what the???

I just bought a 1998 tacoma, was definitely playes rough in but anyway..the steering wheel felt weird and tonight when I went to leave work it just started spinning. I got under the truck and sometimes the rack going to the axle would move but my tires wouldnt turn enough to drive it, could it be the steering wheel?

 

Hi, first off welcome to TW! Congrats on your purchase, but it sucks you're having an issue already. I was a mechanic for ten years so I'll try and help. You're problem is a little difficult to diagnose without more info, but let's get started. If I read the complaint correctly it sounds like you can turn the steering wheel but get little to no feedback at the wheels correct? First, is there fluid in the power steering (P/S) reservoir? Does the vehicle make any loud or strange noises when attempting to turn? Does the steering wheel turn very easy, and spin more than 2 1/2 turns in either direction? Do you know if the truck has been in a frontal collision? If I understand your post right you say you get slight movement from the steering at the steering rack correct? If so I severely doubt its the steering wheel or column itself. A quick check you can do yourself is to look under the hood at the intermediate steering shaft.. It will be located on the driver side of your truck between the engine exhaust header and the inner wheel well.. You'll see a long straight rod leading through the firewall to the steering rack. Verify it is connected and the bolts holding it are secure.. There is one on each end. I can send a photo tomorrow if needed. Anyways answer these questions and we can go from there, and please don't take offense to any of them, they're all standard in a diagnostic flow. I'll look for your response and am glad to help.

 

Thank you do much! Definitely appreciative of your time and to answer your questions: that is correct, I honestly don't know as it was dark when this happened but will check today, it squeaks or squeals kind of whiney sound, yes the steering will just continuously spins in either direction and when i took it off it seems like something is stripped, no and i got under the truck to see if the rod was moving and there was slight movement but again it was dark and the truck was parked right against a tree branch so I couldnt see under the hood very well also due yo yhe fact that the hood doesnt have a working mechanism to stay up and I was alone so noone could move one thing while I looked.

 

Lol ..OK.. Well see what you can find out here .. Does your vehicle have an airbag in the steering wheel? Are you saying you took the steering wheel off? The is the silliness holding the steering wheel on are very slim, usually it happens at the other end. Try and get the hood open and get to that intermediate shaft. Let me know when can .

 

No there is airbag, the steering wheel felt loose & I will at some point today and get back to you..thank you

 

And you took the steering wheel off??

 

Yes, its just a simple racing steering wheel.

 

Hmmm.. Guess it could be the top end of the steering column.. Hard to say without seeing it.. Have you had someone look at it?

 

Any way to get photos of the setup?