790 my cost to replace steering column.

I accepted, of course.

Part must come from Germany (More proof this is a rare problem)
Probably 1 -2 weeks.

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Santirx

Discussion Starter · #42 · 7 mo ago

@iconoclast let’s document a complaint with NHSTA, especially because this makes the Macan unsafe to drive. It seems we are the first 2 cases, but I’m sure that more cases are going to start to pop. If they make this a recall, there is the opportunity to recoup that money.

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Santirx

Discussion Starter · #43 · 7 mo ago

I initiated a complaint with the NHSTA.

Complaint File # 11492972

This is going to be made public in their website in a few days. People can go the NHSTA and tag along my complaint if this had happened to them.

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iconoclast

· #44 · 7 mo ago

Good idea!

I will do this as soon as my vehicle is repaired at the agreed 50% cost to me.

Home | NHTSA

Get resources and info about staying safe on America’s roads. And, find out if there’s a recall on your car or how to report a vehicle safety problem.

www.nhtsa.gov

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iconoclast

· #45 · 7 mo ago

Got my car back Friday 11-18-22.

Steering column no longer moves but still have the rattle!
I let SA know.

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iconoclast

· #46 · 6 mo ago

My Steering wheel area still rattles, I was unable to reproduce it for the shop Forman on Monday! Usually does this on bumpy roads but, recently has not been as loud. I am trying to capture the audio on phone video but so far inaudible.

Very irritating since I am convinced the SW rattle is related to the steering column bushing failure, which cost me $$$$.

@ Santirix , I described, to the shop Foreman, your discovery, in the footwell, of those white, round broken in ½ plastic pieces. He said it sounds like that is the bushing! Said there s/b 4 pieces.

I was wondering if I had the same thing broken off & a tiny chunk remained in the steering column housing and occasionally rattles!

What did your shop foreman or SA say about those broken plastic pieces you discovered? I think you sent them the photos.

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Santirx

Discussion Starter · #47 · 6 mo ago

I send them photos and showed them when I went there. I received no additional information on that. The service advisor could not tell me if that was a contributor.

Mine is still OK after adjustment, no rattles and no movement.

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amongthelivingiv

· #48 · 5 mo ago

Santirx said:
@iconoclast let’s document a complaint with NHSTA, especially because this makes the Macan unsafe to drive. It seems we are the first 2 cases, but I’m sure that more cases are going to start to pop. If they make this a recall, there is the opportunity to recoup that money.

Hey there. Make it 3 - I am having the same issue with my 2017 Macan.

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iconoclast

· #49 · 5 mo ago

After you verify that it is the steerng column, report to NHTSA.

Home | NHTSA

Get resources and info about staying safe on America’s roads. And, find out if there’s a recall on your car or how to report a vehicle safety problem.

www.nhtsa.gov

Let us know what your Porsce dealer or Indy mechanic says is the problem.

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kwinter

· #50 · 14 d ago

I discovered the same issue with the steering wheel in a new-to-me Macan GTS. The power adjust and memory works fine, but the steering wheel moves up and down about 1/4 inch when lifted from the bottom.

I removed my steering column assembly to investigate... The issue is definitely related to the gray plastic bits shown earlier.

The entire steering column assembly pivots (and slides) around one main point to tilt up & down. This pivot point is secured by a large M8 hex bolt and a lock nut, and it uses two gray plastic "washers" to keep the assembly tight and allow the metal to rotate and slide smoothy.

These gray plastic (rectangular) washers are cracked and have fallen out of my assembly. The M8 bolt is still tight, but there is a large about of slop in the tilt mechanism once the plastic washers fail.

Steering Column Assembly (95B419506AK):

Nut removed to show the cracked gray plastic washer:

The plastic washers are also connected by a thin loop to a plastic sleeve that fits around the M8 Bolt. This sleeve is still functional, and I believe these parts are connected only to simplify the assembly process during manufacturing.

This appears to be a common failure. This plastic washer is visibly cracked or missing on most of the used steering columns I have seen for sale online.

I have steering colum PN: 95B-419-506-AK but there is an updated PN: 95B-419-506-AN. I ordered one to see if there has been an update to improve this component yet.

I'm also working on designing a replacement plastic washer (rectangular) that uses stronger plastic (nylon) and probably a stainless steel ring washer to reinforce it. This can be machined or 3D printed (SLS or MJF nylon only, for strength). I'll re-use the original plastic sleeve that is still intact.

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Santirx

Discussion Starter · #51 · 14 d ago

kwinter said:
I discovered the same issue with the steering wheel in a new-to-me Macan GTS. The power adjust and memory works fine, but the steering wheel moves up and down about 1/4 inch when lifted from the bottom.

I removed my steering column assembly to investigate... The issue is definitely related to the gray plastic bits shown earlier.

The entire steering column assembly pivots (and slides) around one main point to tilt up & down. This pivot point is secured by a large M8 hex bolt and a lock nut, and it uses two gray plastic "washers" to keep the assembly tight and allow the metal to rotate and slide smoothy.

These gray plastic (rectangular) washers are cracked and have fallen out of my assembly. The M8 bolt is still tight, but there is a large about of slop in the tilt mechanism once the plastic washers fail.

Steering Column Assembly (95B419506AK):
View attachment 271784

Nut removed to show the cracked gray plastic washer:
View attachment 271787

The plastic washers are also connected by a thin loop to a plastic sleeve that fits around the M8 Bolt. This sleeve is still functional, and I believe these parts are connected only to simplify the assembly process during manufacturing.
View attachment 271785

This appears to be a common failure. This plastic washer is visibly cracked or missing on most of the used steering columns I have seen for sale online.

I have steering colum PN: 95B-419-506-AK but there is an updated PN: 95B-419-506-AN. I ordered one to see if there has been an update to improve this component yet.

I'm also working on designing a replacement plastic washer (rectangular) that uses stronger plastic (nylon) and probably a stainless steel ring washer to reinforce it. This can be machined or 3D printed (SLS or MJF nylon only, for strength). I'll re-use the original plastic sleeve that is still intact.

View attachment 271783

Quite excellent detective work there. This is great! Thanks for this. How difficult was it to remove steering column?

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Teddis

· #52 · 14 d ago

kwinter said:
I discovered the same issue with the steering wheel in a new-to-me Macan GTS. The power adjust and memory works fine, but the steering wheel moves up and down about 1/4 inch when lifted from the bottom.

I removed my steering column assembly to investigate... The issue is definitely related to the gray plastic bits shown earlier.

The entire steering column assembly pivots (and slides) around one main point to tilt up & down. This pivot point is secured by a large M8 hex bolt and a lock nut, and it uses two gray plastic "washers" to keep the assembly tight and allow the metal to rotate and slide smoothy.

These gray plastic (rectangular) washers are cracked and have fallen out of my assembly. The M8 bolt is still tight, but there is a large about of slop in the tilt mechanism once the plastic washers fail.

Steering Column Assembly (95B419506AK):
View attachment 271784

Nut removed to show the cracked gray plastic washer:
View attachment 271787

The plastic washers are also connected by a thin loop to a plastic sleeve that fits around the M8 Bolt. This sleeve is still functional, and I believe these parts are connected only to simplify the assembly process during manufacturing.
View attachment 271785

This appears to be a common failure. This plastic washer is visibly cracked or missing on most of the used steering columns I have seen for sale online.

I have steering colum PN: 95B-419-506-AK but there is an updated PN: 95B-419-506-AN. I ordered one to see if there has been an update to improve this component yet.

I'm also working on designing a replacement plastic washer (rectangular) that uses stronger plastic (nylon) and probably a stainless steel ring washer to reinforce it. This can be machined or 3D printed (SLS or MJF nylon only, for strength). I'll re-use the original plastic sleeve that is still intact.

View attachment 271783

Incredible post and find !!! Congrats !
Dare say we will see more of this issue………

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kwinter

· #53 · 13 d ago (Edited)

Santirx said:
Quite excellent detective work there. This is great! Thanks for this. How difficult was it to remove steering column?

Not difficult to remove the steering column, but a lot of steps to get to it. I removed the steering wheel airbag and plastic covers first, and eventually the entire lower half of drivers dash to get it out cleanly.

Fortunately, you can inspect the gray plastic washers on the steering column first by removing the plastic steering column housing and looking into the dash with a flashlight:

Lower dash removed to get he steering column assembly out easily:

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