I have a couple of small niggling problems that come and go with my car but nothing serious. The latest weirdness is that when I turn the key to the second position where the self-checks are performed, there is a buzzing that sounds like winding a watch or a spring unwinding that sounds like it is coming from behind the small group that has the Clear odometer button just above and to the right of the fuel/temperature gauges. This lasts for about 3 or 4 seconds until the various check lights start turning off. Then when turning the car off there is a similar buzzing that again lasts 3 or 4 seconds. Other than the low buzzing there are no other symptoms or problems. Any ideas what this may be?

 

Isn't that the general area of the blend door actuator? Maybe your servo is noisy? Try all the buttons/temps on the climate control and see if any of them make the same noise.

 

Sounds like it might be the servo controller that raises and lowers the steering wheel during powering on/off.

 

I don't have any of the climate control controls on but I will play around with the buttons to see if I can create the sound.

The steering wheel is already up when the sound happens so I think I ruled that out.

I figured there would be at least one person here who would suggest that it was the Flux Capacitor charging up/down.

 

The REACH motor/drive cable makes noise without actuating the column if it is sheared.

 

Bingo I think you are the winner. The up/down adjustment works fine but when I try to adjust the steering wheel in or out I just hear a click but nothing moves. Luckily it is at the position I want it but I suppose this should be repaired. I did a quick scan through posts that contain "steering wheel reach" and it looks like a hugely daunting procedure that I am too old to deal with on my own. I will ask the local guy I bring the car to but if it is the cable are there even parts available these days?

 

Update--Tried adjusting wheel today after car was started and I fiddled with the rotating switch and I was able to adjust the steering wheel both up/down and in/out (reach) so guess it wasn't a broken cable or motor. I think I still got the slight buzzing but really I am not going to stress about it.