Play in steering wheel after recall!

[sip]

I noticed a slight play (i.e wheel moving back and forth) in steering wheel of my 2009 Mazda 3 while driving home from the dealership, after getting the power steering recall done. I have not noticed such a play in the last two years driving the car. I checked my neighbor's 2010 Mazda 3 and my Dodge Caravan. The steering wheels of these vehicles are rock solid. No play at all. I know that they are different vehicles, but is it normal for Mazda 3s prior to 2010 to have a play in the the steering wheel?

I called the dealership and the service manager said the play has nothing to do with the power steering recall and a slight play is normal, as the steering is hydraulic ( I believe it is actually electro-hydraulic). The service manager cautioned me against checking the play, as it may damage the steering wheel components. I also unlock the steeling wheel and lock again to ensure that the wheel is properly locked.

Is a slight play in the steering wheel of 2009 and prior years Mazda 3s normal? If you guys do not mind, can you please check and let me know? What shall I do if the dealership says that the play in the steering wheel is normal? I got an appointment to take the car to the dealership on Saturday. Please help.

[sip]

I googled and found this TSB. Unfortunately I have to pay to get more information.

2009 MAZDA3 TSBs
STEERING:COLUMN

*
o Date Reported AUGUST 13 2010
o NHTSA Reference #10034527
o TSB Reference #SB-06-003-10

Description: MAZDA: STEERING COLUMN SLIGHTLY MOVES IN OR OUT TELESCOPICALLY. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SLIGHT IN OR OUT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT IS PUSHED OR PULLED, EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL RELEASE LEVER PROPERLY LOCKED. *PE

Repair Information for NHTSA #10034527

[TheMAN]

Looking for this?

TSB: 06-10-03

2004-2010 MAZDA3 AND 2006-2010 MAZDA5 - STEERING COLUMN SLIGHTLY MOVES IN OR OUT TELESCOPICALLY

BULLETIN NOTE

The WARRANTY INFORMATION has been revised.
APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS

2003-2010 Mazda3 vehicles with VINs lower than JM1BL******348758 (produced before June 21, 2010)
2006-2010 Mazda5 vehicles
DESCRIPTION

Some vehicles may exhibit a slight in or out movement of the steering wheel when it is pushed or pulled, even with the steering wheel release lever properly locked. It may also be accompanied with a slight up and down play. This movement is likely to occur to a customer who tends to adjust the steering wheel position frequently, and may recur even when the lever nut is re-tightened.
When the steering wheel release lever is operated while the steering wheel is pushed down, a lever nut at the lever shaft may become loose. To correct this problem, the design of the nut has been changed.
Customers having this concern should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure.
REPAIR PROCEDURE


1. Verify customer concern. NOTE: There are two types of lever locks as shown. Pull-to-lock A: Release lever Position 1-LOCK; Position 2- UNLOCK


Push-to-lock A: Release lever Position 1-LOCK; Position 2- UNLOCK


2. Remove the lower column cover. Refer to MS3 online instructions section 09-17 “COLUMN COVER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION”.
3. Prepare and allocate an approved adjust nut, a 13mm socket, a torque wrench to cover 4.0 - 8.0 Nm (3 - 5.9 lb-ft), and a T40 torx bit socket. NOTE: This repair procedure will describe the steering wheel release lever as “lever” to shorten the description.

4. Hold the lever in the LOCK position with right hand, then remove the nut with a 13mm socket wrench with left hand. NOTE: The tilt/telescopic position does not matter.


CAUTION: DO NOT remove the nut without holding the lever in the LOCK position. The lever and/or cam disk could get pushed out by the spring and may result in injury. Keep the right hand at the lever in the LOCK position until step 6 has been performed.



5. Hold an improved nut with left hand.

Original Nut


Improved Nut




6. Attach the nut on the bolt and rotate two turns by hand, then temporarily tighten the nut to 4.0 Nm (3 lb-ft) max. NOTE: Nut will be retightened at final adjustment.

7. Release and lock the lever three times to get the relating parts into their initial position.
8. Release the lever and adjust tilt and telescopic positions to their middle position, then lock again.
9. Set a T40 Torx Bit Socket to a torque wrench and attach it on the lever side bolt.


10. Release the lever while holding the steering wheel with left hand to keep the steering column at the middle of the tilt and telscopic position. Then turn the torque wrench with right hand to let the lever turn to the lock position and measure the peak torque during the locking movement (A).

NOTE:



Measure the torque three times.
Turn the torque wrench until the lever fully strokes and read the peak torque on the way.
Ignore the maximum torque at the end of the stroke.
Required lever torque range: 6.5 - 8.0 Nm (4.8 - 5.9 lb-ft).


11. If the torque is out of range, turn the nut to adjust the torque. - To increase the torque, tighten the nut and repeat step 9.
- To decrease the torque, loosen the nut and repeat step 9.

12. After adjustment of the torque, lock and release the lever three times to get the relating parts into their initial position.
13. Install the lower column cover. Refer to MS3 online instructions section 09-17 “COLUMN COVER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION”.
14. Verify repair. PART(S) INFORMATION



Part Number
Description
Qty.
BBP3-32-172
Adjust nut
1

WARRANTY INFORMATION

NOTE:



This warranty information applies only to verified customer complaints on vehicles eligible for warranty repair.
This repair will be covered under Mazda’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty term.
Additional diagnostic time cannot be claimed for this repair.



Warranty Type
0
Symptom Code
61
Damage Code
97
Part Number Main Cause
BBP3-32-172
Quantity
1
Operation Number / Labour Hours:
XXF2MXRX / 0.4 Hrs. (04-09 Mazda3);
0.3 Hrs. (2010 Mazda3)
0.3 Hrs. (06-10 Mazda5)








it's likely whoever worked on your car messed with the tilt steering wheel... make sure it's locked down first of all, and if so I'd get them to pay to fix it... it not at least half of it
what I pasted is the canadian TSB... what you googled is the US one and does you no good

[sip]

Thank a lot for the quick replay. Wow! You really are the Man. How do you get the TSBs?

I am disappointed that the dealer's Service Manager thought that the play was normal (when it was a known problem) and blamed me for checking it.

[purefocus]

My steering felt weird after having the recall done as well, but luckily returned to normal after not too long. Good luck getting yours sorted out.

[sip]

I took the car to dealership and showed the play in the steering wheel to the Assistant Service Manager (ASM). I was told the following:
1) TSB does not apply to the steering wheel play I described
2) No play when normal amount of pressure is applied
3) Operates within specifications
4) Unrelated to the recall (which may be true)

So I showed him the play in my steering wheel and compared it to steering wheels of another 2009 Mazda 3 and a 2011 Mazda 3. The steering wheels of the other cars were rock sold - no play at all. ASM said he and the tech cannot find a play in my car because they are not as heavy as me. I told him that I just pushed and pull the wheel, not sat on it. Anyhow, I am only 220 lbs, which I guess is within the specification for a Mazda driver. I think he is trying to say that there is a play because I am applying excessive pressure, which is not the case. So basically, I wasted a beautiful Saturday afternoon today without getting the play fixed.


Has anyone had a slight play in your steering wheel? It so, how did you fix it?

I don't think it is related to the recall. It may be just a coincidence that I noticed it after the recall was done.

[em3]

try another dealer. their comments and decisions on warranty all vary. good luck.

[sharkbait]

I took the car to dealership and showed the play in the steering wheel to the Assistant Service Manager (ASM). I was told the following:
1) TSB does not apply to the steering wheel play I described
2) No play when normal amount of pressure is applied
3) Operates within specifications
4) Unrelated to the recall (which may be true)

So I showed him the play in my steering wheel and compared it to steering wheels of another 2009 Mazda 3 and a 2011 Mazda 3. The steering wheels of the other cars were rock sold - no play at all. ASM said he and the tech cannot find a play in my car because they are not as heavy as me. I told him that I just pushed and pull the wheel, not sat on it. Anyhow, I am only 220 lbs, which I guess is within the specification for a Mazda driver. I think he is trying to say that there is a play because I am applying excessive pressure, which is not the case. So basically, I wasted a beautiful Saturday afternoon today without getting the play fixed.


Has anyone had a slight play in your steering wheel? It so, how did you fix it?

I don't think it is related to the recall. It may be just a coincidence that I noticed it after the recall was done.

What exactly are you doing to move the wheel, rocking it back and forth, pushing it up and down, if your statement is correct and the technican could not move the wheel i wouldnt see there being a problem then. as of course when the steering wheel is concerned it is not meant to have all that much pressure put on it its meant for steering not to be pushed and pulled on and rocked around, so if the technician could not duplicate your concern did you think that what ever you are doing to move it maybe isnt meant to be done?. why in the first place are you putting so much pressure on your steering wheel to move it?

i have a 2010 mazda 3 and i thought i would go out and try to see if my wheel has some play or moves at all. and it has the slightest movment, but i had to push and pull and shake it all over and of course thats not something i would do in a given days driving, but it moved about II so small i wouldnt even call that movement, i would say it has play maybe even more of a flex but nothing i would ever be concerned about. so again maybe if the technican could not duplicate the play maybe your putting too much pressure on the wheel to cause the movement and you could just be trying to cause something out of nothing.

just my 2 cents

[TheMAN]

my 2005 doesn't even budget at all if I pulled and pushed on the steering wheel with reasonable effort, what are you insinuating? I'm not even close to 200 pounds nor am I trying to brute force it! I'm pretty sure he's not putting excessive force to the steering wheel either
there is a valid concern and there IS an issue with the car... a safety one too

[sharkbait]

my 2005 doesn't even budget at all if I pulled and pushed on the steering wheel with reasonable effort, what are you insinuating? I'm not even close to 200 pounds nor am I trying to brute force it! I'm pretty sure he's not putting excessive force to the steering wheel either
there is a valid concern and there IS an issue with the car... a safety one too

no one is insinuating anything if you read my post below it says "What exactly are you doing to move the wheel, rocking it back and forth, pushing it up and down" i am asking for some more description to his problem. but as i mentioned if i put pressure on my steering wheel it also does flex as i wouldnt be surprised it should. but of course if you are putting all of your weight into moving the wheel and you are finding some movement i wouldnt be surprised it would move slightly or flex, as of course the wheel is for steering, not to mention i am not sure why you would be driving pushing and pulling your wheel.

[TheMAN]

the issue is, as the TSB describes, there's excessive freeplay in the steering wheel column... you could effortlessly move the column in and out quite a few millimetres... it should not be this way!

[sharkbait]

the issue is, as the TSB describes, there's excessive freeplay in the steering wheel column... you could effortlessly move the column in and out quite a few millimetres... it should not be this way!

i dont want to be rude by i dont think you have read all of this, the tsb is for 2004-2010 MAZDA3 AND 2006-2010 MAZDA5 - STEERING COLUMN SLIGHTLY MOVES IN OR OUT TELESCOPICALLY yes telecsopic lock, the OP has noticed play in his steering wheel itself a movement back and forth, it would be obvious that one is not related to the other unless when pushing the steering wheel it moves like the lock is not engadged which is not what they are saying.

[TheMAN]

the steering wheel moves with the steering column doesn't it? he's describing what he sees, but perhaps not very well

[sip]

Thanks for your replies and specially to THEMAN for the TSB.

The bottom line is the steering wheel has a play that needs to be fixed.

Sharkbait, do you have friends in dealership? Perhaps, you can put a good word for me.

[TheMAN]

take the car to MOT or DWM and be done with it!