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Chrysler Town & Country power steering problems

111 messages,  Last post on Apr 06, 2012 at 8:08 PM

You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler Town and Country, Steering, Van

Messages Page 7 of 11

#61 of 111 Chrysler Town & Country Power Steering Problems by silverdale

Nov 12, 2009 (11:21 pm)

Does anyone have a 2005 or 2006 Town and Country Short Wheel Base (or Dodge Caravan SWB) that has tight power steering? We bought our 2006 new and only have 6,000 miles on it and have taken it in for warranty twice for the power steering -or lack of. No whines or noise, just extremely difficult to turn. Getting in and out of parking places is miserable. The first time the dealer said it was overly tight but couldn't find a problem. The second time they replaced the rack, which didn't improve the steering at all, and said there was nothing more they could do. Took it to the Dodge dealer who said the Crysler dealer did not replace the rack and agreed after a test drive that there was a problem. They found a leak and replaced the rack. Only a slight improvement. Can't find any used SWB versions anywhere near us to test drive to compare. The long wheel base uses a different rack, so testing that model won't help us. We live in a small town that's a ferry ride away from the big city and don't have any other Chrylser dealers in the area. The Dodge dealer was great but is now out of business.

#62 of 111 Re: Chrysler Town & Country Power Steering Problems [silverdale] by srs_49

Nov 13, 2009 (4:16 am)

Replying to: silverdale (Nov 12, 2009 11:21 pm)
Power steering pump, maybe? One way you might be able to tell is to disable the power steering (by removing the power steering pump drive belt) and see if the steering effort is any greater. Just a thought.

#63 of 111 Do the cheapest fixes first by 04grand

Nov 24, 2009 (11:53 pm)

Found this by googling caravan power steering pump. Read through the 7 pages of replies and signed up to reply (but now I only see 4 pages of replies??). Anyway, I have power steering noise when it gets cold. 04 Grand we bought used last Sept with 96000 kms on it, and now has 125000 kms. No leakage that I can see, although I have what appears to be a small oil leak on the driver side. PS fluid level is at the bottom of the normal range when cold. I presume it will go to the top of the normal range when hot but I'll have to check that.
 
Noise first appeared when having the front brakes checked and the mechanic turning the wheels by hand. After starting the van, we got quite the shudder when turning the wheel when at idle. Rev it up a bit and it goes away. It eventually went away after a day or so. Had a cold snap a few months later, and the noise came back but would go away when it warmed up. Redid the front brakes just a couple months ago, and the noise returned after turning the rack by hand to get at the brake components. Went away after a day or so. Now the colder temps are returning and so is the noise. Loud whine most present at idle.
 
Mechanic who checked the front brakes the first time when the noise appeared said one of the hoses might be collapsing internally, causing a pressure drop in the line. That is plausible. Brake hoses can also do that. I might replace the hoses even though NAPA doesn't carry a part number for them (odd). Hoses aren't expensive and are usually not hard to replace.
 
Read on here about the reservoir. Another inexpensive fix I can do myself. I think I'll do that too.
 
Has anyone just replaced the pump and not the rack? NAPA has a rebuilt pump for $130 CDN + $65 core charge. I found a how-to on replacing the pump here:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4777406_change-steering-pump-dodge-caravan.html
 
Doesn't sound that bad at all. In fact, when we bought our van, the car dealer had another Caravan on the lot that was about to get a PS pump replaced and he said it was an easy fix for his mechanic to do so.
 
Where do you see the leaks when the racks are failing? Driver or passenger side? I never like saying "right" or "left" since that can so easily be mixed up.

#64 of 111 Re: Do the cheapest fixes first [04grand] by srs_49

Nov 25, 2009 (12:49 pm)

Replying to: 04grand (Nov 24, 2009 11:53 pm)
Where do you see the leaks when the racks are failing? Driver or passenger side? I never like saying "right" or "left" since that can so easily be mixed up.
 
Leaks could be on either side or both, depending on which seal is worn and leaking the worst.

#65 of 111 Re: '05 T&C 30,600 miles needs rack & pinion replacement!?! [kvander] by 369

Dec 22, 2009 (11:53 am)

Replying to: kvander (Mar 13, 2009 2:25 pm)
I had to replace the rack on my 2006 town & country yesterday at 37000 miles, cost
$ 880. I also contacted the customer assistance number. I hope I have the same results you did.

#66 of 111 Re: '05 T&C 30,600 miles needs rack & pinion replacement!?! [369] by 04grand

Dec 23, 2009 (8:06 am)

Replying to: 369 (Dec 22, 2009 11:53 am)
A few weeks ago I went to my dealer to buy a new reservoir. When checking at the service counter for the upper PS hose recall, the service guy said my van had no outstanding recalls but if I was having a noise problem to fill the reservoir about 1/8" above the high-full mark. They have found this eliminated a lot of noise problems. I bought a bottle of ATF+4 at the parts counter, went home and topped up about 1/4" above the high-full mark. Mine was right at the low-full mark (still in the 'normal' range). Well what do you know, it fixed the problem! I wanted to make sure we went through some cold weather before responding but we have gone through about -10C weather and no noise at all. This has seem to fixed it for now.
 
So, make sure to go with the cheapest fix first and fill to about 1/8" to 1/4" above the high level mark and you might be okay!
 
Now on to finding out why I have an occasional stutter and stumble at lower RPM under load....
 
Merry Christmas.

#67 of 111 Re: Early failure of Rack seals [bretknight] by greg365

Dec 23, 2009 (2:36 pm)

Replying to: bretknight (Feb 11, 2008 1:15 pm)
2006 Town & Country with 33,000 original miles. Whining noise coming from steering unit. Turns out the steering unit is leaking fluid. Replacement is $960 dollars in Noblesville, Indiana. I first thought I was being scammed but after reading all the post on this site I see that it is a major problem with this model. The bad news is my warranty has expired based on the 36 months but I am still under 36,000 miles. I know they will not cover it though. Merry Christmas.

#68 of 111 Re: '05 T&C 30,600 miles needs rack & pinion replacement!?! [04grand] by xwesx

Dec 25, 2009 (10:36 am)

Replying to: 04grand (Dec 23, 2009 8:06 am)
How many miles do you have on your '04? When is the last time the spark plugs/wires were changed?

#69 of 111 Power steering whining noise 06 by carlw2

Dec 28, 2009 (10:21 am)

I cant believe all the posts. Have same noise -whinning sound- 42,000 miles! talking to dealership now. I am hearing call Chrysler and get compalint number filed and YOU all SHOULD call State attorney generals office might lead to RECALL. Is it true replace just the power steering reservior????? Need help!

#70 of 111 Re: '05 T&C 30,600 miles needs rack & pinion replacement!?! [xwesx] by 04grand

Dec 28, 2009 (10:33 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Dec 25, 2009 10:36 am)
It has about 75k miles on it now (125k kms). Plugs and wires have probably never been changed but that could definitely be a cause for low-rpm stumble under load is some worn-out or melted plug wires, eh? I've read that before as something to check on other cars. Somehow the spark isn't enough to jump the gap or a restriction that happened within the wiring at lower RPM?

Messages Page 7 of 11

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