squeaky steering
 

Had my RX8 for a couple of months and have done 3K and everything is great apart from a squeak that has developed on the steering wheel when I go into corners - seems worse when cold but pretty consistent and annoying as it disturbs the sound of the engine.

Dealer said it was normal but I'm not sure

Any similar experiences ?

Astroboy,

Mine doesn't make this noise and I wouldn't accept the dealer's response. Take it back to the dealer - if you get no satisfaction, call Mazda AU or go to another dealer.

Pappy.

mine is 2 week old... had the same problem...
expecially when i was parking.. annoying squeaks...

Search the forum, someone had a similar problem and it was the electric steering malfunctioning and had it replaced under warranty. I'm not saying that's your case but make sure.

Have you tried to fix it yourself ?

Is it a squeak or is it 2 plastic peices rubbing together ?

Is it always in the same spot ?

Stuff like this can usually be fixed but you need to first determine where the squeak is coming from . . .

If it's a rubbing of plastic, I would think that some type of plastic protectant (Like an Armor type protect but a little thicker) might work if you put it on the parts inbetween the steering wheel and the column it's a attached to.

Maybe WD40 ? ?

Let us know if you are able to get this fixed and what ended up happening ...

I know on my last car, I was able to remove the steering wheel if needed but there was a website for that car with detailed directions how to do it since you wouldn't want to attempt this if you never have done it before. . . you wouldn't want to set off the Airbag . . .

ANyway when removing the steering wheel, the moving parts were minimal unless it's coming from in the steering Column itself

electric steer malfunctions?
um... hope not...

it sounded like plastic or rubber rubbing each other...
i would rather bring it back to Mazda and ask them to take off the steering wheel and check for me =)


but im just wondering if it's a rare case ...
cos on the first day i got the car, it squeaked already =(

I've had the same happen to my car. It started after 1700-2000 miles on the clock, worse when its cold. More like a creaking sound than a squeeking sound though.

It doesn't happen if you turn the steering wheel, while the car is stationary, which rules out the rubbing plastic theory (on my car anyway), only happens on the move

Colin

I have got the same problem as well.

I have had some discussions with the dealer with no joy so far.

My car is going back in on the 18th February to get checked out again. I will advise when I get their answers.

Pappy - good strong words that make sense ! I will follow up and not take no for an answer ! I'm a complete novice on the technical side so easy to be deterred

Squeaky steering wheels are almost always due to the clockspring mechanism in the steering wheel.

Basically on most cars (I can't speak for the RX-8 in particular) there is a spring loaded spool that plays out and then retracts cable to power the various electrical bits in the steering wheel (air bag, stereo control buttons, etc.)

If this mechanism gets squeaky when it retracts the cable, voila, squeaks when steering...