Help! I have a used 2003 Saturn Vue and the steering wheel has started moaning and squeaking a lot when I turn it. It is a def. rubber on plastic type of noise, it is quite annoying! Any suggestions, simple silicon spray hasn’t done the trick.
It will get better next summer. Many cars have various squeak problems with plastic parts when it gets cold. Sorry I don’t have any faster suggestions.
I’m not an expert, but the experts on this site often attribute these noises to the “clock spring” electrical cable inside the steering column. That cable connects steering-wheel-mounted electrical things like horn, air bags, etc. to the car’s electrical system. (I do not recall this problem happening on old-time cars in which the only electrical thing on the steering wheel was the horn. I think back in those days they used slip rings for the connection, rather than a cable.)
I have suffered this problem on at least two cars, and, yes, it is really annoying. I decided to adjust my attitude rather than fix the car because: 1) the repair would be pretty expensive (taking apart steering column stuff); 2) the replacement parts would eventually start squeeking, just like the originals did.
Of, course, your squeeking might be louder and more frequent that mine.
(BTW, my recollection is that the squeeking was worse in cold weather than in hot, but I could be wrong.)
I get the same noise periodically on my van too.
I narrowed mine down to the signal stalk lever cancel (rubber) wheel inside the column. Does that description make any sense?
The signal lever is now called the multi-function switch/lever.
I find mine to be louder on real hot days, but it’s not a constant thing so I’ve learned to ignore it.