Letters: ‘Wandering’ jeep has dad worried

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Updated: September 27, 2011 1:33PM

Q: My 1992 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 wanders side to side at highway speeds and is difficult to keep in its lane. The problem improved slightly after the shocks were replaced and the tires were balanced, however, I’m still afraid of letting my son use it for going back and forth to school. I’ve taken it to several different repair shops and nobody has been able to solve this problem. What do you think is wrong? – J.P., Chicago

A: Your Jeep could have worn steering and/or suspension components, such as ball joints, tie rods or steering damper. The steering damper is a hydraulic device like a shock absorber but it’s mounted between the frame and the steering linkage to help vehicles with large tires track straight at highway speeds. To test the steering damper, disconnect it at one end and compress and extend the piston. There should be resistance in both directions. Replace the damper if all the fluid has leaked out and/or the piston can easily be compressed and/or extended.

If the steering and suspension components are good, it could be an alignment issue. The caster and toe settings help the vehicle maintain stability, especially at highway speeds. Caster is the forward or rearward tilt of the steering axis, and toe is the position of the tires “in” or “out” as viewed from the front. If either of these settings is off just a little bit, it could cause the vehicle to wander. Also, if the toe is off, it could lead to premature tire wear.

Q: The engine in my ’99 Chevrolet Blazer sometimes doesn’t start. When this happens, the engine spins over but doesn’t fire. If I wait a little while and try it again, it usually starts. What do you think could be causing this to happen? – D.H., Summit

A: My first suspicion would be a faulty crankshaft position sensor. This sensor provides a low-voltage signal to the powertrain control module regarding the position and speed of the crankshaft. Without this signal, the PCM will not trigger the fuel injectors. Usually, when the crankshaft position sensor begins to fail, it does so when it’s warm. Letting the vehicle sit for a while allows the sensor to cool off and once again begin producing a proper signal. Other possible causes include the ignition control module or ignition coil.

Q: My ’90 Honda Accord drives straight until I step on the brakes. When braking, the car pulls hard to the right. My budget is tight and I want to try and fix this myself. What do you think could be wrong? – A.Y., Calumet City

A: Your Accord is suffering from a condition known as “brake pull.” Brake pull can be caused by worn suspension components or faulty braking components like a frozen brake caliper. Check the suspension components. If they’re good, suspect a frozen caliper on the driver’s side since the pull will always be toward the side with more braking power. If the car has high mileage you should replace both front calipers and also consider replacing both front brake hoses. Of course, the caliper slides, brake pads and rotors should be checked and serviced as needed, too.

Questions for Ira Siegel? Call the Auto Advisor Hotline at (708) 633-6839 or e-mail autoadvisor.irasiegel@gmail.com. Siegel is an automotive instructor and an automotive service excellence-certified master auto technician.