[200q20v] Steering Wheel Squeak

[Phil & Judy Rose]

At 1:47 PM -0600 2/4/01, Dale McCormack wrote:
>Small item for inquiring "the wisdom of the list", but it's driving me
>crazy.  
>On a previous Audi I had (87 5Kq), a squeak developed when my hands
>rested on the steering wheel and it was turned, especially if it was a
>subtle movement. It wasn't too hard to correct as the wheel was easily
>removed/reattached.
>
>An identical noise problem has developed on my two airbag equipped
>200's. I can turn the steering wheel without no noise, but when the
>weight of my hands rest (not push) on the wheel a squeak is annoyingly
>audible and virtually always present.  The noise seems to come from
>beneath the horn/airbag unit. 
>Question: What causes it and can it be corrected w/o removing the
>steering wheel (and ensuing airbag complications)?  If not, what's the
>technique for NOT detonating the unit and having an explosion accompany
>the squeak?

My steering wheel will squeak for a brief period if (and only if) the 
car has been left outdoors and the overnight temps have dropped well 
below freezing (as in 20 F and lower). The squeak vanishes as soon as 
the car's interior warms up a bit. Hasn't yet persisted long enough 
to attempt a cure. Have you searched Chris Miller's website yet?

Phil
-- 
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*  Phil & Judy Rose           Rochester, NY  *
*        mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net       * 
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