Someone please help!!

I have searched the forums but can't find a matching fault.

I have had this fault now for over a year. Basically the problem I have is a knocking/vibration through my steering wheel. When the car is stationary with either the engine on or off, you can rock the steering wheel to the left and right, (only small movements) and you can feel it knocking and being very rough but you can not here anything. There is just to much movement. Also when travelling at low speeds over a gravelled car park or cobles you can again feel a knocking through the steering wheel. Also when driving, doing hard acceleration, braking or cornering, if you run over a bump or dip you can feel a knocking.

(My bushes have already been replaced)

I have lost count of the number of times I have taken it back to Skoda and they keep saying that they can not fault it. I have just finished writing a letter of complaint to Skoda.

Please can someone tell me what is wrong so I can tell them to sort it.

Sorry its so long I am just about ready to rip all my hair out!!!! Thanks.

it may be worn bushes in the steering column or the u/j on the bottom of the steering coloumn that links to the steering rack may be loose

ijust had my steering colum changed under warranty cured this type of problem rattly/knocking noises

You say "too much movement". How much is there, because there's a legal limit on free play at the steering wheel rim, and your car may be legally unroadworthy.

I have a similar issue with my 2004 Mk1 Octavia 1.9TDI Ambiente. Its currently at the Skoda dealership getting repaired and my anti rollbar bushels are worn according to the dealer. The dealer thinks replacing them will cure my issue with the steering but is not sure.

My problem is whenever I am driving on any kind of rough surface or going over bumps there is a lot of feedback through the steering and the steering wheel appears to rattle and you can feel a tiny amount of play. Its REALLY bad on gravel, especially if it is an rough gravel and/or has potholes as well. Its been driving me nuts, it really has. I will post back and ets you guys know if changeing the bushels made a difference. If anyone has any similar experiences or ideas, they would be much appreciated

yes, worn arb bushes can caused all sorts of knocking noises, but it's hardly surprising they wouild try changing those first, because it's a sod of a job to change the steering rack/coloumn, so they try the easy stuff first

Yeh i have this problem, 24,000 miles, 4.5 yr old car. I have seen this question asked before. I am led to believe that it is one of two things or both. Anti Roll Bar Bushes or Steering Rack. I know that the guys who have had this problem, replaced the ARB's which did not fix the problem so they then replaced the steering rack which did fix it. As far as i'm aware this is not cheap to do!!!!!! :thumbdwn: hence why i havn't done it yet

AAAAARRRRRGGGGG

Ross

As above, Mine was displaying exactly these symptoms when I picked it up on 29k (3 yrs). I have replaced the ARB with the revised bushes and the problem was not cured. I am going to push for a new steering column from my warranty company.

I got the bushes done and its somewhat better, but now I have noticeable vibration in the steering wheel at motorway speeds. The car is going in again on Monday to have the steering rack looked at. I will let you guys know what happens. My dealer is trying to worm out of paying for a new steering column claiming it is a "wear and tear" component which is a ridiculous statement in my opinion, especially after just 27k miles :eek:

I had a 10 year old polo with no power seering which over 100k miles and did not have such issues. Its a joke, pure and simple

The dealer wants to replace the whole steering column as I suspected, anyone have an idea what that costs? The dealer did not know and said ythey would have to price it up. The dealer believes that only a crash could cause thatr damage. I do not believe the car was ever crashed. I bought it from a VW Dealer in Cork (Ireland) with 19k miles and they claimed it was not crashed. I had to take it to a Skoda dealer os MSL (part of the network the VW dealr belongs to does not support Skoda, so I had to take the car to a Skoda dealership. I need to pay the Skoda dealer and then get reimbursed by the VW dealer in Cork. The whole thing really sucks. Lesson of the day is only to buy a car from a dealer that can repair it if something goes wrong :thumbdwn:

How much play does there need to be before the car is legally unroadworthy? :confused:

*Edit* Oh yes and the car has a new probably related symptom. The steering wheel vibrates when accelerating particularly past 80kph and upwards and the car pulls to the left. Is that the tracking out of alignment or something else does anyone know?

ferdvds did you slove this problem

Sorry Ferdyds, forget I spoke. My comment relates to UK law and Eire may be different.

I'd like to know if this was fixed as well, as I'm having a bit of a knocking issue on my vRS's steering.

alas mine is rattling it's ****** off again at the moment i think the steering rack is knackered

fatty5000, I noticed you've already had your rack changed once. Did they do the arb bushes as well ?

i had my steering coloum changed and the roll bar, bushes and drop links

it's going in wednesday for the rack to be checked the day before the warranty runs out

My 80k RS Octavia rattles/knocks/vibrates when accelerating, but runs fine otherwise. Is this the steering rack issue or does it sound like something else? Any advices welcome.

I bought it from a VW Dealer in Cork (Ireland) with 19k miles and they claimed it was not crashed. I had to take it to a Skoda dealer os MSL (part of the network the VW dealr belongs to does not support Skoda, so I had to take the car to a Skoda dealership. I need to pay the Skoda dealer and then get reimbursed by the VW dealer in Cork. The whole thing really sucks. Lesson of the day is only to buy a car from a dealer that can repair it if something goes wrong :thumbdwn:

That sounds a bit strange to me, surely if a garage sells a car it has some warranty on it (warranty given by the garage) and if they are going to reimburse for the damage they should be well able to fix it :confused: They should have no problems getting the parts and I'm sure the set up is virtually identical to every other car they sell.

Btw I've sent you a PM.

You can actually buy the inner joints for the steering rack for around

The dealer wants to replace the whole steering column as I suspected, anyone have an idea what that costs? The dealer did not know and said ythey would have to price it up. The dealer believes that only a crash could cause thatr damage. I do not believe the car was ever crashed. I bought it from a VW Dealer in Cork (Ireland) with 19k miles and they claimed it was not crashed. I had to take it to a Skoda dealer os MSL (part of the network the VW dealr belongs to does not support Skoda, so I had to take the car to a Skoda dealership. I need to pay the Skoda dealer and then get reimbursed by the VW dealer in Cork. The whole thing really sucks. Lesson of the day is only to buy a car from a dealer that can repair it if something goes wrong :thumbdwn:

How much play does there need to be before the car is legally unroadworthy? :confused:

*Edit* Oh yes and the car has a new probably related symptom. The steering wheel vibrates when accelerating particularly past 80kph and upwards and the car pulls to the left. Is that the tracking out of alignment or something else does anyone know?

O'Learys in Lissarda ?

Shower of Cowboys ted !! Cowboys !!

Overtpriced second hand motors too !

I bought my Octavia privately and my steering rack went after 4 months .. :(

Bought a second hand from Traynors for 180 euros. Skoda were looking for crazy money for parts !