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Vigorous steering wheel shake and roar from tires

Tiny
KAYLA MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
It has done it about 3 times out of nowhere in about a 4 month period. I will start to hear a roar and it is almost like it's harder to accelerate. My steering wheel will then start to vigorously shake and there's a loud roar that comes from my tire area. New tires on in the last 6 months. Tires do not shake when cars lifted so we ruled about wheel bearing. The noise and shake will last about a minute then completely stop. The slower I go the more it lessens and the faster I go the worse it gets.
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Friday, May 22nd, 2020 AT 2:37 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
Hi,

When this happens, is there anything that changes it? For example, if you apply the brakes, does it change? Also, when it happens, are there certain elements which seem to be present? For example, the engine is cold or at an idle.

My first suspect is what is called a torque sensor. The power steering control module determines the amount of torque that is required needed to maintain the power assist. I will tell you that if it is the torque sensor or the PSCM, it should have set a diagnostic trouble code. You should be able to retrieve it with a scanner capable of reading such codes.

Let me know.

Joe
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Friday, May 22nd, 2020 AT 6:34 PM
Tiny
KAYLA MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have had the car for a year or so. This started about 4 months ago. 3 times total. 2 times I was coming out of town and it came out of nowhere starting with a little roar then the steering wheel would start along with the rough rumbling noise (think the sound of semi tires going down the road). I managed to pull over and park. When I gassed again it was gone. This most recent time same thing. Coming out of town about 30 mph but I didn't have anywhere to pull over so I rode about 30 mph on the highway. About a minute later it was gone in the snap of a finger. The brakes no. If I press them the vibrating and noise lessons but doesn't go away until I am at a stop. Same with gas. The faster I go the worse both gets. I do have a check engine light on for an EGR valve (which they said they fixed when I bought the car) but as far as I know that's it. Or at least was it the last time I had that checked.
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Friday, May 22nd, 2020 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,049 POSTS
Lets do a CAN scan which is the future of automotive repair. you can get a CAN scanner from Amazon for about $50.00. here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/InIlnsjOVFA

Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what's going on? that would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
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Friday, May 22nd, 2020 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
KAYLA MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
It's a very out of the blue thing. It doesn't do it all the time. About 3 times total so far in about a 4 month period so there's no way for me to video what it does when I have no idea when its going to happen again. If it did it all the time id have no problem doing that, I just cant tell when the next time might be. But when it does do it, its enough to freak me out and know somethings up but its gone within a minute after it starts.
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Friday, May 22nd, 2020 AT 7:39 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,300 POSTS
Kayla,

We totally understand. You know, what Ken suggested is a good idea. Since it is so sporadic, it is difficult to diagnose. I have a feeling it may have something to do with the torque sensor. That is what the computer uses to determine how much assist you need. Since you feel it in the steering and hear it, I'm questioning if the sensor is over or under compensating. That is where the can scan comes in. It helps limit the possibilities.

Take a look at this video. It explains how and why this type of scan is helpful and how it's done.

https://youtu.be/InIlnsjOVFA

Is there anyway you could have the computer scanned by someone that has an upper level or can scanner to see if there are diagnostic trouble codes related to this? I would suggest going to a parts store, but in most cases, their scanners are not able to read such codes.

Let me know.

Joe
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Friday, May 22nd, 2020 AT 7:55 PM

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