AutosTalk Forums  

escort steering wheel rattle

Ford Vehicles Discussions About Ford Cars (alt.autos.ford)


Discuss escort steering wheel rattle in the Ford Vehicles forum.



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old   
ANTHONY DIODATI
 
Posts: n/a

Default escort steering wheel rattle - 04-06-2007 , 06:42 PM






My 94 escort had a strange rattle when you turn it, like something was loose
inside .
Lately too, the horn would toot by itself when turning out on to a street.
And people were looking wondering what my problem was.
When I took off the air bag cover I found what looked like some sort of lead
weight attached to this bracket that was installed right under the bolt that
holds the steering wheel on.
The ford dealer had no Idea what it was, could not come up with anything in
there computer.
The weight was attached to the bracket with 3 rubber tits, and they were all
3 broken.
So I just removed the bracket and drilled into it and the weight and taped
the weight out to 1/4" 20 TPI and put RTV silicone on the weight and screwed
it together, and put it all back together.
The weight was sometimes shorting across the horn contacts ,
The weight was at the very bottom when the wheel was straight ahead, I
assume it is some type of counter weight to help steady the wheel when
cruising down the highway?
DAGS but did not come up with anything?
Any one run into this or know if that is what it is?
thanks, Tony



Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old   
Tom Adkins
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: escort steering wheel rattle - 04-06-2007 , 07:03 PM






ANTHONY DIODATI wrote:
Quote:
My 94 escort had a strange rattle when you turn it, like something was loose
inside .
Lately too, the horn would toot by itself when turning out on to a street.
And people were looking wondering what my problem was.
When I took off the air bag cover I found what looked like some sort of lead
weight attached to this bracket that was installed right under the bolt that
holds the steering wheel on.
The ford dealer had no Idea what it was, could not come up with anything in
there computer.
The weight was attached to the bracket with 3 rubber tits, and they were all
3 broken.
So I just removed the bracket and drilled into it and the weight and taped
the weight out to 1/4" 20 TPI and put RTV silicone on the weight and screwed
it together, and put it all back together.
The weight was sometimes shorting across the horn contacts ,
The weight was at the very bottom when the wheel was straight ahead, I
assume it is some type of counter weight to help steady the wheel when
cruising down the highway?
DAGS but did not come up with anything?
Any one run into this or know if that is what it is?
thanks, Tony


The weight is there to dampen harmonic vibrations sent through the column from the
engine at idle.


Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old   
Jeff
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: escort steering wheel rattle - 04-06-2007 , 08:01 PM




"ANTHONY DIODATI" <mrbreezeet1 (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote

Quote:
My 94 escort had a strange rattle when you turn it, like something was
loose
inside .
There probably is, like the parts in the wheel bearings or the CV joint.

Quote:
Lately too, the horn would toot by itself when turning out on to a street.
You know, my nephew is a lot like this. Except it is all the time, no matter
which direction he turns in.

Quote:
And people were looking wondering what my problem was.
I know what his problem is. ;-)

Quote:
When I took off the air bag cover I found what looked like some sort of
lead
weight attached to this bracket that was installed right under the bolt
that
holds the steering wheel on.
The ford dealer had no Idea what it was, could not come up with anything
in
there computer.
The weight was attached to the bracket with 3 rubber tits, and they were
all
3 broken.
So I just removed the bracket and drilled into it and the weight and taped
the weight out to 1/4" 20 TPI and put RTV silicone on the weight and
screwed
it together, and put it all back together.
The weight was sometimes shorting across the horn contacts ,
The weight was at the very bottom when the wheel was straight ahead, I
assume it is some type of counter weight to help steady the wheel when
cruising down the highway?
OK, I messed up on the noise when you made a turn.

I would also put electric tape around/over the contacts for the horn or
otherwise make it so that if the weights come loose, they won't short it
out.

Quote:
DAGS but did not come up with anything?
Any one run into this or know if that is what it is?
Speaking of running into things, will the weights go flying if the air bag
is deployed?

Jeff

Quote:
thanks, Tony




Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old   
ANTHONY DIODATI
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: escort steering wheel rattle - 04-06-2007 , 08:40 PM




"Tom Adkins" <nospam (AT) centurytel (DOT) net> wrote

Quote:
The weight is there to dampen harmonic vibrations sent through the
column from the
engine at idle.
Ok makes sense,Thanks.
wonder why the dealer did not show it in there computer?

"Jeff" <news (AT) googlemail (DOT) com> wrote


Quote:
Speaking of running into things, will the weights go flying if the air bag
is deployed?
Jeff
No, I don't think it's going anywhere,
Thanks, Tony




Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old   
Tom Adkins
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: escort steering wheel rattle - 04-06-2007 , 10:39 PM



Jeff wrote:

Quote:
Speaking of running into things, will the weights go flying if the air
bag is deployed?

No, it's under the air bag.


Reply With Quote
Reply




Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Powered by vBulletin Version 3.5.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.