Squeeky Steering Column "horn"

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Well, now that the weather's warm I can stop that squeek in the steering column. It isn't just a small squeek, it's the kind people turn and look in your direction whenever you turn the steering wheel. I thought it was inside at first, until my neighbor told me, "Oh, I heard your car doing that for a month now". thanks?

Anyway, having someone else turn the wheel while I stuck my head under the hood was the only way to pinpoint the problem area.

Would you believe there's a pvc (plastic?) cover over the end of the power steering that goes half way up the steering column and looks something like a trumpet? Well there is. And all this salty road junk got between the "permanently lubricated" bushing and the end of the plastic horn and allowed it to vibrate in turns. I call it a horn because it amplified the sound.

The fix? Turns out a simple squirt of belt dressing does the trick. Who would have ever 'thunk' it?