Able To Slightly Wiggle/Teeter Steering Wheel When Held At 3 And 9 & Pushed Back & Forth

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by fishingtimoteo, Nov 24, 2025.

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  1. fishingtimoteo

    fishingtimoteo Junior Member

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    Hello,

    Any experts that could tell me how to troubleshoot this? My 07 Prius has developed a little wiggle/teeter in the steering wheel (No turning of the steering wheel is involved). It doesn't matter if the car is off or on, driving or parked, when I hold the steering wheel at 3 and 9, and then push and pull, there is some movement/play. Is this a problem with the steering column?

    Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
     
    #1 fishingtimoteo, Nov 24, 2025
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I doubt it, but to be sure grab your front wheels and see if there's any play in them when car is off and trying to term them left and right... Also look for uneven tire wear. That's the other end of your steering rack and that's where the concerns will most likely be.

    But please clarify what you mean by "some play" in terms of measuring the amount of movement? Are you talking1/32nd of inch or more than that?
     
    #2 PriusCamper, Nov 24, 2025
  3. fishingtimoteo

    fishingtimoteo Junior Member

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    Thanks for your reply. I just tested with the car off while in the garage. When I push (not turn) the steering wheel back and forth at 3 & 9, there is close to I would say 1/8 inch of play. and a small clunk noise at both sides (3 & 9). when driving, the car drives smoothly without any vibrations or noises when turning. It almost feels like upper part of the steering column is loose or something.
     
    #3 fishingtimoteo, Nov 24, 2025
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It's probably just the nut that's holding the steering wheel to the steering column, needs to be torqued down.
     
    #4 JC91006, Nov 24, 2025
  5. fishingtimoteo

    fishingtimoteo Junior Member

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    Thanks, do you happen to know how long of a job that would be? I'm sure I will get around to checking that, its just bad timing with the holidays coming.
     
    #5 fishingtimoteo, Nov 24, 2025
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    it takes 5 minutes or less to tighten a nut....if that's the problem.
     
    #6 JC91006, Nov 24, 2025
  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Go to another vehicle and take the assist system out of another car I can send pics thres a few things that could wear. Once on floor there's a bit to look over. You're talking about pulling up on the steering wheel and door pushing down not turning on its intended path .?
     
    #7 Tombukt2, Nov 25, 2025
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    This nut, however, is behind the airbag that you must remove first, and that's after disconnecting the 12-volt battery in the back of the car and waiting 90 seconds for airbag backup power to drain before messing with the airbag.

    And you may then find that the nut is nice and secure and the play is in something else, like a worn bearing near the top of the column. But that's ok, this is probably the procedure you'd have to use to find that out anyway.

    By the way, for your 1/8 inch or so of play to be coming from the nut, the nut'll have to be pretty obviously loose, like daylight visible between the nut flange and the wheel and that daylight moving around as you wiggle the wheel.

    If you get there and the nut is sitting there tight and snug, don't just grab a bigger wrench and crank on it harder hoping that might be the problem. Look elsewhere nearby for the play.
     
    #8 ChapmanF, Nov 25, 2025
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2025
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  9. fishingtimoteo

    fishingtimoteo Junior Member

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    SOLVED!

    Turned out to be a pretty quirky thing; I took off the wheel cover, airbag and made sure the nut was torqued to specs...no problem there. Then, with the cover and airbag off, I started to get more curious so I crawled upside down by the pedals of the car where I could get a better look of the steering column up above and how it was attached (Of course, I had a bright flashlight for this). I was able to inspect the U-joint and everything was good there, but I did notice how the steering wheel adjustment mechanism was attached to the steering column further up. I saw where it was connected and the bolts & nuts involved, but to access them I had to pull back the front trim on the left side of the steering wheel, next to the vent. I also removed the trim over the vent. There was one small nut I had to take off (I believe it was a 10mm) to remove a type of shared washer from it and the tightening nut; this was done with a ratchet and short socket. Then, with the right length socket (14mm) and small breaker bar, I was able to get over the tightening nut, and with the shared washer out of the way, I was able to really tighten it and that's what did the trick; With every couple of turns on the nut, I could feel the steering wheel wiggle less and less until it had no play and was firm; I buttoned it all back up and no wiggle. It also really tightened the steering wheel adjustment release lever and locks in much tighter now.

    Thanks all for giving me some ideas and motivation to go toy with and figure it out!
     
    #9 fishingtimoteo, Dec 4, 2025 at 10:56 PM
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