Steering system grinding when turning hard left to hard right from dead stop...

[CTS-V-TWIN]

Originally Posted by LS6HVN

Well interestingly I have this issue too. I didn't have this problem on my CTS-V. I've been lurking for a while since I got my 07' STS-V. And now I've got 1200 miles on her and I too have a "shutter" in my steering. I only notice it when I'm backing out of a parking spot, stop and crank the wheel in the opposite direction. Pretty unnerving when I'm showing someone my new "HotRod". I put some powersteering fluid in and thought the problem went away. But I noticed it again when I had a passenger in the car. Although it doesn't happen until I get closer to lock and is not as dramatic. Gawd, I hate to take it to the dealer. I 'm sure I'll get the same response. But I better get it in the system. I'll post when I know anything more. Good luck guys.

I am glad that I am not the only one. It is a terribly annoying problem to say the least. Take it to your Cadillac dealer and report it and make sure they contact GM TAC (Technical Assistance Center) if they can't fix it because I reported it and they know about the concern. Once they start getting this concern from STS-V owners, they have no choice but to look at the issue closely and come up with a resolution.

Today, I was told by Cadillac customer assistance that the service manager at the servicing dealership told them that it is a normal characteristic of the vehicle. It is funny because at the time I took it in to the servicing dealership, everyone said that it is NOT normal, but since the car is too new, they didn't know how to fix it, they didn't want to throw parts at it and GM TAC didn't have a fix for it.

I too, did not have this problem with my 2006 CTS-V and refuse to believe that it is normal. It didn't do it when the car was new and it developed at 1,000 miles and has gotten progressively worse. If it was a normal characteristic of the car, it would have done it from day one. Mine does it at a stop or at parking speeds when turning the wheel hard left and then right, but not necessarily in lock.

I told Cadillac customer assistance that I will be taking it to another dealer that is more customer oriented and will take more time looking at the concern.

They said they would check in with me in a week to see if the problem has been resolved.

Please let me know either by posting here, by PM or emailing me what your dealer said or if they fixed it so I can tell my dealer to fix it.

BY THE WAY, I WILL BE IN VEGAS THIS WEEKEND FROM FRIDAY TO MONDAY. VIVA LAS VEGAS! I LOVE IT THERE!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

SG

[dhemrick]

Originally Posted by AERO1

BY THE WAY, I WILL BE IN VEGAS THIS WEEKEND FROM FRIDAY TO MONDAY. VIVA LAS VEGAS! I LOVE IT THERE!!!!!!!!!!
SG

I was there this past Thursday through Monday. I just got home two days ago and already want to go back. I LOVE that place! (and it loved me back $700 this time too!) VIVA LAS VEGAS!

As a side note, I did see several CTS-Vs there on the strip, (and even a beautiful red 75/76 Eldo convertible oozed by) but not one single STS-V. What... no high rollers have STS-Vs?

[WillySTS]

I, too, have been experiencing this phenomenon, but, since I am a service advisor and former technician decided to look into this myself, with the help of others.

This has been a complaint of STS V owners only, in the Sigma based vehicles, I have noticed.

We have NEVER found anything causing this on a single one of them. I figured,this is a job for synthetic oil, so I flushed my system...not with the machine which doesn't get it all out, but we removed the hose at the P/S cooler and drained it. Then we turned the steering wheel back and forth and forced the remainder of the fluid out. Filled it up with about 1.1 qt of Redline Synthetic P/S fluid...and guess what...it's still there.

Our front end men(2) examined it last week and felt it, examined all of GM's publications, called the field engineer and we came to this conclusion...it is a normal condition for this car which features wide front tires and a "high caster" specification alignment setting. This "studder" is only present at low speeds and presents NO degradation of steering performance or saftey at normal(I'll add abnormal, or high) road speeds. I must say that I have never noticed it at anything BUT parking speeds and my wife has never noticed it at all.

This is not to say that yours is not worse and/or that it really isn't a problem, this is just letting you know what we found by examining one car with a similar problem. I'll keep digging as time goes buy and let you all know.

[CTS-V-TWIN]

Originally Posted by WillySTS

I, too, have been experiencing this phenomenon, but, since I am a service advisor and former technician decided to look into this myself, with the help of others.

This has been a complaint of STS V owners only, in the Sigma based vehicles, I have noticed.

We have NEVER found anything causing this on a single one of them. I figured,this is a job for synthetic oil, so I flushed my system...not with the machine which doesn't get it all out, but we removed the hose at the P/S cooler and drained it. Then we turned the steering wheel back and forth and forced the remainder of the fluid out. Filled it up with about 1.1 qt of Redline Synthetic P/S fluid...and guess what...it's still there.

Our front end men(2) examined it last week and felt it, examined all of GM's publications, called the field engineer and we came to this conclusion...it is a normal condition for this car which features wide front tires and a "high caster" specification alignment setting. This "studder" is only present at low speeds and presents NO degradation of steering performance or saftey at normal(I'll add abnormal, or high) road speeds. I must say that I have never noticed it at anything BUT parking speeds and my wife has never noticed it at all.

This is not to say that yours is not worse and/or that it really isn't a problem, this is just letting you know what we found by examining one car with a similar problem. I'll keep digging as time goes buy and let you all know.

Thanks for the info, however why did it not happen when the car was new? Why did it wait 1,000 miles to show up? I am very sensitive when it comes to cars and I would have noticed it right away. I used to do a lot of driveability diagnostics and am very in tune to the way cars work. To me, this is unacceptable.

I will keep complaining until GM takes the car back and gives me my money back. I loved my STS-V until the steering got my hand feeling like I had carpel tunnel syndrome. (not sure of the spelling of it, but you guys know what I mean) I will then get another 2007 or 2008 Escalade like my wife's. At least that car's rack and pinion steering system is like butter and I love the 2007 Escalade all around. It may not have the power the STS-V has, but I am sure it can be done with a Maggie. I am beginning to love my wife's Escalade the more I drive it. To me, it is a better vehicle than the STS-V.

SG

[Kadonny]

Holy crap. Just yesteday you were eager to get the D3 stage 2 done, now this?

I feel for you and all, but for me it's not something I would trade the car in for since mine only does is sporadically.

Let us know what you decide.

[CTS-V-TWIN]

Originally Posted by Kadonny

Holy crap. Just yesteday you were eager to get the D3 stage 2 done, now this?

I feel for you and all, but for me it's not something I would trade the car in for since mine only does is sporadically.

Let us know what you decide.

Kadonny,

I already have the D3 Stage I intake that I purchased back in February, but it is still sitting in a sealed box in my garage because I don't know if I will keep the car or not. I am waiting for GM to decide what they are going to do about it. Mine does it all the time at low speeds, not intermittently and it is very annoying. Actually, mine was subtle and has gotten worse with more miles on the car. I have about 1650 miles on the car currently and it isn't getting any better.

I want to mod the car, but I will wait until I get a definite negative answer from GM. Besides the D3 Stage II pipes are a few weeks away at best so I have time.

I will keep everyone posted on the steering issue.

SG

[LS6HVN]

LOL, glad to hear you guys are having fun when you visit. Boy, how this town as changed thru the years. This place still amazes me.

I'm gonna try and get to the dealer tommorow(fri)

Aero1,
Hey, if you drive your V here, bring it over to Cadillac West of Las Vegas and maybe we can gang up on 'em and get this issue fixed.

WillySTS,
Very cool that someone can acually do some technical investigating. My first instinct when I noticed this issue was, the dealer is gonna tell me it's because of the wide tires. But we didn't have this issue on the CTS-V's and they have wider tires. Is it because GM solved this issue on the Corvettes and their wide tires and the package was transplanted into the CTS-V, while the STS-V/Northstar system was developed by Cadillac in house? Sounds like this is something GM has to fix. (sigh)

At this point I almost have to make it happen, i.e. stop, turn the wheel left and right rapidly, seems to happen just before lock. Other wise driving is normal. I suppose I could live with it. But it does stick in your mind.
My buddy has an '07 STS I'm gonna ask him if notices anything on his car.
Hopefully I can get to the dealer tommorow. I'll post again soon.

[CTS-V-TWIN]

Originally Posted by LS6HVN

LOL, glad to hear you guys are having fun when you visit. Boy, how this town as changed thru the years. This place still amazes me.

I'm gonna try and get to the dealer tommorow(fri)

Aero1,
Hey, if you drive your V here, bring it over to Cadillac West of Las Vegas and maybe we can gang up on 'em and get this issue fixed.

I am flying in tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. as I hate the L.A. to Vegas drive. Let me know what your dealer says and what they come up with. If they can't figure it out, have them contact GM Technical Assistance because they have my file number in their system and they should be able to see that there are other STS-V owners that have the issue and it has to be fixed. It is terrible. If you need my GM TAC file number, just ask and I will give it to you. It is on my repair order that my dealer gave back to me with the info when they storied out the concern.

By the way, I had a flat tire this morning, so I took it to my local Cadillac dealer and since they couldn't fix it, they sent it over to a local Tire Pros to get the nail removed and patched and somehow someway, they damaged 3 out of 4 of my wheels. Before I took it in, I checked every wheel when I was checking the tire pressure in all four wheels and the damage wasn't there as I am on meticulous person when it comes to these things. I am not happy and they are going to get back to me as to how they are going to handle this. It just bothers me that nobody cares about paying special attention when fixing your expensive car and then when you bring it to their attention, they deny it and walk away. Tire Pros denied it when the tire they fixed has the worst gouge marks on that same wheel. Cadillac's service manager didn't really care and said he would get back to me. I am not holding my breath. Sounds like I am going to have to place another call to Cadillac customer assistance to get those damaged wheels replaced. Terrible, I mean just terrible!

SG

[WillySTS]

Originally Posted by AERO1

I am flying in tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. as I hate the L.A. to Vegas drive.
SG

Let me get this straight...you HATE the L.A. to Vegas run and you own a "V"???

I love that run in every car I've recently owned except my pickup!(454SS). It was especially good in my '99 STS,but I haven't done it yet in my "V"...can't wait until I do!!!

The "V" is a Vegas run car if there ever was one!!!

LS6HVN

You could be right about that system transplant...my Firehawk has 275/40's all the way around and 5.5 deg of caster also and it doesn't do it, but it does have a different steering gear than the V.

[Davidstan]

Originally Posted by AERO1

I am flying in tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. as I hate the L.A. to Vegas drive. Let me know what your dealer says and what they come up with. If they can't figure it out, have them contact GM Technical Assistance because they have my file number in their system and they should be able to see that there are other STS-V owners that have the issue and it has to be fixed. It is terrible. If you need my GM TAC file number, just ask and I will give it to you. It is on my repair order that my dealer gave back to me with the info when they storied out the concern.

By the way, I had a flat tire this morning, so I took it to my local Cadillac dealer and since they couldn't fix it, they sent it over to a local Tire Pros to get the nail removed and patched and somehow someway, they damaged 3 out of 4 of my wheels. Before I took it in, I checked every wheel when I was checking the tire pressure in all four wheels and the damage wasn't there as I am on meticulous person when it comes to these things. I am not happy and they are going to get back to me as to how they are going to handle this. It just bothers me that nobody cares about paying special attention when fixing your expensive car and then when you bring it to their attention, they deny it and walk away. Tire Pros denied it when the tire they fixed has the worst gouge marks on that same wheel. Cadillac's service manager didn't really care and said he would get back to me. I am not holding my breath. Sounds like I am going to have to place another call to Cadillac customer assistance to get those damaged wheels replaced. Terrible, I mean just terrible!

SG

I had a similar wheel escapade with my dealer. Chromies. Took the car in for a routine maint and a minor fix and picked the car up the next day. I should know better after having this happen 3 times before but over 12 years. Washed the car the next day and one wheel curb rashed. Because i did not do a walk around with the service advisor i have no proof it happened there.
Lesson learned.

[CTS-V-TWIN]

Originally Posted by WillySTS

Let me get this straight...you HATE the L.A. to Vegas run and you own a "V"???

I love that run in every car I've recently owned except my pickup!(454SS). It was especially good in my '99 STS,but I haven't done it yet in my "V"...can't wait until I do!!!

The "V" is a Vegas run car if there ever was one!!!

The V would be a great L.A. to Vegas run if there was no traffic on the way there. Everytime I have driven to Vegas, it has taken hours longer than it should to get there. You can't beat a 40 minute to an hour flight to get there. You save two days of full driving. I would love to take the STS-V to Vegas, but only if there would be no traffic.

SG

[WillySTS]

I guess so, you do have to time it right, and also I do not fly in airplanes unless I "have to", and thats not a "have to" trip, so...most of our flying is on the ground. That is why I have such a nice "Road Car"...!

[CTS-V-TWIN]

Originally Posted by LS6HVN

LOL, glad to hear you guys are having fun when you visit. Boy, how this town as changed thru the years. This place still amazes me.

I'm gonna try and get to the dealer tommorow(fri)

Any update on the fix from your dealer when you took it in?

SG

[LS6HVN]

Hey Guys,

Sorry I've been offline for a couple weeks.

AERO1,
Stopped in to the dealer on Fri., June 1st. I asked my service person to "Tell me what she thought about my power steering issue." Sure enough she felt it too. She asked me if I had a minute so the service tech could check it out also. So I said sure. When she brought my car back around, she said she wanted to make me an appointment for Monday cause he thinks it's in the steering gear. So I dropped my car off Mon. morning. I talked to her Tues., she said they ordered new steering gear. I said OK, I figure parts are coming from detroit. (At least they haven't told me "It's the wide tires" LOL) Thurs., she called and let me know that the new gear was installed and had reduced most of the steering "noise", but that the tech wanted to replace the pump as well in order to eliminate all the "noise". She wanted to know if it was OK to keep my car another day. Absolutely.
Picked the car up Fri., and IT WAS FIXED! Steering even felt a little tighter.
And my car seemed to survive the the dealer for a week, i.e. no new issues, scratches, etc.
So far I am Happy. But we'll see what happens in the next thousand miles.

Hope this is good news for you. PM me or post if I can help you more.

[CTS-V-TWIN]

Originally Posted by LS6HVN

Hey Guys,

Sorry I've been offline for a couple weeks.

AERO1,
Stopped in to the dealer on Fri., June 1st. I asked my service person to "Tell me what she thought about my power steering issue." Sure enough she felt it too. She asked me if I had a minute so the service tech could check it out also. So I said sure. When she brought my car back around, she said she wanted to make me an appointment for Monday cause he thinks it's in the steering gear. So I dropped my car off Mon. morning. I talked to her Tues., she said they ordered new steering gear. I said OK, I figure parts are coming from detroit. (At least they haven't told me "It's the wide tires" LOL) Thurs., she called and let me know that the new gear was installed and had reduced most of the steering "noise", but that the tech wanted to replace the pump as well in order to eliminate all the "noise". She wanted to know if it was OK to keep my car another day. Absolutely.
Picked the car up Fri., and IT WAS FIXED! Steering even felt a little tighter.
And my car seemed to survive the the dealer for a week, i.e. no new issues, scratches, etc.
So far I am Happy. But we'll see what happens in the next thousand miles.

Hope this is good news for you. PM me or post if I can help you more.

Sounds like you have yourself a great Cadillac dealer out there. I took my car to two different Cadillac dealers out here and both told me it was normal and refused to fix the car. It doesn't feel normal to me at all.

Did they say which gear they replaced? I am assuming there has to be at least two, one that regulates low speeds and one that regulates high speeds. Obviously they replaced the power steering pump.

I will let the Cadillac customer assistance center rep know that you were taken care of and your problem has ceased and see if they can tell one of the dealers out here to do the same for me.

I did PM you requesting some info so I can pass it on to Cadillac so they can do what they can for me. It is terrible that I have to go to such great lengths to get my new car fixed. I just hit 1900 miles yesterday.

SG