[jeffbazell1]

There is a new, loud clicking coming from the power steering gear assembly area when I turn the wheel left or right. I can't tell what's causing it. Sounds almost like a loud spark. No codes set yet. I looked in the engine bay while someone turned the wheels back and forth. A new steering gear assembly is almost $1200.00. Ugh.

'13 ATS
86,700 miles
2.0 Turbo
Performance Package
AWD
AT.

I really love the car. I don't want to trade it in yet.:mad2:

 

[meeteetsee]

Dealership gave me back my car after "fixing it" and it made that noise just like that. Something in the steering wasn't tightened enough and it hasn't made the noise in over a year. You may get lucky.

 

[CaptSoloNJ]

Was this related to that steering bolts recall?

 

[jeffbazell1]

I don't know yet if it's related to the steering bolts recall. I had that 'fixed' last December. The very loud clicking noise just started a week ago. I have an appointment at a dealer on April 30th. I'll keep you posted if interested.

 

[jeffbazell1]

Re: What Next? Power Steering gear assembly bad? Bad struts?

Here's what's next. I had a loud 'suspension' rattle at low speeds (or at least that's when I heard it). Really loud. So I went under the front end today, pulled and hit the drive shafts to each wheel, noticed a minor amount of play, did a bearing test on each wheel, noticed FL wheel had some play at 3 and 9 o'clock; stabilizer bar seems tight, struts seemed tight, BUT..noticed the 'bumper' on both struts was all the way up along with the accordion dust covers. I pulled down the bumpers to seat at the top of each strut and also put the dust covers back on correctly. Went for a short ride and no noise. I'm not saying I fixed or found the issue, just sayin'......as they say. I still have an appt at dealer 4/30/19. PS: I hit a really hard road bump a few days ago at low speed (25mph) and it was right after that I started hearing the 'suspension' noise/rattle. Any opinions you car doctors out there? risngl?

 

[DapperATS]

Was this related to that steering bolts recall?

I just got the recall notice in the mail did you take yours in and how was it if so?

 

[CaptSoloNJ]

I just got the recall notice in the mail did you take yours in and how was it if so?

I believe all they did was to either replace or re-coat the bolts to reduce corrosion risk.

 

[jeffbazell1]

Re: UPDATE: What Next? Power Steering gear assembly bad?

UPDATE: Just got home from the Stealership. OMG. The blatant lies they tell. So, according to the guy who checks you in at service, I had 3 bad rims, four bad tires. I asked, "That's what's causing the clicking noise in the steering?" "No but that's what's causing the noise when you drive at slow speed." Sorry, guys, you're wrong. So I pays my $101 for them to 'tighten the bolts where the steering attaches to the subframe, and get in my car. Right there, in the service parking lot, I turn the steering wheel. Same noise. I went in to get the service guy and said, "Rick, it's still doing it." He got the tech and they all heard it. Tech says, "Well, it's your subframe which is soft aluminum, stressing and bending. There's really no fix for that." I asked for and received a full refund. Nothing fixed. They tried to sell me three new wheel rims and four new tires (my tires have less than 20k on them) to the tune of $1600.00. OMG.

 

[RonBaker]

That sucks Jeff and it's exactly why Cadillac loses customers as fast as they acquire them.

If a subframe is flexing to the point it is making noise when simply turning the wheels the subframe is cracked or broken or a mount is broken or loose. My guess would be that it is either a break or looseness in a mount where the suspension mounts to the frame or it's a cracked subframe. Since the dealership was more interested in selling you tires and wheels than diagnosing the clearly duplicatable sound you brought it in for that facility isnt the one to identify the problem. I'd try another repair facility.

I had a E46 3 Series I bought new that developed a broken rear subframe at 7k miles. Every time I accelerated and transferred weight to rear I would hear and feel a distinct bang. BMW repaired the crack(s) and reinforced some areas of the subframe and where suspension mounted to the subframe. It was a widespread design flaw that lead to a successful class action.

 

[jeffbazell1]

UPDATE #2: Went to a highly recommended mechanic, NOT a stealership. So far he diagnosed a loose lower control arm. He actually showed it to me while the car was on the lift. He also showed me the missing balancing stickers. I feel like we're finally getting somewhere. I'll keep you updated if you like.

 

[jeffbazell1]

FINAL UPDATE Re: What Next? Power Steering gear assembly bad?

I would love to call out the dealership I first went to for lying to me about the cause of the noise and vibration that I've been trying to resolve for over a year now. It took an independent auto repair shop to properly diagnose and repair my car. No, it was NOT warped rotors as the first dealership said and conned me into paying $300.00 to grind them down. No, it was NOT bent wheel rims that was causing the noise and vibration that the 2nd stealership told me and quoted $1600.00 for three new rims and four new tires. What was it? A loose lower control arm and horribly balanced wheels that were supposed to have been done (the balancing) when I purchased four new tires at the 1st stealership. Final cost from the honest guys? $300.00, parts/labor/balancing. No charge for the rotation since 'the wheels were off anyway.' Oh hell, I'm going to call them out.

1st stealership: D'Arcy Cadillac in Morris, IL
2nd " : Shields Auto Mart in Paxton, IL
Honest guys: Bob's Advanced Auto Repair in Coal City, IL.