Loose steering wheel

[Miniphobea Teen]

My mini seems to have a steering wheel with a mind of its own. The car some very skittish sometime on the road making me have to hold on the steering wheel. At idle the steering wheel vibrates after my new steering colum was installed and when moving the steering also vibrates. Also I just noticed yesterday when I let go of the steering wheel around 50- 60 mph it seemed to move side to side in small incruments. Could this be because the rim on the right side of my car is a little bent from the accedent I had in January to cause the wheel to shake and vibrate. Or could it be something else?

[paul84043]

Sounds like you've tot something pretty serious going on, especially if you're seeing movement at idle. The power steering mechanism is electrically driven so it could theoretically be malfunctioning, even at idle, though what you are describing sounds like it could come from many different sources such as, one of the many stability control systems.. it also sounds like you could have something loose in your steering rack. If you put the car on a rack, can you shake the wheels side to side by hand and feel any free play?
You NEED to get it looked at ASAP, before you run into wet/bad weather and lose control.
The suspension of these little cars is very complex and they also throw in the variables of all the computer operated assistance systems.

Get it checked out and don't take "We can't find anything wrong" for an answer. They should be very interested in fixing it as their liability is huge. If you get in an accident (and survive) you, or others involved could sue the repair shop for very large amounts of money...

[Miniphobea Teen]

Does anybody else have this problem or do you know what it could be? I am going to call the dealer tommrow to set up an apointment.

[paul84043]

I just spent a few minutes reading the entire "knock felt through the steering wheel" thread.
You could very easily have a variation of the problems noted in the thread.
The net result is the same. Kindly remind the dealer that there is a new and improved steering column out and suggest that maybe you need your's replaced.

Let us know what they say.

Thanks.

[Miniphobea Teen]

The new steering column got rid of the clicking noise but the streeing column and even the tac vibrates. I still have the knocking sound even after having that foxed about 2 months ago. Is the knocking sound a common problems in MINI's? If so it should be classified as a recall or something. A brand new car should not be doing things like this. I STILL LOVE MY CHILEPEPPA THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[obehave]

If I remember right you whacked a curb a while back. My first suspicion would be to look at whatever they replaced to make sure it was done well. Then look to see what should have been done.
Could very possibly be a loose steering rack. Very bad. Get you killed bad.
You really need to get this fixed very soon.

Good luck

[Miniphobea Teen]

Hey Obehave I saw you at the Target that is right by the Patrick Henry mall about a week and a half ago. I parked right next to your blue MINI S!!! Just want to tell you that!!!!

[Miniphobea Teen]

hey obehave does you steering wheel have that knocking sound?

[Miniphobea Teen]

Does anyone else have a vibrating steering wheel?

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Miniphobea Teen

Hey Obehave I saw you at the Target that is right by the Patrick Henry mall about a week and a half ago. I parked right next to your blue MINI S!!! Just want to tell you that!!!!

Sorry, missed this one somehow.
We got a kick out of the car being next to ours when we came out. Very cool. Target gets a lot of my money.

I had the steering knock on my car. Had the upper assembly(?) replaced 7-8 months ago and it's been fine since. It would knock once at about 90º left and right. Other than that the steering input was fine. Not loose like you have described yours.

[Miniphobea Teen]

bump