Noise from steering column

[BrianM]

I bought a new 2004 G35x in January 2005. After about 2 months, I would hear a tinny "popping" sound coming from the steering column. I brought the car into one dealer and they said they replaced a "spring clip" and the problem went away. The problem then came back about six months later and another dealer diagnosed it as some plastic that was rubbing up against something near the airbag. The noise also went away. The problem has since came back. It always starts out soft and intermittent and then becomes louder, noticeable enough for my passenger to notice and more frequent. The two times I have brought this into the dealer, I was able to sit with the car running in park and just jerk the steering wheel to the left and right and it would make this sound. The sound also sounds somewhat like your keys hitting something when they are in the ignition.

Not sure if this related, but I swear the steering column has to be turned slightly to the right for the car to steer straight. I've brought it into a couple of dealers who haven't been able to "duplicate" this problem.

Any ideas?

[HFG35]

I have a 2003 G35 and I have recently noticed the exact same noise. It sound like two pieces of plastic hitting each other. It seems to be intermittent since I dont hear it every day. I will take it to the dealer and let you know if it is fixed.