So I've got a 2018 Wrangler JK that for the past few weeks has been having a noise issue I can't figure out.
A few weeks ago, only in the mornings, I started to notice a chirping noise that occurred when I was turning left. At the time, it only happened early morning, and only while turning about 15+ degrees left. Since then it has progressed to occur anywhere between about 5 degrees right and anywhere left of that, but disappears on right turns. Additionally, the chirp is now occurring later in the day, although less present than in the mornings.
From what I can tell, the noise is coming from somewhere in the steering column area of the dash, on the cabin side of the firewall. I've stuck my head out the window while it occurs and only ever hear noise coming from inside, outside is just wind and road nose as far as I can detect.
The chirp always has the same frequency between chips, pitch, and for a given drive the same volume. Drives later in the day are generally lower volume chirps, with the same frequency and pitch as the morning.
Here's a 5s video of it happening: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Feeo1FQDJjd8RT4h6
I'm guessing the difference in temperature from early morning (I'm generally on my way to work around 6am, so right at sun up) to lunch sitting in an uncovered parking lot creates some sort of thermal expansion that loosens up whatever's rubbing just enough for it to not chirp.
A few specifics I've noticed since it's started:
- it occurs only while in motion, and while I can't say I've heard it in reverse, I can't rule it out either as most of my daily route requires reversing with the wheel to the right
- it occurs while accelerating, coasting (foot off pedals), and braking with no noticable change in behavior between the three states
- speed does not seem to affect it, as it occurs and sounds nearly identical at 5mph from a dead stop to 70mph on the highway
- a large bump will generally cause a few seconds of chirping, then it goes quiet
- a lightly bumpy road will cause almost constant chirping while in the problematic angular rotations of the steering wheel
- however, it can also happen on dead flat roads, though left turns on well maintained roads cause it far more often than going straight
I'm at a loss, I just can't seem to pinpoint this one. Anyone have a clue?
