My mother owns a 2001 SSEi, and it makes a strange and irritating clicking noise when you turn the wheel. Does anyone who owns a 2000 + experience the same problem? She brought it to a mechanic and I forgot what he said it was but it would cost like $2k to fix. What the hell is it

the "rack" ?

I own a 02 SSEI AND I'm having the same problem with my car. I'm taking it to the dealer in 2 weeks to find out what it is. I'll keep you posted, but if you find out whats the problem before me, than keep me posted.


94 GRAND PRIX GT
02 BONEVILLE SSEI

$2K.....I bet it can be fixed for much less than that. Had the same problem on my 2000 ssei. Progressivly got worse, until I couldn't stand it. Felt as though something was grabbing in the steering column about every 10 degrees of turning. Ended up being the U-joint in the steering shaft, that is connected to the steering box. Dealer found the Tech note, used the recommended lube kit, and it was all better. Net cost....$0.

Start there, see if that fixes it. If it does, find a new mechanic.

Thanks, yeah I was thinking it could be fixed with proper lubrication. $2k is pretty retarded for such a minor problem

I got the same problem with mine. I guess I'll need to hit the dealer sometime about it.

I've got a 2000 SLE with 100,000-plus miles (long commute). I have had mine in 5 times for this exact problem. It was diagnosed as "internal binding of steering gear" and replaced 3 times under warranty. About the third time, I was told by the service guy that there had been a redesign of at least one of the mating gears. Each time, it will drive okay for several thousand miles. It'* now happening again, and Pontiac says they won't help because I'm out of the warranty. There are some other posts about a steering noise corrected by some lubrication kit. I don't know if it'* the same problem or not. VERY ANNOYING.

Yeah my 2001 se is doing the same thing, i was running low on fluid so i filled it up and thought it would get rid of it but it didn't. It did get rid of the whine it was making though. That would be cool if i could get more info on this lube kit.

I just called the dealership about this lube kit, and, although there is a service bulletin that shows how to lube the half shaft, there is apparently no official recall for this problem. For those of you that are still under warranty, I think you can just ask them about it and get it fixed; I'm screwed unless/until Pontiac makes this a recall. Anybody know how likely that is to happen?

Hey mokenka,

Do you have a link to that service bulletin so I could print it out and do it myself?

ps. thanks for the info!