No One at the Wheel

Wow! Concerns/predictions have come home to roost much sooner than expected!

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I hope you and any anyone else involved in the catastrophic even are not seriously injured.

Thank you for the concern. Everyone was fine, as we were able to come to a complete stop without impact. Car could only be moved forward or reverse but not turned.

This is not a steer by wire vehicle. I would look at a steering shaft universal joint, or a broken Pittman arm link from the steering gear box. But I suspect it's a universal joint that has failed.

I was looking at the same model for my wife back in that time frame, what put me off was the CVT, which I think was only offered for one model year. The dealer had the car parked on a raised platform, with a 10 inch concrete curb. I backed it up to the curb, with the wheel touching, from a stop and it would not develop torque to climb the curb. The sales guy did it by taking a run at it.

Agreed, all 'clunking' sounds and all other abnormal sounds should be thoroughly investigated as soon as possible as they are an indication that something is wrong!

DO NOT take chances!

Sometimes they may be trivial, other times not. I suggest that the clunking, probably associated with some free play in the steering wheel was an indication of a dying universal or flexible joint in the steering ...... It finally failed catastrophically. You are very fortunate that the consequences were not exceedingly dire. Consider if it had failed on a bend facing oncoming traffic or on a winding mountain road ...... nuf said!

Internet auction sites (names withheld) are great for solving problems like this. One simply lists the vehicle and in a few days, someone comes along with some money, swaps it for the vehicle, and takes the problem away.

That's OK - unless they try to drive it away .

I have a 2005 chevy malibu with the electric motor "assist". Every now and they the display shows a power steering alert and all i have to do is turn off the engine and re-start. However an no time is there a cannot steer condition, its just a heavy effort required. As noted above there is something else wrong with the mechanical system.

"There was (and has been for a long time) a clunking noise"

And, of course, your solution for the "clunking sound" was to turn the volume up on the radio?

Is the clunking sound still there?

Have it towed to a dealer! I can't believe that no one has suggested the only sane solution to this.

There is no more clunking sound. There is no more any sound. There is no feeling in the steering wheel any more. When I look at the knuckle at the firewall while turning the steering wheel I see no movement. I haven't gotten under the vehicle yet but there doesn't seem to be any interaction between the steering wheel and anything on the outside of the cabin.

It feels like the steering wheel is mounted on a nail and spinning freely.

That's all the more reason to get it to the dealer and DEMAND that they fix it free of charge.

Remind them that that will be much less expensive that the lawsuit that would have been filed the day after you got out of the hospital.

Also, go on-line and look for recall sites, or others who have had this problem.

If you have a friend who is a lawyer, have them call and ask for dealer information about the dealership. Have him tell them he needs it for the upcoming lawsuit.

A dealer? Have it towed directly to the crusher! Do everybody a favor......

I'd really like to find out what went wrong and replace/repair the part/parts that failed. The cost to replace the vehicle is out of the question without at least trying to investigate the cause and evaluating the options first.

I just don't have the disposable income to replace my car without trying to be fiscally responsible. The dealer would want about $2,000 just to get started.

I have looked at the web and not found a reason for the apparent lack of communication between the steering wheel and the front end.

Can't just junk it without more knowledge to base the decision.

It's no good looking on the internet first. You need to examine the system, see if there's anything obvious broken, and try to assess how it's meant to work. It might turn out to be something you can easily fix yourself. If not, you can give us a better of idea what the problem might be so we can try to help.

The fact that the steering failed would be enough for me, it's obviously a flawed design...you're lucky to be alive......now you want to replace the failed components and have another go at it....maybe you won't be so lucky next time.....

Another way to go would be to hire a lawyer and ask if it's worth filing a claim, maybe they would pay to have the failure located for possible litigation....You might at least end up getting it fixed at no charge....after which it's up to you what to do....

The fact that the company went out of business in 2010, does not sound promising though....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Corporation

The reason for the "lack of communication" should be obvious, even to you.

If, "When I look at the knuckle at the firewall while turning the steering wheel I see no movement" doesn't give you a clue, that's all the more reason to not attempt to fix this yourself.

Have it towed to a shop.

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"Even to you"? How kind you are. Even you should know that is tactless and uncouth.

It gives me a CLUE that it is a disconnect between the steering wheel and the rack but everyone says that that is not possible. Exactly why I came to this site see what those in the know think.

Chill. That "even to you" was not addressed to you.

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I hate myself when I come back to see if the OP has come to their senses, and they haven't.

You should have been offended by 7, where I did question your sanity, not the other remark.

You claim to have observed something with your own eyes, and yet you say, "everyone says that that is not possible".

No one can deny that you have come here with two somewhat unique automotive problems.

Have it towed to a shop. If I were you, I'd ask "A TIRE SHOP" where to take it.

I'll be in Little Rock in June. Please get it fixed before then.

LOL.

Good one Lyn, keep it up!!!

Of course it is possible, as you may have noticed!

It comes after ignoring obvious danger sounds when driving......the warning was there......you simply ignored it......so don't get unfriendly to ANY of us, you have not earned the right!!

It would have served you right if the steering had failed and you were in a freeway curve at 60MPH or more.....hopefully with no one else in your car and no other cars in your path of destruction..........be happy that you are still alive.......and able to even write " tactless and uncouth."

Be happy and stay friendly to ALL of us....no matter what. We HAVE ALL earned it!!

Thanks in advance.

Just so's you know, further unmannerly comments from you will result in several of us here complaining to Admin.

What Admin does then is their business of course....

I hope that admin does indeed read and control your behavior. To even hint that anyone should be killed or injured in an accident is immature and rude.

My response to the "Even you" comment was not incorrect.

I thank all of those who have helped, or tried to, but do not care for those who think this is a forum for their attempt at comedy.

I could almost find you attitude comical, if it was not over such a serious subject!!!

You should re-read and try to understand all your recent comments better and also, not to change/take out of context what I (or anyone here ) writes....it does not show you in a good light at all. But we all know that already, except you it would appear!! You may then better understand why you are not liked by many here.

I actually wrote the following which you took exception too, it would have appeared to have hit a nerve with you, but it does not say quite what you think it does:-

It would have served you right if the steering had failed and you were in a freeway curve at 60MPH or more.....hopefully with no one else in your car and no other cars in your path of destruction..........be happy that you are still alive.......and able to even write " tactless and uncouth."

You wrote in reply to that:-

To even hint that anyone should be killed or injured in an accident is immature and rude.

To you maybe, but it is true of your immaturity that you ignored all the warning signs and simply drove and drove till it could not be controlled properly anymore, now that is a sign of REAL stupidity, rudeness AND immaturity!!!

If I had been driven off the road by your wreck of a car, or any of my family had been injured or killed by it, I would be more than just slightly upset!!!! ANYONE ELSE HERE WOULD BE JUST THAT TOO!!!!!

THAT IS NORMAL!!!

In fact, "stupidity AND immaturity" does not get anywhere near what you are.....and I would go as far as to say, few here think otherwise!!!!

Try asking them to tell you what they think of you, your safety skills and your broken down car!!!

Shall we rune a vote????

There are plenty of CR4 people here already upset at your your lack of knowledge, lack of safety consciousness and attitude.......but they do not always write here in the blog directly (though some have already as you know), they simply talk/write to each other via CR4 email......

Have a great day anyway.....though I am not certain that any of us here can really "HELP" you......we do try though for everyone. We simply do our best for almost anyone!

Also, please try and be thankful for such help......and be friendly back!!! You want something from us, not the other way around!! Remember?

By the way, in the UK or any other European country (I would expect in the USA too), brakes, steering, lighting, tyres and several other points of vehicle safety, are checked at set intervals to try and weed out such deathtraps as you appear to drive.

I would not dare to say with 100% accuracy, but close to as possible,in fact a recent study reported that only 2% of US & UK accidents were solely due to a failure in the car itself, as against:-

A 1985 report based on British and American crash data found driver error, intoxication and other human factors contribute wholly or partly to about 93% of crashes.

See here for example:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_collision

With either the German TÜV and the UK MOT, I personally have never heard of such a problem getting past the testers myself, they are really good...was your car tested by such an authority? Or had it run out?

Or was it someone, somewhere, in a far off Galaxy maybe............

GA

Really excellent comments and super help for the OP, really nothing more is needed to my mind. Get the tools out and using your comments, find and replace the broken parts.....

But will the OP understand your excellent comments and make full use of them?

It would not surprise me if he still has questions......

It is really not that hard. One person to rotate the steering wheel, and one to watch the connection at the R&P.

You are right, no argument from me, but the OP has not demonstrated much "know-how" or understanding of the danger he was/is in!!!

Let us see what happens here....

As in "You can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink."

Or, you can give advice to an Arkie, but you can't make him think.

_{Ok, OK, for the record, I'm from Arkansas.}

Hmm... in the same way that enzymes are so much less noisy than hormones.

Oh, now you are just beating a dead whore.

In Minnesota, they used to tell Norwegian jokes:

My Dad liked to say, "You can always tell a Norwegian, but you can't tell him much."

One of my favourite sayings for CR4 people.......IT FITS!!!

I wonder if he will come back anymore, he seems to have gone VERY quiet (but I have not looked at all of the postings today, so wait up!)

I also like the tech support one:- "P.L.B.K.A.C."

Or in this case "P.L.B.S.A.S."........

'....The dealer would want about $2,000 just to get started.....'

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It sounds like you are operating on an assumption...one that is not favorable to you. The dealer may indeed be willing to do a lot to remedy your problem, but not if you decide that it isn't reasonable to ask.

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The thing is, this is one of those inquiries for which the way you ask probably has a significant impact on the answer you receive. Presenting the problem during a very busy sales time, and effectively communicating that this problem that threatened you and your loved ones is so unacceptable that nothing short of fully remedying the problem will allow you to cease being so effusive about the problem. Don't yell, or threaten, or given sign of being emotionally distraught. Just let them know that you will persistently pursue an acceptable remedy with every legal means at your disposal.

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It doesn't really cost you much, while not trying costs you the chance of any benefit.

Let's not get carried away! It might not be the dealer's problem or a design/manufacturing fault. OP has admitted he heard clunking noises for a while before failure. He should have checked it then, but if he does that now it may be simple enough to fix. Of course if he's not reasonably competent at DIY mechanics it should go to a repair shop.

My bad. I forgot that design flaws only result in inhibition of safety critical systems that do not give warning noises prior to failure.

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Remember the OP also admitted this is a Saturn, a brand that even GM didn't see sufficient value in to keep it alive.

The steering column has failed somewhere, or the connecting shaft that joins it to the rack and pinion. Find a competent repair facility, and get a price quote to replace the steering column with a used one.The job is not difficult, but MUST be performed correctly to prevent the same thing from happening again.

You wrote:-

Anything would be appreciated.

Well that "anything" was your life, or that of your family or other road users!!!

It sounds like you live in India or darkest Africa as only there must cars not be tested regularly.....IS THAT TRUE?

How can ANYONE drive a car with noises from the steering?????

It reminds me of an old Germany saying:-

" He saves money no matter what it costs!"

Steering is overrated.

Most vehicles have a collapsible link between the steering shaft and the rack-and-pinion gearbox.

It is the weak point in the system and I would check to see if it has sheared loose from the shaft due to the excessive force caused by the failure.

This is a high critical safety device and I would replace it with a new unit if it has failed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/02-07-Saturn-Vue-Electronic-Power-Steering-Pump-Motor-Assembly-Column-Shaft-OEM-/231144155028
If you are a do it yourselfer, Replacing this is time consuming but doable. You will need to dismantle a small portion of the dash to get to the steering column. Not impossible but certainly an experience. The price for these units are reasonable when used. About $ 150 on e-bay. A good local Junk Yard will have the part and is a great place to get the experience learning how to dismantle the dash and remove and reinstall the item. They are very helpful and will most like assist you with getting the item you need. When tight on cash this is a good alternative. Always check and recheck your work! Your life depends on it. Best Luck!

The first to express it, maybe.

If you pull the steering wheel, can you take it in your hands? Seeing it on a movie looks funny, but since that exact thing happened to me long time ago, while driving a military crane (M543) half-loaded with it's twin brother, I know no fun is involved, but I simply can't believe you had no symptoms before the final steering collapse. In my case I felt the wheel backlash increasing rapidly, so I had a few seconds to slow down that piece of garbage, and of course due to loading, my speed was relatively low. It turned that the three bolts holding the king "pin" to steering bar snapped while the front axle had too little weight loading, practically hanging most of the way. I remember I could lift the front wheels on the air just using gas pedal (LOL) Anyway I think your case is a very serious issue, some unacceptable design problem, and the manufacturer must be informed immediately. S.M.

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