I hope its that simple :0) A loose bolt would be awesome!!! even if not 3 hours isn't bad either... I was just concerned about the car needing an alignment after and whether or not it would be drivable enough to take it to get it done...

 

check the cardan joint between the steering column and the rack.. another item to check for.

 

Is that an inspect and tighten item or replace?

 

Edited post 1 - images added + more information.

 

STOP!

Do NOT drive the car like that. The shaft is not installed into the knuckle correctly and can fall out at any moment leaving you with a disconnected steering wheel. That notch goes under the bolt. The two lines I've drawn should be even.



The knuckle is flaring when you turn it. That's why it feels loose. Go back and raise hell. That could have cost you your life.

 

Holy crap.

Gimme the phone number to your dealer. I'd be glad to tell them off.

As mentioned, don't drive it. Remove the green bolt, slide it together, and re-install the bolt so the bolt is on top of the flat spot.

 

how easy/hard should it be to get it to slide in... i took out the bolt and can move the shaft out but it only will go in as far as it has been... should i try spreading the joint open a bit... it may be compressed from where the last genius over tightened it to keep his half assed shaft replacement in place.

 

Nevermind... Got it...

 

UPDATE

I took some valuable advice and went back to work on my car. I spread the joint just enough to get it to slide home then torqued the bolt to spec. I still had play so I jacked the car up just to see what I could see from under the car.

I found the connection with the dust boot to have a bolt so loose that I was able to remove it only with my fingers.



I took the bolt out and wriggled the shaft to make sure there was no more slack that I could tread in then put some locktite on the bolt and torqued to spec... There is no more play in the wheel... feels 100% better. I may take it to get a good once over by someone who knows these cars. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped with this.

 

Jesus Christ...

Really glad you caught this when you did. Could've ended very badly. I can not believe the dealer did not notice that. Just unbelievable.