Dodge Grand Caravan Steering

Hot soapy water. Apply water pressure backwards through the screen. Rinse THOROUGHLY and let dry THOROUGHLY.

No. Tranny doesnt make PS noise. I used ATF+4 in my PS. I spilled it on a wire harness.

#198 of 205 Re: Dodge Grand Caravan-Steering and Whining issues [motoringmama] by fartman89

Aug 21, 2011 (6:13 am)

Replying to: motoringmama (Dec 06, 2006 1:38 pm)

Hello, I had the same problem with mine and ended up cleaning the power steering reivoir.

I found this video on Youtube that helped me out.
dodge caravan steering

#199 of 205 No Power Steering by robb27

Sep 08, 2011 (5:40 am)

Started my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan the other day and couldn't turn the steering wheel. About a minute later the belt squeeled and the power steering started up. Alternator light was not on so I assume the belt was running.

2 more times that day while turning corners I lost the power steering and almost went off the road since I couldn't turn the wheels. At least one of those times I heard the belt squeel and power steering come back.

Anyone have any ideas?

#200 of 205 Re: Steering Shudder [harley16] by williamsgrl22

Sep 09, 2011 (8:37 am)

Replying to: harley16 (Mar 21, 2008 7:06 am)

Been having the same problem from mine. Its always short lived but comes back whenever it pleases. Sometimes I can turn the engine off and let it sit and it'll drive fine. Sometimes I dont have the problem for over a month and something small like a pothole will start the shuddering and pulling to the right over again. I have been told its most likely the rack and pinion (which was replaced less than 2 years ago already) and/or the power steering pump (which has also been replaced less than 2 years ago). Whatever the actual problem may be, its causing unnecessary wear and tear on the entire front end and more problems than I have time to list.

#201 of 205 Single mom & 04 DC owner DESPERATE for answers to steering problems!!! by williamsgrl22

Sep 09, 2011 (9:31 am)

My '04 DC has me baffled. It started with a little whining from the pump last winter...was told by the shop it needed a new pump (about $450 parts and labor). I decided to let it ride until I was certain the pump was the problem. Shortly after I noticed the whining thats when the other problems started (and have yet to stop). I'll be driving down the road (and road, interstate, whatever...doesn't seem to matter what type it is) and out of nowhere the front end starts vibrating and the wheel pulls to the right making it very difficult to drive. When this occurs it helps sometimes to let off the accelorator completely (but how am I supposed to go anywhere if I can't accelorate0 but not always...sometimes it persists no matter what I do until I shut her down and let her rest. This particular issue happens randomly (trip mileage, road conditions, temperature...none of these seem to play in to this problem). Also, after the steering problems started, I noticed an occasional popping sound in the front drivers side wheel when turning right (this happens every time the other problems starts). Ive been told in addition to replacing the PS pump that I would need to replace the rack and pinion (which was done less than 2 yrs ago). I have not seen any leaking of any fluids in my driveway and I check my PS fluid frequently. To add to the ongoing steering problems 4 days ago (while the freak wobbling issue was occuring) I decided to pull over and let it rest only to find out that my front drivers side axle had just broke turning right into the parking lot. So now I'm told I need a new axle, new cv joints, new pump, and a new rack and pinion. I had a gut feeling that this was all being caused by a different problem and was amazed to see the advice about the PS resevoir and how its helped similar issues in the DC. With that said, I KNOW I have to replace the axle...which is scheduled for this weekend...Should I replace the resevoir also? And if I do will this correct the freak wobbling and vibrations as well as the whining?? I AM DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS. I am a single mom with limited resources who's been told to replace my almost new rack and pinion for $2000 or lose my steering all together and my kids and I will end up in a ditch somewhere. HELP!!!

#202 of 205 Re: Fixed with some synthetic power steering fluid (05 Caravan SE 3.3) [georgezhu] by jluthye

Oct 30, 2011 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: georgezhu (Jun 12, 2011 2:39 pm)

Hello,

I am not a car expert at all but I have an '08 GC. We bought it from car max with a whine that sounds exactly like power steering. In fact we were told it was power steering and some vans just were loud with no issues. We drove it like that for 2 years.

Well my brother has an "06 GC and when he heard ours whining he said he was glad cause he thought something was wrong with his van. It started after an oil change for him.

Well a year later, I get a check up on my car and they tell me tire rod is shot and it can be dangerous, I get it replaced (about $200 or $300 for both) and the noise is gone.

I go to visit my brother a month later and I told him about the noise and he said, "i know we just replaced the tire rod in ours too!"

So with that said, it could be the tire rod. I swear it sounds exactly like the power steering. It is funny I came across your post because I was just telling someone about this today!

I was told I should have felt a vibration or a pull on the tire or the side that is bad. I never did, just the whine that increased when tirning. So if you have a whine and everything else seems ok check out the TIRE ROD. It can be dangerous and lead to breaking axels, tires coming off and all sorts of tragedies!

#203 of 205 2006 dodge grand caravan p.s.whine by gwesdor

Nov 01, 2011 (4:49 pm)

I took my grnd caravan to the dealer and 800 bucks later they had replaced a small leaky hose. (I never saw anything leaking and never needed to fill the reservoir). It seemed to be better but still the whine was noticeable. Now it is very loud and the wheel turns hard sometimes. I removed the reservoir and cleaned it out with carb cleaner. Refilled with ATF +4. Same thing, loud whine. Have a remanuf P.S. pump to install next. Will see if that helps. The rack was replaced at 20K miles. Have 104K now.

#204 of 205 PLEASE HELP! 2006 Grand Caravan Steering binding by maymayspoppa

Nov 18, 2011 (10:27 pm)

I have a 2006 Grand Caravan and when it is cold and it sits for about 7 to 8hrs the steering binds to the left only... you can turn the wheel to right with one finger but it takes all my strength to turn it left! It does it for a few minute of turning back and forth repeatedly then it will feel like it POPS and breaks free and its fine from then on until it sits again for a lengthy amount of time, it also made a grinding sound that you can feel through the wheel when turning left, I changed the resevoir and it seemed to help that but not the binding. There is nothing in the way of any of the moving parts that it could bind on so i am guessing it is the rack and pinion or the pump but i dont understand why it does it only when cold and only to the left and clears up til next time it sits. I would love to know what the problem is so i can get the right part to fix it and not spend loads of money on parts that are not needed. So if anyone out there in cyberland know what could be causing this please let me know, THANKS!

Replies to this message:

srs_49 (Nov 21, 2011 7:42 am)

#205 of 205 Re: PLEASE HELP! 2006 Grand Caravan Steering binding [maymayspoppa] by srs_49

Nov 21, 2011 (7:42 am)

Replying to: maymayspoppa (Nov 18, 2011 10:27 pm)

Sounds to me like you have the power assist in one direction, but not the other. If so, then it has to be something in the rack. The PS pump doesn't know what direction you are turning the wheel - it just pumps regardless.

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