I've been test driving XJ's lately and I noticed that some have a bit of a noisy steering wheel. They make a squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel left or right. It sounds like it it's coming from inside the steering wheel. Is this something that's common on Jaguars? I am looking to buy one and am wondering if this is something that I would have to live with. Is it easy to fix or could it be a sign of a major repair in the future? I've read that there is a additive for the power steering fluid that may help with the noise. Or possibly that you can change a bushing in the steering column to correct the noise. Is this true?

Thanks all

 

It's a very well known fault, I have it on my car, and that's now 10 years old. I just live with it, frankly. I think it is a seal of some sort rubbing on a housing somewhere. I suppose people who bought these cars new would take them to the dealers under warranty. Obviously the chap who had my car before me was deaf !

 

Just buy the additive from Jaguar (about $10) and remove 50 ml of pwr steering fluid then add the additive to the fluid.

Excercise the steering to get the fluid mixed up.

Worked for me but you are only supposed to do it once.

There is a TSB for this

 

It's in X350's too? Had it on the 03 S-Type. Did the additive, quiet as a mouse....for awhile. Noise came back. I drained and flushed the PAS with new fluid, added the second bottle of additive, (Well? Of course I bought 2 at the time...we had two S-Types! Thus far, the 05 hasn't developed the noise) and it was noise-free in a week.

and btw, the technical term for the additive is "magic elixir" ;-)

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...xir-fix-99839/

 

In case it helps, here is the procedure to repair the "usual" squeaking noise (valid for XJ, S-type and X Type).
I did it for my X350 few months ago and up to now it's perfect.

 

Thanks for your help everyone, looks like the noise isn't much to worry about. Maybe I can use this as a bargaining tool.

 

Mine suffered this problem, I bought the additive and carried out the procedure twice, initially the noise was still there but much quieter, after a few weeks it has gone completely.

 

I had the same problem. Used the additive as mentioned. Within a week the noise was gone.

2006 XJ VDP with 69,000 miles

 

Now I had this same problem on my 2001 x-type since forever. It's similar to the sounds of electrical motors, inside steering-wheels for PC based games. I assumed it was normal and per Jaguar design, even gotten used to the noise and the reliable feedback it gave me. Nevertheless after reading this I just ordered the additive. Let's see if it works, otherwise it's not really annoying anyway.

 

I used the additive once and the noise will slightly creep back during winter. I replaced all the power steering fluid with mobile 1 ATF fluid due to a busted power steering hose. It has been super quiet since. That was 2 years ago.

 

You can also spray some lubricant on the steering column u-joints. That worked for me on my S-Type although it required some contorsions to do it. I also used the $10 elixer. So far, my XJ8L hasn't required the treatment.

 

Thanks everyone for this thread.

It's been one of those tasks I've been meaning to do on our '04 VDP for ages, but always slips my mind. When the thread got my attention, I went online to order the additive so I wouldn't put it off any longer. Best deal I could find with shipping was Terry's Jaguar.

Put it in last night per the TSB, and there was immediate improvement, but there is still a slight hint this morning, so it will be interesting to see if improves over a couple of days.

 

Mine was making a squealing noise too. I purchased the additive through my local Jag dealer ($15.00) and added it today. I will let everyone know how it works.


I did notice, however, when I removed the old fluid was a brownish color. Is this normal or should have I replace the old fluid before topping it off with the additive? What is the forum's recommended fluid, other than OEM?


Tyro XJR

 

An update on my noisy steering wheel. I put the additive in a few days ago and have noticed some improvement. I hope that it will continue to get better and will post an update in a month or two.


Tyro XJR

 

Well the Jaguar dealer asked GBP 9.95 for the bottle. They asked GBP 79.95 to do the whole procedure according to the TSB. As it turned out, my car was for sale (due to my emigration), and I got a customer not willing to wait. I sold the Jag and also the fluids. Therefore I can't report further on the progress, but am confident the steering wheel is not much of an irritant anyway, as it disappeared the last few days on its own, and comes back rarely only as a soft (somewhat pleasant) whine. In any case, I hope the new owner enjoys it, and it is an easy fix just in case the bearing whine returns.

 

Put the additive in a few weeks ago and the noise went away. After that I noticed it came back but I only hear it after the car has been running for at least 30 minutes. It does not make the noise when I first start the car after it has been sitting overnight. I followed the TSB except for the part about heating it up to 212deg because I did not have a thermometer. Should I drain the old fluid and additive and replace with new fluid and new additive and perform the TSB again making sure it reaches the proper temperature? Is there something else that could be going on? Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

Update, I found out my inner tie rods were bad. Found some on ebay for $80 problem solved. It's been about a month now.

 

I will try this additive, as I have that faint squeak from the steering wheel and was wondering what could be causing it. It didn't appear to be coming from the power steering pump, and I changed the fluid but no joy. I did guess the only other place it could be coming from was from a seal inside the rack, but I am glad to have read this thread as I thought my only options were ignore it or replace the rack. A quick fix additive to the PS fluid is an ideal solution.

 

I am starting to want to repair mine as well (2003, S-Type 4.2), though I do not consider the sound to be a squeak. It is more like a hushed grinding sound when I turn the wheel at slow speeds - such as parking. Have lived with it a long time, but the older I get the more picky I become I suppose.

 

This fixed mine.. wish everything was this easy.