1998 Dodge Stratus Steering noise

Tiny
EWHIT
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 247,000 MILES
When i'm turning there's a loud noise. I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's not really a grinding noise but more like a loud groan. I'm checking the power steering fluid as soon as I get off work. But could it be the pump? It's also hard to steer some mornings when I first start it. Kind of like the power steering is going out for a fraction of a second and coming back on. It steers jerkidly in the mornings. Thanks for any help
Thursday, March 18th, 2010 AT 10:28 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Yeah check the fluid, but also, will it do it while your in park or neutral?
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Thursday, March 18th, 2010 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
EWHIT
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I'm not sure. I think so. I'll check later today.
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Thursday, March 18th, 2010 AT 12:57 PM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
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Ok, keep me posted, because this will more than likely help determine if its the pump
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Thursday, March 18th, 2010 AT 12:59 PM
Tiny
EWHIT
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  • 10 POSTS
I put power steering fluid in it and that helped a lot and for a little while the problem was fixed. But now if i'm not moving I can barely turn the wheel at all and there's almost no power steering power at all. Is the motor going bad? I checked and there's still plenty of fluid
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Monday, March 29th, 2010 AT 10:34 AM
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
What do you mean there is almost no fluid? The power steering fluid is disappearing?
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Monday, March 29th, 2010 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
EWHIT
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
There's plenty of fluid but no power coming from the pump. I'm not sure what happened but I think I accidentally fixed it. This morning my heater stopped working and after I got out of work I checked the anti freeze level and it was almost completly gone. I filled it back up and my heater started working again. When I pulled over I got out to check it again and there was a burning smell and smoke coming out. So I popped the hood and noticed that anti freeze had leaked out and was burning on the manifold. I started the car and watched for the leak and noticed anti freeze spraying out rapidly from where the thermostat is housed. I got a replaced the thermostat seal and that completly fixed my heater problem. And I don't know if it's permanent or not but my power steering is working perfectly. But it's only been an hour since i've fixed it so i'll have to wait and see.
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Monday, March 29th, 2010 AT 6:04 PM

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