Any car/truck knowledgeable folks here

[madmax]

2 weeks ago my friend bought a used 2001 Dodge Durango AWD 4X4 with
49900 miles.

The steering felt really tight so he took it back. They fixed.. it happened again...he took it back they replaced the steering pump and it's still not right. The dealer said he checked and there were no recalls. What does this sound like lol, and what recourse does he have. He paid cash :(

Thanks :)

[BlueJazz]

1. Is it tight in all positions or just part of the turning radius?

I ask because it might be part of the steering mechanism binding
(since it's a 4x4 and maybe been out in the woods)

[madmax]

2. All the time,

but when you turn it doesn't straighten out like it should it stays in the direction you turned it in.

[Eat_The_Rich]

3. Steering Problem

The Phenomenon you are describing (steering wheel does not "return") is a result of the caster or camber (I forget which) of the front wheels not being adjusted to specifications. I had the same problem with a vehicle several years ago. The reason the caster/camber could not be adjusted correctly was because the frame was bent due to a previous accident. Check the vehicle history to make sure that it has not been in an accident.

[madmax]

4. Wow

Thank you. The dealer wants him to buy an extended warranty for 1,600.00. But he only bought it 2 weeks ago and they gave hime 30 days or 1000 miles. Thanks for the info, I'll pass it on.

[BlueJazz]

6. Yep....I think Eat_The_Rich has it right....

..Sounds like a Caster problem. The thing that has me scratching my head is the people that he bought the truck from didn't see this as a problem ???... Man..That's Scary!!
I mean, even a lousy mechanic would have picked up on that,,....

[madmax]

7. Maybe they saw him coming :(

He said he checked it wasn't in an accident and it wasn't driven off the road. So I dunno. He said it stiff even when it goes straight but, that it's worse when you make a turn...no return. Would it still be the Caster?

[madmax]

9. Thing is it doesn't do it all the time.

One day it's working fine and then pffffft. On and off like that.

[pagerbear]

5. I have a car question

My car's AC has a leak in the condensor. Should I have them try to repair the leak or just replace the damn thing? Should I have it repaired now, having just paid big bucks for more freon, or wait until it gives out again?

[madmax]

8. How old is the car?

I'd replace after the freon leaked out if I was going to keep the car for awhile.

[pagerbear]

14. It's a 1995 BMW 318i

What do replacement condensors run?

[Crucible]

10. Lemon Law

Does the state you live in have a lemon law, my state does, you can return a vehicle within 30 days if bought from a dealership.

Try driving another Durango with same equipment and see if steering feels the same. Some FWD's have heavy steering to begin with.

Hard to trouble-shoot over the internet. I would run the title and see if the durango was ever wreaked or if it has a "Salvage Title"====
means vehicle has been totaled and the rebuilt.

You should be a better friend, Friends never let friends buy a Dodge.
From my experience working on auto's, GM gets the better engineers, Ford gets who GM won't hire, and Chrysler gets whoever is left.

Other than that, the problem could be caused by a litany of items.
Ball-joints, tie-rod ends, misalignment of front end, tire selection,tire air pressure, cv joints or u joints on front drive portion of FWD, damage or binding in steering linkage(denotes abuse or severe wreak) and lastly, POOR ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF DODGE.
Hope this helps, it has reinforced my belief in anything made by dodge, plymouth or chrysler. JEEP is the only exception.

[madmax]

11. Yes, we have a lemon law

Don't you have to go through a lot of visits with the dealer and prove they didn't fix the problem? Maybe he better get a lawyer.

[Briarius]

12. Could also be a binding Pitman or Idler arm

One of the two pivot points in the steering. Not too bad to fix. Good luck to him!

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. There's a simple problem/solution, then there's others

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OK - I'll give you the simple one first.

most 4x4's have a steering "damper"

sort of like a shock absorber on the steering that is supposed to "dampen" the tendency for wheel wobble on back roads.

I've always just removed the darn things completely because one weeny bump and the damm thing binds and the steering is stiff no matter what else you do. That will also affect the "not returning to center".

Other more expensive problems include seized ball joints, and worn rack and pinion systems.

Durango has a history of bad ball joints(wearing out before 25,000 kliks), although I didn't find anything specificaly regarding "stiffness"

Here's a couple of links, warning first though, some of these people don't say nice things about their Dodges,

http://consumeraffairs.com/news03/durango_probe2.html

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/dodge_dur_steer.html

OH,

Seeing as I didn't bring you any miracle wonderful news

- I'll leave you with a pic



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