2012 Chevy Malibu Steering Column PLEASE HELP

Here is my nightmare. I need advise please no jokes. I am beyond stressed out with this. I just purchase last week a 2012 Chevy Malibu LS. The vinyl steering wheel was in terrible condition. It looked like a sponge. So I ordered a leather steering wheel. Had a hard time getting the air bag out. Finally got it out and changed the steering wheels. Next morning I pull away from my house and noticed my steering wheel is pointing at 3 oclock. Guess I didn't line the steering wheel up appropriately. Further down the road my tire blows out :banghead: I threw spare tire on and drop it off at a tire store and got a ride to work. Picked car up at bill was $350 for a new tire and they did an alignment because the steering wheel was off... I was planning on taking the steering wheel off and realigning it. So big deal I figured. But the steering didn't feel right. I then took the steering wheel back off and had a terrible time getting it off this time had to pull about for 30 minutes. It was really stuck on there. and all I see is this white ribbon every where... My clock spring went all over :banghead: :banghead: My Malibu is still under factory warranty. Would they fix this to get it back to how it was before I ever touched the steering wheel? What should I tell them so its covered under warranty? I don't know how to assemble the steering back so I can get it to the dealer. PLEASE HELP

Wow talk about a cluster f*ck!

The steering wheel should have been "notched" to match the shaft it slides on....in other words, it only goes on one way.....all I can think of is, you forced the new steering wheel on incorrectly......

Now you get a flat.....the tire company thinks your alignment is way off because of the steering wheel, and they do an alignment......

As for the guys doing the alignment, on a 2 year old car, they should have seen there was no damage to the front end components, and they should have called you first, to ask you a few questions before doing the alignment.....

So now you, pull the wheel AFTER an alignment was done to make the wheel straight? If you put the wheel back on correctly, it will be way off again......since it came off so hard, the grooves on the shaft or the SW will be screwed up.....that will be hard not to notice......since the clock spring is all screwed up, was your Air Bag light on?

Only way I can think of screwing up the clock spring, is to disconnect the intermediate shaft and then someone spins the steering wheel......

I never saw a notch for the steering wheel just a circle on the shaft and an arrow on the steering wheel. If I wind the clock spring up and just slap on the steering wheel to get it to the dealer do you think they will fix under warranty? If the grooves on the shaft are bad what do I do to fix?

I order GM part 20940370 which is the coil/clock spring. I will install it myself since the car is not drivable. I will then bring it back to the alignment shop and tell them to fix it how it was. Good thing I bought the life time alignment package...

There should have been a notch in the shaft, and the arrow in the steering wheel should have lined up with that notch, and the steering wheel should have lined up easily when installing.....

You never said if the airbag light was on......

I am having a hard time understanding how this clock spring got messed up....as I said before, removing a steering wheel has nothing to do with the clockspring....and even if the SW was off 90 degrees, if the alignment shop adjusted the tie rods, that would have nothing to do with the clock spring......someone had to spin the steering wheel with the intermediate shaft disconnected.....

Also, did the shop ask you about the SW BEFORE they did the alignment, and did you tell them you changed the SW?

I am having amazing luck with this car. Locked keys in the car, not power because I have the battery disconnected still have keys together on one ring since I just got it :banghead:

I pulled the steering wheel off which was very difficult this time and the ribbon shot out all over. I have no idea how this happened. It came apart. The only wires running from this coil is the air bag lines because I disconnected the steering wheel wire.... Air bag light never came on? Everything was functioning how it should. The alignment shop I dropped off before they opened and left a note for them to fix the flat tire.

My plan.... when the new clock spring comes in, replace the broken one. Adjust the steering wheel properly and bring back to alignment shop and tell them that the SW is not straight to fix it. Done.

The clock spring does it simply unscrew and come out of the wiring harness simple? Hard?

ryanb4614,

Wow. I am sorry to hear you are having these concerns with your Malibu. I can assist you with your GM dealership to see what is covered under warranty and create a plan of action. You can private message me your name, VIN, address, phone number, and the name of your GM dealership. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Erica Tiffany
GM Customer Care

I am having amazing luck with this car. Locked keys in the car, not power because I have the battery disconnected still have keys together on one ring since I just got it :banghead:

I pulled the steering wheel off which was very difficult this time and the ribbon shot out all over. I have no idea how this happened. It came apart. The only wires running from this coil is the air bag lines because I disconnected the steering wheel wire.... Air bag light never came on? Everything was functioning how it should. The alignment shop I dropped off before they opened and left a note for them to fix the flat tire.

My plan.... when the new clock spring comes in, replace the broken one. Adjust the steering wheel properly and bring back to alignment shop and tell them that the SW is not straight to fix it. Done.

The clock spring does it simply unscrew and come out of the wiring harness simple? Hard?

It needs to be timed, or your back to square one.

It needs to be timed, or your back to square one.

So taking out the old clock spring and replacing with the new one, its not that simple?