Loose steering wheel on Ranger with CoPilot 360

[zaashf]

Hi everyone,
While teaching my girlfriend how to drive yesterday she sent it a little too hard in the parking lot. She jumped a curb and proceeded to hit a tree. ??‍

I got out to assess the damage. Thank god the only thing to hit the tree was the tire, square in the middle of the tread since the wheel was locked all the way out. Miraculously the tree completely missed the bumper and fenders. I inspected the tie rods, CV axle, controls arms, and ball joints and everything seems to be fine. If anything I suspect it needs an alignment.
So being the great individual I am, I got the truck away from the tree, back on the pavement, and proceeded to teach her how important covering the brake is.

However when we finished and I was driving us home I noticed the steering wheel was loose. It moves freely left and right about 5-10 degrees off zero. It also wobbles a bit back and forth. I diagnosed that the play is probably isolated to the steering shaft and does not continue to the power steering box or rack and pinion.

This leads me to my major concern. Since I have lane keep assist I am worried that somehow the motor or something in the assembly might be damaged too. I was wondering if anyone else has had experience with this. I am going to the dealership on Monday but I just want to know how much this might end up costing me.

Thanks!

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[wanted33]

Ummm, that's a good question. I have the 360, so am interested in the answer. Hope it's nothing serious.

 

[zaashf]

how about towing it to the dealer?
you're seriously concerned about lane keeping? when in reality you should be concerned about losing control.

pedestrians, other cars, yourself? they are at risk here. dont be dumb, call a tow truck,

Good call, I will definitely be safe about it.

Just want to know if a seemingly innocuous problem will become a major headache. I would have attempted to tighten the stalk and wheel myself but saw the lane keep assist and decided against it.

 

[wanted33]

Good call, I will definitely be safe about it.

Just want to know if a seemingly innocuous problem will become a major headache. I would have attempted to tighten the stalk and wheel myself but saw the lane keep assist and decided against it.

Hamza, I'm thinking your problem is more mechanical, and not the electronics. A hit like that could have bent a tie rod end, or control arm (upper or lower or both) just enough to give you those problems. If I were you I wouldn't attempt any fix myself. It would be a good idea to get it to the dealer before you drive it much more.

 

[zaashf]

Hamza, I'm thinking your problem is more mechanical, and not the electronics. A hit like that could have bent a tie rod end, or control arm (upper or lower or both) just enough to give you those problems. If I were you I wouldn't attempt any fix myself. It would be a good idea to get it to the dealer before you drive it much more.

Yeah I also think it’s going to be entirely mechanical. The idea that something might have happened to the lane assist was just something I was wondering about. No evidence to indicate that there is actually anything wrong with lane assist to my knowledge. In the short time I was driving it home I got no error messages on the console.

Again I brought it up because it’s strange to me. I’ve never gotten just a loose steering wheel from a collision. With no damage elsewhere.

I’ve also attached images of my components on the collision side. To my eye and compared to the unaffected side everything seems fine.

 

[zaashf]

this is from the service manual:

since you describe para 2, i am sure para 3 is going to be the solution, a new steering gear if you havent damaged tie rods or the universal joint. maybe all of it is fubar.

this is from the service manual:

since you describe para 2, i am sure para 3 is going to be the solution, a new steering gear if you havent damaged tie rods or the universal joint. maybe all of it is fubar.

Yikes ? hopefully it’s not the steering gear. Looking at Ford parts it’s $1200. Lol I’ll take damaged tie rod or universal joint. I’ll keep you all updated.

 

[Obijack]

Go to the dealer and play with some steering wheels of new trucks. Might be placebo.

 

[mustang marty]

what are the white marks on the tie rod? impacts from something?

also the rod doesnt look straight. the manual indicates it should be within 0.5mm

aggression by the curb and it won . But I agree should be straighter . Would be quick repair .

 

[wanted33]

what are the white marks on the tie rod? impacts from something?

also the rod doesnt look straight. the manual indicates it should be within 0.5mm

I saw that also RP, but I don't know what one looks like from the factory. It does look a bit off though.

 

[zaashf]

Hello friends,

Sorry for the delay but here's the end to the steering issue story. The dealership first tried tightening the bolt that attaches the steering wheel to the steering column. However, it kept coming loose. They told me that the solution was probably going to be to replace the upper steering shaft and the steering wheel. That's they ended up doing.

In addition I asked them if anything on the exterior of the truck was damaged and they said everything looked fine. The did a realignment as well. I'm no expert on alignment but I don't think it was too bad?

They recalibrated the CoPilot and everything works great again.

 

[Trigganometry]

So the failed nut of linkage wasn’t under warranty?

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