Pop Goes the Steering

Just for giggles, (and because it's cold outside) I start the Intrepid to keep the battery charged (that's one good part on this car I want to keep) and move the steering back and forth. How can strut plates bind at such low miles? I just got done fixing a 1999 Ford Taurus with 147,000 miles that doesn't have this problem. It has had the same strut plates it did when it rolled off the assembly line. That thumping sound is because those plates are binding on the coil springs. We're taking this all in good humor and stride.

UPDATE, the problem was that the car was in a wreck before I got it, twisting the frame. This is screwing up the strut plates, which are brand-new. I bought this car at Sundance Chevrolet in Grand Ledge, MI in June of 2005 and the damage was not disclosed. At least the engineers at DCX can sleep a little better that this wasn't their fault.

Lesson learned, buy from a REPUTABLE dealer and get a mechanic to look at the car. Check out Car Reality's channel on You Tube while you're at it. I've been studying it closely.

Update: I found the problem with the steering and Bob's auto was right, the bolts to the tie rods are stripped. I'm getting a rack this week and starting fixing this heap. I'll do a video on it.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2003 Intrepid
• Dodge
• Chrysler
• steering
• noise
• obnoxious
• obscene
• funny
• dangerous
• junk.
• Accident
• damage.

[fixinggrace]

@BobsAutoRepair Thank you so much for the advice. Between you and davidsfarm, you saved my car. The steering bolts were messed up.

[fixinggrace]

@BobsAutoRepair. I appreciate any advice I can get. The bushings are fairly new MOOG parts. This rack has failed to the point I can hardly turn the wheel. It needs professional diagnosis and help. Someone gave me a van and the Intrepid is still parked.

[BobsAutoRepair]

Another real common thing for thumps on Intrepids is the inner tie rod end/bushings where they meet the rack...crack and can become dangerous.

[fixinggrace]

Sorry it was too dark.