So my Camry with 35,000 miles started to make a strange noise when turning to the left only. Nothing other than the sound, and a very slight feel in the steering wheel were the symptoms. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they said that the steering column had to be repacked with heavy duty grease at a cost of $250.00. This is one in a long line of Toyotas that I have owned (from Corolla to Sienna to Camry) and the first time I have encountered this. What has been anyone’s experience/what do you think of this “diagnosis”?
Here is a thread on a Toyota forum that addresses this.
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/camry/66888-steering-wheel-strange-noise/
The fix appears to get some grease/lubricant into the rubber gromment on the firewall that the intermediate shaft passes through. A $10 can of spray grease (try Napa) and a little of your own time beats spending $250 at the dealer.
Ed B.
P.S. I have a 2006 Sienna and will keep this fix in mind if it starts making the same noise.