Hello gang,

I've been hunting for a quiet, but persistent clicking sound for months now. It requires the car to be warm, but when the sound appears, you hear around 2-3 clicks (think the click of a cheap computer mouse) when completing a turn and returning the steering wheel to center. I'll also add a video for demonstration.

I've gone to an official dealer, I have asked them to change the clock spring as it did seem the most likely component to be at fault, but that did not fix the sound. I've also gone to a shop where they are more hands on, but all they could do was lubricate all the components as well as they could... but the sound is still there.

Now it absolutely sounds like it comes from where the clock spring is, not from anywhere further along the steering wheel column. The next move from the dealer would be to change the module that has all the turn signal and wiper levers, costing around 700€. And that is also not a guarantee, as no one seems to give a definitive answer as to the exact origin of the tick.

I am looking for any clues from you guys, anything that could point me in the right direction. This might not be an issue from a mechanics point of view, but it is absolutely enough to drive one mad if you hear a small sound thousands and thousands of times, every day, every turn.

Cheers and thanks if anyone can help!

Tanel.

VIDEO

Hello Tanel,

I had a look at your video. All I'm hearing is the plastic and it might be that the steering wheel is slightly rubbing against the lower part of the plastics in the dash and causing a slight click.

Failing that; get the car on the ramp and have a listen to the steering rack (possibly with a stethoscope). It might be that the rack itself is possibly making a slight noise - usually a sign of wear if nothing else.

I can definately understand why you think its the clock spring; when they go, they make a more defined click.