2017 F-Sport
There is 16k miles on the car.

Recently (last few months) there has been a popping noise that i hear periodically... It is ever so slight and you couldn't hear it if the radio is on loud enough - but it can be felt in the steering wheel, which feels like someone tapped on the steering wheel with their finger. It only happens when the car is stopped at a red light and i either move the steering wheel (left or right). It doesn't happen consistently at every light but it does happen at a majority of them.

There is no noise or feeling in the steering wheel when the car is in motion - it always happens when the car is at a full stop.

I haven't gotten under the car to look around - but my initial thoughts were sway bar end links or tie rod ends??? does any one else have any thoughts or has had the same experiences as me? Thank you for any input.

I know i can and should just take it to the dealer - but I've had bad experiences at the closest dealership and the closest dealership really isnt all that close. Id like to pinpoint the issue - and preferably just solve it myself and only resort to the dealership if its not a simple fix.

Additional info - revised:
something i didn't mention - At a given red light - once i move the steering wheel and hear the sound - its gone for the time being - i can move the steering wheel all i want and the sound does not come back. it only comes back when i get to the next red light - and then repeat the scenario again.

 

Is your auto braking feature turned on? You should see it with the HOLD word with a brake symbole lit in green, and when it is engaged at a red light, you will see another HOLD in orange appear. At that moment you can release the brake pedal and the vehicle holds it for you, until you press on the gas pedal, it then disengages and you may hear it when it does while the wheels come back in movement.

 

negative - that feature is not turned on.
I initially thought it was something related to the brakes - like the pads releasing off the rotor or shifting slightly - but i dismissed this mainly because i dont hear the sound when getting on the gas to go straight from a red light .

i can be at a full stop (foot fully on brakes) and when i shift the steering wheel i hear the sound.

Something i didn't mention before - At a given red light - once i move the steering wheel and hear the sound - its gone for the time being - i can move the steering wheel all i want and the sound does not come back.

it only comes back when i get to the next red light - and then repeat the scenario again.

 

Does it feel like the vibration you get when steering assistance is turned on - not the whole long vibration but just one "knock" on the wheel?

 

nope - not the vibration thing from the steering assist

it sounds like cracking a knuckle - but a bit muffled. i dont remember hearing/feeling it before the last few months - but i dont know whether to attribute to me just not paying attention or its something new.

Ill poke around the next time i have the car up when i rotate the tires - if anyone as any "suspicions" please post up.
i would take a video - but not sure that i would be of any help since its very subtle. my wife barely notices it even in the passenger seat.

 

Intermediate Shaft would be my guess, pretty common on lots of vehicles.

 

is it cause for concern?
my gut reaction is no - since you said its common..

is there any DIY solution to solve this?? or just something i need to live with?

 

nuisance noise, usually lubrication on the splines cure the pop noise,
gm vehicles for example were very bad for this.

i would just mention it when you go in for your next service if you do.

 

thanks for the info.. i used some white lithium grease spray on the splines and it seems to have made the noise go away for the most part. I can not repeat it as often as before - but it still happens from time to time.

Thanks again for the heads up and putting me at ease that it wasn't something more serious.