Scratchy noise from the steering wheel, when I'm turning the steering wheel. It started yesterday. The car is a 56-registered i6 HSE, 70,000 miles. I've driven about six miles since the noise started, and maybe it's a little louder. Steering feels normal. The scratchy noise is at the steering wheel or immediately below it, not elsewhere in the steering system. I've searched posts on here, but haven't found anything similar (though I found a link to a good instructional video on how to remove the steering wheel, by Powerful UK (company)). Any ideas what the scratchy noise might be? Is it something I can ignore for a while, or something to fix immediately? The quick brown fox

I've had that on other cars and it turned out to be the horn slip-ring. Cleaning and lubricating it cured it. Don't know if it is the same setup on the FL2. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Thanks Steve,
That sounds logical, and I know what you mean from older cars I've owned.
But from what I'm able to pick up on the internet, I can't tell if Freelander 2 has a slip-ring or not.
Does anyone else know?
I released two T20 torx screws under the lower steering column shroud.
That allowed me to separate the plastic top and bottom shrouds.
But I can't remove either, past the steering wheel.
Apparently I need a little hook tool (which I don't have) if I want to get into the steering wheel, or remove it.
The back of the steering wheel isn't rubbing on the shrouds, that's all I managed to discover so far.
When the shrouds are well clear of the wheel, the scratching noise is still there ... The quick brown fox

I would imagine it will be a rotary contact type, often referred to as a clock spring.

Relatively easy to replace, if you are very careful, as it will entail removal of the airbag!

It will be expensive I would imagine too.

If you have not done this sort of thing before, I would recommend you get someone who knows what they're doing to do it for you!

Good luck with it.

Nick (Now Sold). 2008 Freelander 2 (Nazca Sand) SE TD4 Auto. Statutory write off & on WOVR for hail damage but still road legal.
171037Km as of 09/05/22
Superchips Bluefin Flash
Nanocom Evo II (also sold)

Thanks all,
I'll do as suggested. The quick brown fox

Update:
I didn't have time to deal with the scratchy noise before I needed to do a long drive, about 350 miles.
Soon after setting off, the noise disappeared and hasn't been heard since.
(The car was in fairly regular use before that long drive - couple of times a week, at least).
(Since the long drive, about three weeks ago, it's back to being used two or three times a week).
My thinking now is, no further action unless the scratchy noise returns.
Unless I'm missing something significant here ... The quick brown fox

Badger51 wrote:

I would imagine it will be a rotary contact type, often referred to as a clock spring.

Relatively easy to replace, if you are very careful, as it will entail removal of the airbag!

It will be expensive I would imagine too.

If you have not done this sort of thing before, I would recommend you get someone who knows what they're doing to do it for you!

Good luck with it.

Nick

Sorry double post. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner