Anybody have the Steering Squeak return after Magic Elixir fix?
#1
Anybody have the Steering Squeak return after Magic Elixir fix?
I bought two bottles a couple of years ago because the 03 squeaked and I figured the 05 would start eventually. Treated the 03 and all was well.
This week, however, it returned with a vengeance. In clear contradistinction to the TSB....I treated it again last night. But yes, I laboriously flushed the system first....Drain reservoir, top up, fire-up, steer like mad for some time. Repeat. Until I had collected 2 1/2 qts (nominal 2something qts system) of fluid and it was coming clean, clear and red.
We'll see if it abates.
This week, however, it returned with a vengeance. In clear contradistinction to the TSB....I treated it again last night. But yes, I laboriously flushed the system first....Drain reservoir, top up, fire-up, steer like mad for some time. Repeat. Until I had collected 2 1/2 qts (nominal 2something qts system) of fluid and it was coming clean, clear and red.
We'll see if it abates.
#2
Zane,
You may be the first to report the return of the squeak after successfully using the additive. Used it on our 2005 S-Type in March 2010, and it remains silent as a tomb....
I'm not surprised that the noise can return, however. We all have to keep in mind that as our S-Types continue to age, we'll be dealing with unwanted noises more frequently than we'd care to. Alas, the consequences of getting old, both mechanical and human....
Keep us posted if your second dose indeed keeps the squeak away for awhile....
You may be the first to report the return of the squeak after successfully using the additive. Used it on our 2005 S-Type in March 2010, and it remains silent as a tomb....
I'm not surprised that the noise can return, however. We all have to keep in mind that as our S-Types continue to age, we'll be dealing with unwanted noises more frequently than we'd care to. Alas, the consequences of getting old, both mechanical and human....
Keep us posted if your second dose indeed keeps the squeak away for awhile....
#3
I'm interested what happens. I've read that the additive chemically reacts with the seal(s) in which case reapplication wouldn't be any use. But I don't know that what I read is correct!
There is a known but very very rare squeak that actually isn't the steering rack. Instead, it's a bush somewhere (I'm a little unsure exactly where but involved in the column I recall).
hmm, may be JTB00034v3 which is
There is a known but very very rare squeak that actually isn't the steering rack. Instead, it's a bush somewhere (I'm a little unsure exactly where but involved in the column I recall).
hmm, may be JTB00034v3 which is
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aholbro1 (08-01-2013)
#4
I don't remember from before (and recent computer crash with total loss of data means I don't know when I first accomplished the TSB - but think it was sometime in 2010)...but on return, it is only noisy when turning right. Doesn't matter if from center, or from full left or near full right...leftward movement of wheel is smooth/silent while any rightward movement is squeaky with some vibes/tactile feedback in the wheel.
[Edit] Aha!....remembered I had actually backed up Outlook files recently pre-crash and that I used to keep maint. records as "tasks" - so it was 5/9/2010 at 81,112 mi. Now at 116,750.
[Edit] Aha!....remembered I had actually backed up Outlook files recently pre-crash and that I used to keep maint. records as "tasks" - so it was 5/9/2010 at 81,112 mi. Now at 116,750.
Last edited by aholbro1; 08-01-2013 at 11:48 AM.
#5
UPDATE!
One day later and about 75 mi or so, I asked my daughter if the noise was still there?
"I didn't notice....I don't think so...." but then I had occasion to go out and reposition the car....seemed nearly as bad to me as the night before...before I renewed the fluid and added elixir. Remember, it was only noisy on right turns...and I did notice that the first time the wheel was yanked to the right, it was just as loud, but subsequent yanks were quieter, though not silent. Leaving it alone for a few minutes was like a reset....another loud first pull to right then quieter ones thereafter.
The following day she took it back to school and I lost valid data acquisition. Last weekend, we went over for the "White Coat Ceremony" and although I didn't drive the car, I did log a bit of time being chaufferred about in the back seat and was also out and about in front of it whilst wife and/or daughter was turning right into her driveway...and no noise! So I guess the magic elixir will work more than once...but for how long, remains to be seen.
One day later and about 75 mi or so, I asked my daughter if the noise was still there?
"I didn't notice....I don't think so...." but then I had occasion to go out and reposition the car....seemed nearly as bad to me as the night before...before I renewed the fluid and added elixir. Remember, it was only noisy on right turns...and I did notice that the first time the wheel was yanked to the right, it was just as loud, but subsequent yanks were quieter, though not silent. Leaving it alone for a few minutes was like a reset....another loud first pull to right then quieter ones thereafter.
The following day she took it back to school and I lost valid data acquisition. Last weekend, we went over for the "White Coat Ceremony" and although I didn't drive the car, I did log a bit of time being chaufferred about in the back seat and was also out and about in front of it whilst wife and/or daughter was turning right into her driveway...and no noise! So I guess the magic elixir will work more than once...but for how long, remains to be seen.
#6
Update II
Daughter was home this week for Spring Break. I drove the car up to the shop to check fluids/pressures etc. (and forgot to renew the wiper blades! - ah well, they should last 2 wks til she's home from end of semester) Anyway, from moving it around the house and such, I can confirm the steering mechanism is still smooth & silent, now at 123K mi. So in Mythbuster's lingo, I'm going with "Plausible" that the "Magic Elixir" works on second application.
I won't move to "Confirmed" until about Christmas, 2016 if it is still silent then - that'll be a little over 3 yrs, which is how long the original application lasted.
I won't move to "Confirmed" until about Christmas, 2016 if it is still silent then - that'll be a little over 3 yrs, which is how long the original application lasted.
#7
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#8
Working under the assumption that Murphy's law rules the day I'd like to know if the "Magic Elixir" is even available at this point?
The stuff for the tranny chirp I could not find so I figure this is probably now unobtanium?
Thks.
The stuff for the tranny chirp I could not find so I figure this is probably now unobtanium?
Thks.
Daughter was home this week for Spring Break. I drove the car up to the shop to check fluids/pressures etc. (and forgot to renew the wiper blades! - ah well, they should last 2 wks til she's home from end of semester) Anyway, from moving it around the house and such, I can confirm the steering mechanism is still smooth & silent, now at 123K mi. So in Mythbuster's lingo, I'm going with "Plausible" that the "Magic Elixir" works on second application.
I won't move to "Confirmed" until about Christmas, 2016 if it is still silent then - that'll be a little over 3 yrs, which is how long the original application lasted.
I won't move to "Confirmed" until about Christmas, 2016 if it is still silent then - that'll be a little over 3 yrs, which is how long the original application lasted.
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#15
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pawleys Island, SC USA (formerly from Tabernacle, NJ USA)
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Yes, still available here in south NJ
The bottle is translucent, and I noticed that it appeared to have some "solids" floating in the liquid. I shook the container well before installing, but observed that shaking did not dissolve the solids. I'm sure this is why the TSB says to remove the filter screen (certain MYs) before pouring this stuff in.
I'm no scientist, but I'm certain those solids - and not the liquid, which is the consistency of mineral oil - are the key component to this fix. The solids may be designed to dissolve and bond to the squeaking seal only when your PS fluid is at/near 100 degrees C. This would explain why the TSB is really emphatic about getting the fluid to that temp BEFORE doing the 2 second wheel turns into lock for 8 reps right, then 8 reps left at 900-1000 rpm.
I used my cooking thermometer probe dipped midway into the reservoir to ensure I reached the 100 degrees; took about 15 minutes at 3K rpms (the starting temp of the fluid at idle was ~70 degrees C).
If you did not follow the TSB exactly, you might not get the full benefit of the elixir (I drove it for a week before doing that final step. In that week the squeak dissipated somewhat but didn't go away, nor did it eliminate the wheel shudder).
It was only after I did that final step, following the TSB to the letter regarding the proper fluid temp and wheel turns, that the squeak went away. Now my wheel is quiet and smooth.
BTW - the Jag parts guy also knew the IMT o-ring part# by heart as well. Bought them while I was there. I forget the exact price but they were equally inexpensive.
Last edited by Jumpin' Jag Flash; 04-28-2014 at 03:36 PM. Reason: Edited for clarity
#16
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I'm no scientist, but I'm certain those solids - and not the liquid, which is the consistency of mineral oil - are the key component to this fix. The solids may be designed to dissolve and bond to the squeaking seal only when your PS fluid is at/near 100 degrees C. This would explain why the TSB is really emphatic about getting the fluid to that temp BEFORE doing the 2 second wheel turns into lock for 8 reps right, then 8 reps left at 900-1000 rpm.
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Jumpin' Jag Flash (04-28-2014)
#17
I've a similarly good guy near me, who assured me they never replace the gasket on the SC bleed port - and it's because they found it doesn't need bleeding from it so they don't open it.
#18
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Me too.
Here's a pic showing the rig I used to monitor PS fluid temp while I kept my foot on the go-pedal to maintain the desired RPMs. It has a magnet on back, so I stuck it to my open bonnet facing me as I sat at the wheel. The cardboard disk covered the filler neck to keep out debris and it also allowed me to adjust how far into the reservoir the probe sat. Worked like a charm. Just don't tell my wife this is the same thermometer we use to cook our turkeys during holidays.
#19
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The present version of the transmission fluid already has the magic additive blended in. No need to add more.
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Jumpin' Jag Flash (04-28-2014)