Honda Jazz - Notchy Steering

[guest7100]

Good Morning all

I just purchased a 2005 Honda Jazz 1.4 SE with 67000 miles. In excellent condition. I have a question regarding the steering. It seems to feel very Notchy and would like to have this sorted ASAP. May I ask what the cheapest cure will be for this problem?

Many thanks

Ingelsman

[olduser1]

If purchased from dealer/garage return the car for repair or refund, you have 30 days to return under the laytest UK legislation.

[culzean]

If you bought from a dealer put complaints to dealer in writing,  either letter or email as soon as you can - don't rely on phone calls or verbal complaints as they will just fob you off until your buyers rights have expired - a paper trail is invaluable when it comes to later action to prove that you did in fact complain within the period. 

In the words of the immortal - 'a verbal complaint is not worth the paper it is written on.

Buying from a dealer gives you maximum rights,  buying privately it is a case of 'sold as seen' - you really have no rights............. (you can go to court but it can be costly).

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-3656701/What-consumer-rights-buy-used-car-goes-wrong.html

[Jocko]

I think Ingelsman actually wants to know what is causing it and what to do about it.
Welcome Ingelsman.
There was another post, recently, concerning vague steering, but I am blowed if I can find it. Get the alignment checked and check for worn ball joints on the steering linkage. Both these could affect it. And check your tyre pressures.
If the person who started the first thread reads this, please respond.

[Jocko]

This is the thread I was looking for.
https://clubjazz.org/forum/index.php?topic=9363.msg50504#msg50504

[sparky Paul]

Yes, that was me.

I bought this Jazz with badly scrubbed front tyres. There was lots of paperwork with it with recent bills for tyres and tracking alignment. The steering had the common notchy feel, and reluctance to centre.

The tracking was a mile out. A new pair of tyres and fixing the tracking has improved the car no end. It's still not what I would call perfect, and it still feels a bit dead around straight ahead, but it centres better and feels more 'normal'. It is something I will be taking a closer look at, at some point.

If you read other threads about this, the only satisfactory cure currently seems to be a replacement rack.

[MikeG1944]

Paul, If your talking about having to constantly alter the steering wheel a little when driving straight, that's what they are like. It's due to the electric power steering; however you soon get used to it; you know it''s there but you tend to ignore it and accept it. I would say personally this is the only beef with these cars, the rest is pretty near perfect.

Mike.

[sparky Paul]

I'm sure they were not like that from new. There are quite a few threads complaining of this fault on here, and those that have had new racks fitted under warranty have had the issue completely resolved. I also gather that the mk.2 doesn't suffer from this issue.

I've driven a few cars with electric power steering, some have that lack of road feel, but some feel perfectly normal. None have had that really notchy, sticky feel that the Jazz had when we acquired it, almost a 'rubbery' resistance to turning the wheel, and of course the reluctance to centre. As I say, it's tolerable now, but far from 100%.

That's the best description I can come up with, it feels like the steering column shaft is turning inside a rubber bush.

I agree about the rest of the car,  damn near perfect for a small car.

[MikeG1944]

Mine's not that bad Paul; it's just not like other cars with hydraulic power steering; I'd certainly complain if it felt rubbery, or like driving a boat!

Mike.