Steering wheel...
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 159
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From: Lubbock, TX
Steering wheel...
The steering wheel in my wifes 91 XL feels loose. You can take the wheel, and it has some free play in every possible direction you can move it, but up and down (tilting motion), the wheel has the most play - almost 1/2 inch total...however, the steering column itself is rock solid...
Her previous 90 XL didn't have this problem. Any ideas, oh guru's of the Stars?
Her previous 90 XL didn't have this problem. Any ideas, oh guru's of the Stars?
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Perhaps the bold that fastens the wheel to the column has come loose. If your vehicle has airbags, disconnect the battery for about 10-15 minutes, then remove the plastic cover from the wheel and column. Take a look inside and see what is going on in there.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Did this come on suddenly or is it just starting to become a nuisance?
Generally speaking, (no parts breakdown in front of me) I have a feeling you will find the play in the upper yoke where the tilting actually takes place. Pull the steering wheel, then the turn signal switch, and when you look on down into the column you will see the yoke looks like a big universal joint. You will find something loose here. Probably need to pull some of the outer steering column covers.
Generally speaking, (no parts breakdown in front of me) I have a feeling you will find the play in the upper yoke where the tilting actually takes place. Pull the steering wheel, then the turn signal switch, and when you look on down into the column you will see the yoke looks like a big universal joint. You will find something loose here. Probably need to pull some of the outer steering column covers.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
I either case, you need to pull those covers off, so you can see what the issue is. Now that I've heard EBTDM's opinion, I side with him, but without looking at the problem directly, we are only guessing at the problem.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Lubbock, TX
That's what I was afraid of, though...hoping it might be your first suggestion...
I drive it MAYBE 3 hours a YEAR...but when I do, I feel it could be a possible hazard...
The Odo on the van read 24k miles (no 100k digit, of course) - title, and previous owner said mileage was 124k....but overall mechanical condition of van suggests either 224k, or some pretty severe abuse...body and interior look good, though...column turn sig switch is screwed up, the steering wheel, rack assembly is about shot, ball-joints are bad, control arm bushing are almost non-existant...etc...
Also, when we first bought the thing, I asked here why the driver side lock wouldn't work with the power locks...and got a lot of great suggestion (the actuator is a know working unit, and works when pulled from the door) - turns out, there is something in either the lock mechanism itself, or binding in the linkage....it's stiff, and difficult to lock manually, with a key, or pushing the lock ****...
I will try and check out the column this weekend...
I drive it MAYBE 3 hours a YEAR...but when I do, I feel it could be a possible hazard...
The Odo on the van read 24k miles (no 100k digit, of course) - title, and previous owner said mileage was 124k....but overall mechanical condition of van suggests either 224k, or some pretty severe abuse...body and interior look good, though...column turn sig switch is screwed up, the steering wheel, rack assembly is about shot, ball-joints are bad, control arm bushing are almost non-existant...etc...
Also, when we first bought the thing, I asked here why the driver side lock wouldn't work with the power locks...and got a lot of great suggestion (the actuator is a know working unit, and works when pulled from the door) - turns out, there is something in either the lock mechanism itself, or binding in the linkage....it's stiff, and difficult to lock manually, with a key, or pushing the lock ****...
I will try and check out the column this weekend...
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 148
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From: CANADA
i have a 95 which was stollen once before i got it the guy did something to the column. which wasnt noticeable but the wheel would lock sometimes while turning just like as if the rack was shot. wheel was very loose after a while and started locking up a lot so i changed out the sterring column not that hard of a job just watch out for the airbag
