01 XC70 Volvo/76K: noise turning steering wheel, reverse

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 10 Feb 2007, 19:29

started yesterday with the first barely-audible creak sound when I pulled out of garage in a.m., then few more of the same when pulling out of drive way making 190degree turn onto the road, now tonight, i pulled car out of garage and when i applied the brakes to stop halfway out onto driveway, i heard the creak sound again. @#$!

Volvo recently inspected all my brakes and said only front pads needed replacing, all else with brakes was fine. Then more recently (1wk ago), they did other work, including a computerized all-wheel alignment ("set to factory specifications"), but nothing to do with brakes.... so what could this creaking sound indicate? Any clues would be greatly appreciated. I've already left msg to schedule a return visit :

FYI: here's list of extensive work they did a wk ago, thank goodness for the extended warranty:

OIL LEAKS:
-Technician found the power steering cap, oil filler cap seal leaking, replaced oil filler cap seal and the power steering fluid resevoir cap.

POWER TRANSMISSION:
-Klunk noise from park to reverse, Technician found the fault in teh valve body, technician notefrom volvo to update the transmission valve body to fix the harsh shifting. Technician removed the front trans pan and replaced the valve body, sucktion o-rings and the seal for the control cover. Technmician also found the CV Boots to be busted and leaking grease from the anxles joints. Tech replaced CV Boots on both axles.

4-Wheel Alignment:
-completed 4-wheel alignment set to factory specs

STEERING:
- C.S. Suspension noisy over bumps. Tech found the Spring seats, and the Front Control Arm Bushings to be broken, and the passenger engine mount broken. Tech replaced the spring seats and Front and Rear Control Arm bushings. Also replaced pass engine mount.

ENGINE MOUNTING:
. Replaced front and rear motor mounts which were collapsed letting the trans lay on the X-member. Tech replaced F & R mounts.

COOLING SYSTEM:
- Tech found crank case ventilation hose leaking coolant. Replaced Coolant Hose from thermostat housing to intake manifold. Replaced the intake manifold and replaced the crank case ventilation hose, and replaced the intake manifold gasket.

POWER STEERING:
-Performed BG and Completed Power steering flush.

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 10 Feb 2007, 19:52

another FYI:

a wk after I purchased my used car, I got the new ETM hardware and software upgrade... Bosch to Bosch, not Magnetti.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Feb 2007, 20:31

I'm thinking that what you're experiencing is not the suspension at all but the steering shaft gator (rubber piece at the floor). Since buying my S70 I had severe squeak, especially in colder weather in steering column- found to be the classic on-floor "gator" issue written about in Bay13: http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/70steering.php , but their fix did not really fix this. Instead, I replaced the rubber gaiter and all noise is now gone. I know I'm talking about a '98 vehicle and all of the S70's had this issue up to '00. I'm not sure of your setup on the '01 XC....but would be worth checking it out.

The spring seats if bad or misaligned can also cause squeaking but you said they were just changed. If the above isn't the problem, have these checked again by the guy who installed them.

Post by **JRL** » 11 Feb 2007, 06:12

Please describe your "creak" better
Where exactly do you think it's coming from and is it a creak or a crunching sound?

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 11 Feb 2007, 08:53

JRL wrote:Please describe your "creak" better
Where exactly do you think it's coming from and is it a creak or a crunching sound?

the reason i describe the sound as a "creak" is because initially it occurred as I was making a long/wide turn (190 degrees?) of my steering wheel out of my driveway, slowly, and once I completed the turn of the wheel it stopped, and it reminded me of the sound I'd hear when opening an old wooden door, it's an ascending sound, i suppose like a crank, but nothing hard or as abrasive as a "crunch" ... sorry, i'm not savvy with anything regarding cars, i'm on my own this time and I guess it'll take a while for me to get up to speed.

I will, however, definitely take your advice from your previous post and have the same tech check the "gator" thing and make sure the spring seats are fine. In the event that the car requires attention to the gator, is that costly?

ciao!

I should clarify that my car shifts perfectly,

Post by **JRL** » 11 Feb 2007, 11:33

It sounds like a steering comumn bushing.
Not nearly as common in P2 cars, VERY common in 850s and 98-00 S&V 70s. but have it looked at

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 11 Feb 2007, 13:56

As JRL said, the steering column bushing...same as the gator bushing on the older cars.

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 11 Feb 2007, 14:05

MadeInJapan wrote:As JRL said, the steering column bushing...same as the gator bushing on the older cars.

ohh ok, got it! Thanx! But, I remember maybe 3 months ago when other Volvo did tranny work, i heard steering noises then too, (whoa! this is so dejavu!) and in the process of that work they stripped or damaged the steering column bushing and once replaced with new bushing the noises ceased.... fast forward to tranny work by other Volvo svc last 8days ago and again, similar noises.... could the work they did (see details above) have the same results as what occurred 3 months ago?

I'm actually hoping this is the problem, because they fixed it in a day, and as I remember, I posted that problem here and either you or JRL diagnosed it with precision! That was pretty cool

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 11 Feb 2007, 14:12

Could very well be...let's hope it's not steering rack noise. Let them check it out... Good luck!

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 16 Feb 2007, 19:54

Well, it wasn't the steering column bushing or steering rack, both were checked and fine... turned out the noise was attributable to the new cv joints they installed 2wks ago, apparently there was "a slight lee-way of space, whichrequired cement sealant." they also installed new ball bearings, which were wearing but not the cause of the noise because they tried that first but noise continued.

Sooooooooooo THAT particular noise was resolved, but the nxt day after pulling out of my garage, after shifting from park and moving in reverse, ONCE i applied the brakes to come to a stop, i heard/felt a "clunk" or thump sound, that felt as if it was coming right from under the brake pedal but inside somewhere... is not a constant noise, i.e., moving out in reverse and stopping the rest of the day... seems only when i've been parked for a while and then after turning engine on and moving in reverse then have to apply brakes for very first time, i hear that noise... good grief!