iowaboy77 Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Just got the car back from the dealer today with my new warranty replaced steering wheel- Still in the plastic wrap on the car. Guess what? Its crooked!! It looks like I'm taking a left turn while I'm going straight. Maybe 3 inches off of straight. I went back in to draw it to their attention, and they say it only goes on one way. Anyone have any suggestions? This is the same dealer who is replacing my windshield due to bubbling in the safety layer... this windshield has the sensor for the auto wipers... wonder if I should be worried. I'd hate to get a crooked windshield. At least its all under warranty. Any suggestions anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Its crooked!! It looks like I'm taking a left turn while I'm going straight. Maybe 3 inches off of straight. I went back in to draw it to their attention, and they say it only goes on one way. Anyone have any suggestions? That's stupid. I can't believe they told you that. The old wheel was on straight, make them fix the new wheel. Do they expect you to think that crooked is correct? Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iowaboy77 Posted December 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 they agreed to "take another look at it" when they replace the windshield, but say "it only goes on one way" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pats37 Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Dumbest thing I ever heard. Sounds a lot like my local dealer. Maybe they are trying to shake you down for a wheel alignment ($69.95) I would not have accepted the vehicle. Just told them to put it on right. One of the reasons why I use independent mechanics. Caddy division needs to pay more attention to these guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pats37 Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 If it only goes on one way, why was it straight when you brought it in? Ask to speak to the owner after you tell them that you view Caddy sites on the internet. They are FOS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByStorm Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 I would demand that they fix it right no matter what they say. I would also get the name of the mechanic that said "it only goes on one way" and also speek to the manager. You have to take control of the situation in a mature non confrontational manner. Don't let them screw you. ByStorm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 I agree with Storm. Do you best to remain calm. Threatening them won't solve anything...even though you'll feel a heck of a lot better after ripping into them. If they refuse to resolve the issue, which I doubt, try calling Cadillac's customer hotline #'s in the back of your owner's manual. Lots of Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasher Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Every time my dealer (a good one) does warranty work, the very next day I get a letter telling me that GM will be contacting me to see if the work was performed to my satisfaction. They always something like, "Remember, 'absolutely satisfied' is the only acceptable reply. 'satisfied' will not make it. If you are not absolutely satisfied, please let us know immediately. Doesn't GM have the same policy with Iowa dealers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OynxSTS Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Remember, 'absolutely satisfied' is the only acceptable reply. 'satisfied' will not make it. If you are not absolutely satisfied, please let us know immediately. Doesn't GM have the same policy with Iowa dealers? My dealer in British Columbia does this too... Still took him 3 days to fix my trunk leak though... I went from unsatisfied to somewhat unsatisfied to totally satisfied...I never quite made it to absolutely satisfied… Take it back and have them fix it... Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac, I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back ZZTOP, I'm Bad I'm Nationwide Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iowaboy77 Posted December 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 In their defense, I did speak with the owner and he quickly confirmed that they would take another look at it. His comment, "it only goes on one way" may indeed be correct and this replacement part, even though new, may have been stamped differently than the original. If that's the case it may need to be retooled, which wouldn't take much for a dealer with some ambition. Does anyone know how it actually is attached? Everyone has heard the rumors that "new" replacement parts are actually the ones that were set aside during assembly of the vehicle for one reason or another. I wonder if there is any truth to that. I'm still approaching the replacement of my windshield with a little concern, but I'm confident they can get it right... eventually if need be. Just a little frustrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pats37 Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 iowa, I wouldn't have that level of comfort. Your radio antenna is also in that windshield. If they can't put a steering wheel on right what gives you confidence they can put a windshield on right. Pray that they subcontract that to someone who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 His comment, "it only goes on one way" may indeed be correct and this replacement part, even though new, may have been stamped differently than the original. If that's the case it may need to be retooled, which wouldn't take much for a dealer with some ambition. Does anyone know how it actually is attached? Every steering wheel I've seen was pressed onto a splined shaft. Imagine if that shaft had only one spline...a keyway basically. There would be only one way to put it on. If it had two splines, there would be two ways -- right side up or upside down. Etc, etc, etc. Now, I've never actually COUNTED the splines, but every steering column shaft I've seen has at least 15-20 splines...much like the end of an axle or CV shaft if you've ever seen that...which would mean there's at least 15-20 "ways" to put on a steering wheel. I had a GM dealer do a front wheel alignment on my '84 Cutlass. I got the car back and the wheel was about 30* to the left. Huh? I took it back and they fixed it, but it's beyond me how they actually park the car thinking they did the job right when something is so obviously wrong like that. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjtjwdad Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 I may be wrong, but I thought this issue came up several months back. Someone replied I think was the caddy master himself that the steering wheels are slightly off center as opposed to being perfectly aligned. On my Seville, the steering wheel is very slightly off center but I don't recall which way, and the alignment is good. I don't believe it is 3" off though but I'll check when I get off work this evening. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OynxSTS Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Now, I've never actually COUNTED the splines, but every steering column shaft I've seen has at least 15-20 splines...much like the end of an axle or CV shaft if you've ever seen that...which would mean there's at least 15-20 "ways" to put on a steering wheel. I had a GM dealer do a front wheel alignment on my '84 Cutlass. I got the car back and the wheel was about 30* to the left. Huh? I took it back and they fixed it, but it's beyond me how they actually park the car thinking they did the job right when something is so obviously wrong like that. While I've never pulled a Cadillac steering wheel I have pulled lots of Chevy’s and Olds wheels... The do have lots of splines but on every wheel I have seen there is one spine that is double wide on the steering column shaft and one “tooth” should be missing on the wheel. These two corresponding “keys” line up the wheels into the right orientation. Also the spines are not all that “big” (maybe 1/16”) and the metal on all steering wheels is usually quite soft… Or in other words it is really easy to “force” a wheel on with the wrong orientation… I done it once myself… Honestly, this is a fairly basic error... I'm surprised the dealer isn't making it right! Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac, I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back ZZTOP, I'm Bad I'm Nationwide Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 .... I'm still approaching the replacement of my windshield with a little concern, but I'm confident they can get it right... eventually if need be. Just a little frustrated. My local dealer's body shop will contract glass work to an outside glass specialist. If your dealer does the same, be 100% certain the body shop specifies the proper adhesive for your rain sensor. Not all "specialists" are created equal. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill A Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 I looked at diagrams of the shaft in my 96 factory service manual and a number of splines are pictured. Could have changed on later models. No mention of a main or special spline in installation text. Did you have dealer in Iowa City do the work? I know you spoke highly of them before. Sounds like the wheel may be defective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Single keyway or not, a steering wheel should NOT be "off". After 140k miles, the wheel on our Seville runs dead-center. After only 40k miles, the wheel on our Dodge runs dead-center. Whatever got screwed up (installation error, bad part), it's on the dealer to make it right for ya. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjtjwdad Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Checked the steering wheel alignment and in a flat parking lot it is very slightly off from dead center, roughly 1" from the top of the steering wheel (the wood part) CW. It was checked driving roughly 10 mph. Driving on the road it's pretty much straight up, sometimes slightly CCW depending on the road. How about some of you folks that have the Helm manuals for these cars. Does the steering wheel go on there anyway or one way only? I've only changed a couple over the years and both oh them 82 Ford Fairmont and 70 Trans AM and they only went on one way. Another influence on crooked steering wheels I have seen has occured when the front end is aligned. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDWRIOR Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 All, I have never personally removed/reinstalled a steering wheel on any Cadillac model, but I have done this sort of thing routinely on other late-model GM vehicles. Based on my experience, it seems that the steering wheels of all GM vehicles (since the mid-'90s, at least) do have a dedicated keyway spline, which is slightly larger than all of the other splines, and which effectively prevents installing the wheel in any position except the "right" one. This spline is usually positioned in the "12 o'clock" position on the wheel, and marked with an arrow on the inner-splined hub of the wheel. So, the dealer's comment regarding the wheel "going on only one way" is correct. But since "iowaboy77" noticed a before/after difference, something must be wrong. Theoretically, someone could have forced the new wheel on improperly, but this would be very difficult. It seems most likely that the replacement wheel is out-of tolerance, or that the "tolerance stack-up" of the existing vehicle and the new wheel made for a noticeable steering wheel angle problem. In my opinion, the most logical solution is to attempt to replace the wheel again with another new sample. It may also be helpful to compare the old, "good" wheel to the "bad" new one, just to see if there is an obvious alignment problem between the splined hub and the outer hand-grip rim. If replacing the steering wheel does not eliminate the problem, then a front end alignment should be able to correct the problem. Trying to modify the wheel hub and/or the splined shaft on the steering column in order to adjust the wheel angle would NOT be practical, and, indeed, could be dangerous; disturbing these carefully machined surfaces could compromise the integrity of the joint and affect steering. What bothers me most about this situation is the dealer's (apparent) response to the problem. I can understand how the wheel was simply replaced by the dealer without the expectation of an alignment problem. So, the dealer could have made no mistakes in the process and still not noticed the alignment problem, unless it was really obvious. But, the impression given by "iowaboy77" is that when he noticed the problem and contacted the dealer, their first answer was to basically deny responsibility. This sort of thing does nothing to help GM's reputation with consumers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fubar0715 Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Hey Dasher, Perhaps the dealers in IOWA really take that rumor that IOWA is a acronym not a name....Rumor is IOWA stands for Idiots Out Walking Around! They sure seem to fit the stereotype!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 I've only changed a couple over the years and both oh them 82 Ford Fairmont and 70 Trans AM and they only went on one way. I've only changed a few as well. Swapped to a T-type wheel on my old '87 Buick Regal and removed/reinstalled the wheel on my '95 Nissan truck. Both had splined shafts with no dedicated keyway. The wheel could be installed in any orientation. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
an01sts Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 I have only done 3 steering wheels and they were on older cars. There was no dedicated key. You don't need to see an illustration in a factory service manual. Just read between the lines when reading r & i, steering wheel. If it tells you to clock the wheels before removing the steering wheel, it isn't keyed, and if it's keyed the book will say align with keyway. Oynx: Honest mistake? Leaving lug nuts loose can be called an honest mistake. Certainly, you would hope that the technician didn't intentionally leave the lug nuts loose. (You see, I was a tech, so I look at it from the tech's perspective: Such a mistake is a sign of shoddy work and/or shoddy management, whereby the manager tells the tech tough luck when problems are brought to managment's attention. All steering brake should be tested. I garuntee that the factory book says "road test vehicle." When you dive Cadillacs by the hundereds--even the shag boy shuffeling cars--would have noticed the gimped wheel. In my mind's eye, there is no excuse!) Mabye the dealer is correct in saying that it will only go on one way. If you have inside experaince wiht replacment OEM GM parts, you'll know the reason for the problem. Many OEM parts, regardless to the manafacture, are rejects from the assembally line. I'd bet that GM has a batch of mis-keyed wheels, if it's a key alignment issue. You think that they simply throw that stuff away? As Microsoft continues to prove, if you can offload the stuff, it aint goin' in the crap can. I bet I know the fix, too! They will wallow whatever out and m/i/f. If you don't like it, there isn't anything you can do. It's their product, they make it, and they say what is and what isn't a correct repair. I always try to be fair, and I have made mistakes. My judgment call is that it won't undermine the integrity to wallow out whatever to make it fit. The strenght of the splines has ten thousands of redundant strenght, so missing a few splines doesn't make a difference. It would be like a 1 inch peice of rope and cutting 3 micro strands. It doesn't make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iowaboy77 Posted January 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Thanks for the input all. Bill A - no, Vaughn's in Ottumwa did the work. Perhaps the Christmas spirit prompted me to give them another chance. I'm a tolerant person, I'm handling everything in a calm, diplomatic manner. What I didn't mention was the heavy grease spots they left on my *brand new* $70 floormats I placed in the car a few days prior to having the work done, or the lack of paperwork, "we cant seem to find the work summary ticket, we'll mail it to you" when I picked it up. I can live with grease, I can live without paperwork, but I'd really enjoy a straight steering wheel. I'm taking them at their word that they can make it right. I spoke with Iowa City, and they indicated it shouldn't be difficult to straighten it out. I called Iowa city and asked if they would do the windshield instead of Vaughns. Surprisingly, Iowa city stated that the windshield is not a warrantable item, and would be an out of pocket cost outside of 12,000 miles. Vaughn's stated that it was warrantable, without payment on my part. This is like a darn three ring circus. Both dealerships would contract the work out, as suggested in previous posts. ...This could get interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill A Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Had my STS in at Betts in Des Moines on Friday so they could put the conduit on the plug wires that was overlooked when I had the fuel rail recall done a few weeks ago. They covered the floor mat, the seat from top to bottom and even the steering wheel just to avoid what happened to your mat. My wife and I were impressed they went to so much trouble to "avoid" an additional problem. Sounds like the windsield is in Vaughs hands. Is your warranty factory or an extended of some kind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iowaboy77 Posted January 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 Factory warranty for another 3000 miles or six months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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