Buzzing noise from steering column area

[jelloslug]

I have a new noise that is driving me nuts! It started right after I did my last 60k 2 weeks ago. There is a high pitched kind of metallic buzz that seems to come out of the top of the steering column. It is RPM related and only happens when I am moving. It will buzz in the 2300-2600 RPM area and it does it everything you are in that RPM area regardless of speed. I have determined (by removing them and driving it around with out them) that it is not the following: Dash trim, lower knee bolster, dimmer/auto light panel, headlight switch, A-pillar gauge pod, antenna switch, fog light switch, rear defogger switch, EATC head, and instrument cluster. Also it does not seem to be the wiring bundles; moving them while the noise is happening does nothing. If I bang on the bottom of the column hard while it makes the noise it will change slightly leading me to think it's in the column. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[S_Mazza]

Well, perhaps the bolts holding the column to the dash need tightened. Or is it possible that something is rattling against the firewall or steering shaft and the column is just transmitting the sound?

P.S. - I have briefly driven with no cluster as well ... I don't know what I would even say if I got pulled over!

 

[SinisterSHO]

I think you have too much time on your hands!
Did you, or rather, can you remove the plastic around the steering column itself? Perhaps its something behind the steering wheel, Which you cant really drive without, but maybe its something obvious if you take it off.

 

[jelloslug]

I need to record the sound; it's not a rattle at all. It sounds almost like something lightly vibrating against very thin sheet metal. Is there anything an that area that could be made of really thin sheet metal?

 

[S_Mazza]

As for your question about sheet metal, the dash has lots of little pieces of bent sheet metal scattered through it. Like what the instrument cluster screws to. Maybe you are looking for something thinner than that, though.

So if it's not really a rattle, is it more like a buzz or a squeak?

 

[95MTXcruiser]

Yeah mines doing it too. kinda like a rasp or somthing drivin me crazy about 4000 rpm.

 

[GreenSleeper]

Hey - maybe it's a sho thing???? Mine does it too, but I haven't had the sense to check at what rpm it does................

 

[revhardSHO]

Could be one of the metal supports on the underside of the dash. Thats all I can think of - since you did do a dash swap I would check it out.

 

[SHOMA]

Mine does this too, sounded liek I was going to find a nut and bolt walking aorund in the hole, or a piece of tin down there, but I havent found it either... hrmmm.. Maybe something against the firewall?
Kevin

 

[Keith M]

This might sound stupid, but I had the same sort of noise - thought it was coming from behind the dash somethere...turned out to be the clutch pedal spring. Stuffed some cloth in there and the noise went away.

 

[Colin95MTX]

I had the same problem. Swore for a month it was coming from somewhere around the steering collumn, then I found it was the clutch pedal spring just like Keith. Felt like an idiot after having tore the whole dash apart looking for it...But then again, you could be having some other problem...never know

 

[Mike Kopstain]

I need to record the sound; it's not a rattle at all. It sounds almost like something lightly vibrating against very thin sheet metal. Is there anything an that area that could be made of really thin sheet metal?

I know this noise. You're not nuts. All three of the customer cars here do it, my 95 SLO did it, and so did my most recent SHO. I was told it's speedometer cable related but could never get thet time to **** it. A lot of Taurii make this noise though.

Oddly enough, the SLO was not an MTX (no clutch pedal) but still made the noise.

 

[Colin95MTX]

lol, well now that reminds me, the day that I stopped having the noise...and had cobbed the clutch spring, well that was the same day I got my cluster back from repair and put a new speedometer cable in...all lubed up and everything...

 

[Mike Kopstain]

lol, well now that reminds me, the day that I stopped having the noise...and had cobbed the clutch spring, well that was the same day I got my cluster back from repair and put a new speedometer cable in...all lubed up and everything...

All I can say is "D'oh!"

 

[qiksho]

I can tell you its your speedometer cable. My 91+ did it when I got it and drove me nuts until I pulled the cable out and lubed it. Since then it has been fine.

Recently my 92 started making the same noise...I guess when I put white faced gauges in I will **** the cable also.

 

[SHOMA]

Well, the car did make the cable noise, sounded like a squirrel under the dash lol, so that is greased and its definitely not the cable, in my car at least. My car does it more at higher revs, it REALLY sounds like some thin piece of sheet metal somewhere, but I suppose it could be the clutch cable... I just got used to it, plus i have the stereo in my car..
Kevin

 

[platoribs]

I know this noise. You're not nuts. All three of the customer cars here do it, my 95 SLO did it, and so did my most recent SHO. I was told it's speedometer cable related but could never get thet time to **** it. A lot of Taurii make this noise though.

Oddly enough, the SLO was not an MTX (no clutch pedal) but still made the noise.

Mike, What's the proceedure for removing the speedometer cable, lubing it and reinstallation. Green has this problem and I'd really like to fix it!

Really annoying!

 

[jelloslug]

Wow! This thread is a blast from the past! I don't even remember what I did to fix the problem . I think it was somthing to do with one of my custom thingies I had installed over time. I know it was not the speedo cable though since I removed it when I put in the digital dash.

 

[AREA 91]

I found out my noise was a loose heat shield on the Y pipe.

 

[95MTXcruiser]

!

My "buzz" is somewhere in the clutch assembly but i'm not realy worried about it. My third syc. just let go. defintly the love/hate going on. if anyone has a parts/price list for 95 mtx i'm gonna need it

o-yea i got about a week to fix it