Avensis Steering 'screech'

[Big Nose]

Hi y'all,

I've just bought my first Toyota, a 53-plate T4 D-4D and am very pleased with the car but for a few little problems which may need to be sorted by Warranty Direct.

As an Avensis virgin, could any of you fine chaps please advise on the following:

1, The steering makes a terrible screeching noise between half and full lock first thing on a morning as I'm reversing off the drive. The noise goes when the car has warmed up, except on full lock. Need I be worried?

2, There's a rubbing noise in the steering column. I know there are other posts about the problem on here but most of these seem to apply to the old shape Avensis. Any thoughts?

3, The wheel hubs and brake calipers are rusting and look terrible. I know it's only a cosmetic problem but it spoils the look of the car, which on 17" 10-spoke alloys looks great otherwise. Would it be ok to touch them up with Hammerite.

4, The clutch is heavy. Is this a characteristic of the car and can anything be done to make it lighter?

I purchased the car from a dealer in the south and as I'm in deepest darkest Yorkshire waived the standard 3-month warranty and took out a a 12-month gold warranty with Warranty Direct. For the first 90 days I can't claim for anything caused by wear and tear - would the steering problems and heavy clutch be deemed a wear and tear problem on a 3-year old car with 47,000 miles on the clock?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Steve84]

Lets start with clutch yes d4d clutch are heavy so no worries there. The steering column noise i would say is the airbag coil i had it on a old 216 and my dad has on both avensis' also mine makes a slight rubbin noise. Mine being electronic power steering and yours hydrolic i'd guess at airbag coil. The steering noise on full lock only thing i've found drivin avensis's like yours is the power steering pump can be a bit noisey. The hub and that rusting i'd say its common has when removing alloy wheels its not uncommon for the wheels to be stuck on due to rust. Has for wear and tare items the clutch is but at 47k i've yet to see a toyota that needed a new clutch much before 100k.

Hope this helps you i'm not a tech but work in the trade and we deal a lot in toyotas where i work, i'm sure some tech's could help you more but i would not be worried by the minor probs you've reported.

[shroud]

Lets start with clutch yes d4d clutch are heavy so no worries there. The steering column noise i would say is the airbag coil i had it on a old 216 and my dad has on both avensis' also mine makes a slight rubbin noise. Mine being electronic power steering and yours hydrolic i'd guess at airbag coil. The steering noise on full lock only thing i've found drivin avensis's like yours is the power steering pump can be a bit noisey. The hub and that rusting i'd say its common has when removing alloy wheels its not uncommon for the wheels to be stuck on due to rust. Has for wear and tare items the clutch is but at 47k i've yet to see a toyota that needed a new clutch much before 100k.

Hope this helps you i'm not a tech but work in the trade and we deal a lot in toyotas where i work, i'm sure some tech's could help you more but i would not be worried by the minor probs you've reported.

just on the clutch query. mine had a new one at 84k as it was reported to be 'heavy'. This is on a 2001 gs.

regards

[Rene]

Hello Big Nose,

screaming and rubbing noise sounds similiar to mine (2000 model). To my opinion this should be fixed under warranty. Don't wait until your warranty has expired (as i did).

Rene