Steering wheel shimmy/alignment at start and stop no longer working?

[kencarne]

Hey guys,

As of this weekend it seems like my steering wheel no longer “corrects” itself at power on or power off. I am not sure what to call that, assuming it’s steering wheel lock? This morning when I powered off after a ride in to work, it sounded like a sad little moaning sound and the wheel did not “shake” like normal.

Obviously I will bring the car in at some point to have it checked out, but I am curious if anyone has experienced something similar. I’m still at 50% oil life and was hoping to put off the visit so I can kill two birds. Thanks all!

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[elh0102]

I don't think that a steering wheel "shake" is normal.

 

[ANJAROO]

Just posting my experience here and following thread - I sometimes get a steering wheel "shake" on start up and sometimes do not. Seems fairly random. I have had the steering wheel recall performed and situation has not changed.

 

[Frenzal]

Never had a shaking steering at start up. Been having the Type S for more than 2 years now.

 

[kencarne]

Just posting my experience here and following thread - I sometimes get a steering wheel "shake" on start up and sometimes do not. Seems fairly random. I have had the steering wheel recall performed and situation has not changed.

Thank you! People on the FB group were acting like I’m crazy. I am trying to narrow it down, thinking potentially it has something to do with shutting the car off while lane keeping assist is on? The car randomly did it again this morning at power on, but not when I powered off. Not sure if it’s something to chase down or not

 

[ANJAROO]

Thank you! People on the FB group were acting like I’m crazy. I am trying to narrow it down, thinking potentially it has something to do with shutting the car off while lane keeping assist is on? The car randomly did it again this morning at power on, but not when I powered off. Not sure if it’s something to chase down or not

Yea its happened since the car was brand new, maybe 1 out of every 5 start ups? I think mine might only happen on start up... not sure if I remember it occurring on powering off. The wheel shakes back and forth only slightly, but very quickly.

I completely forgot to ask the dealer about it when I did my 1st service. If you can let me know if you ask them. I'm several hours away from a dealer.

 

[elh0102]

You should have it diagnosed, especially since you mentioned the other unusual noise it made. With hydraulic steering, if the steering wheel locks with some turn in it when shut down, it might jump a little when started and unlocking, but with electric steering, I don’t believe that happens. But, I'm not a tech, so that is an uneducated opinion.

 

[creaturemachine]

Probably the steering column lock releasing a bit of pre-load is what's causing the wiggle you're describing. If I was to guess, you pull on the wheel to get in and out, causing the column lock to engage. Then when you unlock the column that energy, stored by the rubber of the tires, is returned to the wheel. If you lock the column then unlock it without touching the wheel there should be no movement. Remember column locks don't really engage until the wheel is turned and the locking pawl is engaged.

The sad noise might be the electronic column lock failing. Is the wheel locked when you turn the car off or can it now move freely? There was one other user here reporting sad noises coming from the column recently.

 

[s219]

Normal behavior -- check the Civic forums for more info. I experienced this on my ITS and my CTR also does it. My friend's Civic Touring does it too. I think it's some sort of startup calibration or load sensing for the electric power steering or lane keeping assist. I'd say it happens about 20-30% of the time when the car is started up.

 

[elh0102]

I've had my ITS about a year, and it has never done this. Maybe the lane departure thing is involved, as I never use it.

 

[elh0102]

Okay, I got my car to do this "shake". If I shut it down, then turn the wheel just enough to set the column lock (which you can feel and hear), then it will unlock with the next ignition engagement, and you can hear and feel the same shake. If you shut it down and do not touch the steering wheel, I don’t think you will hear or feel anything on the next start. I wonder if some folks leverage the steering wheel a little when getting in or out of the car? That could easily set the lock.

 

[kencarne]

Okay, I got my car to do this "shake". If I shut it down, then turn the wheel just enough to set the column lock (which you can feel and hear), then it will unlock with the next ignition engagement, and you can hear and feel the same shake. If you shut it down and do not touch the steering wheel, I don’t think you will hear or feel anything on the next start. I wonder if some folks leverage the steering wheel a little when getting in or out of the car? That could easily set the lock.

Yup, you figured it out! I just got it to reproduce a few times. I guess I may have been using the steering wheel to get myself some leverage out of the car? I had no idea. Happy to not have to worry about this

 

[whtciv2k]

Probably the steering column lock releasing a bit of pre-load is what's causing the wiggle you're describing. If I was to guess, you pull on the wheel to get in and out, causing the column lock to engage. Then when you unlock the column that energy, stored by the rubber of the tires, is returned to the wheel. If you lock the column then unlock it without touching the wheel there should be no movement. Remember column locks don't really engage until the wheel is turned and the locking pawl is engaged.

The sad noise might be the electronic column lock failing. Is the wheel locked when you turn the car off or can it now move freely? There was one other user here reporting sad noises coming from the column recently.

I agree with this assessment.

 

[boosted_canoe]

mine only does this when i use the steering wheel to help myself out of the car; on the next start.

 

[jedi03]

Mine does this as do my wipers once in a while...haven't been worried about it as I figured was a self test of some sort

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