Questions and Answers

Dodge Stratus Has Loose Steering Q. Hello, I have a 1995 Dodge Stratus with a 2.4 liter DOHC engine. Question: The steering has a lot of play in it when going from left to right or right to left. Is this a rack and pinion problem or a power steering pump issue? Or a belt? Steve H.

A. Excess play in the steering wheel is almost always due to a mechanical problem. So the power steering pump and power steering belt would not be the likely causes of the problem.

Possibilities include missing or worn Isolator bushings, worn or broken steering column to steering rack coupling, bad ball joints, bad inner and/or outer tie rod ends, loose wheel bearings and, of course, a bad power steering rack.

The external cause are easy enough to check and eliminate before condemning the power steering rack.