Questions and Answers

Dodge Caravan Wubba Wubba Wubba Q. Vincent, I hope you have some advice for me on this problem; it's driving me to insanity. We have had this van for about half a year now, and it always had a weird problem with the steering, at least I think that's what it is. When the vehicle has sat for period of time, for example over night, the next morning when you drive off the steering wheel will wobble on its own side to side.

Not an extreme amount of movement, just a gentle side to side that is enough to make you wonder what's up, and its also annoying! It's like it's only the steering wheel, but obviously the front wheels are moving, it's not like the whole van has a noticeable movement or shudder, just that steering wheel. If you were to drive slow or fast it still does it, when your driving faster it wobbles faster like a out of balance tire, hard to explain, but kind of sounds like wubba wubba wubba, not really loud and you have to roll the window down to really hear anything.

It's more noticeable on wet pavement after a rainfall; you hear the shish shish shish sound from the front tires on the water. If you say those wubba's or shish's fast over and over that's the sound exactly, at least in my opinion. But once the vehicle has been driven around 10-15 miles its no longer present at any speed, as long as the vehicle remains warm and isn't allowed to sit anywhere for an extended period of time, or shorter in the cold Minnesota winter air, but it always returns once again.

Now here's the reason why it's a nuisance, I have been to just about every dealer and shop in my area and they all gave me different reasons. The problem was there before and after putting new tires on, so I wouldn't suspect the new tires. I had one shop tell me to get a front end alignment done, but there is not any sign of odd wear to the front tires which have been on there for almost the entire six months we have owned it, and we have put nearly 8,000 plus miles on them in those six months with the daily commute.

Another shop wanted to check the balance of the tires, so I let them do it on their balancing machine, one of those computerized ones that spins the tire up to speed and tells them where the weights should be, and they were right on the money, they also tried greasing the ball joints and everything else in front.

Another shop told me that I should replace both front struts, replace ball joints, and do an alignment. And yet another told me that it's just a warped brake rotor and that I should rebuild the front brakes with new rotors or have the existing ones resurfaced if they are sufficient to do so.

I do almost all my own maintenance and repair, and I have tackled electrical problems that makes you want to have a vehicle exorcised, but I just can't shake this wobble! I would hate to start putting money that I don't have into everything the mechanics want to fix if I can simply replace the brakes, I would just put on new rotors and pads, done it before on previous vehicles and I'm experienced in repairing brakes.

It just seems to me that he made sense with that idea, because it's like the brake rotors get warmed up from driving 10-15 miles and its fine till they get cold again. Would appreciate any advice you have to offer, just got done replacing the MAP sensor and O2 Sensors on this one, the previous owner thought electricians tape over the check engine light was the way to fix it!

• 1994 Dodge Caravan SE
• 3.3 liter V-6
• Automatic transmission
• 174,000+ miles
• Fuel Injection
• P/S, A/C, Cruise control

Thanks in advance,
Scott
Tyler, MN

A. There is a TSB addressing this problem. I would suggest printing this out and either have your local Chrysler dealer look at it, or get a copy of the full TSB, this is only the first page, and take it to your tire store.

To quickly try to confirm this, you can jack up the front of the van, support it with jack stands and spin the wheels in DRIVE to see if there is any wobble. It might not be bad enough to see, but if it is you'll know it.

Number: 22-03-99
Group: Wheels & Tires
Date: April 23, 1999
Subject: Smooth Road Vibration/Shake/Wobble

Overview:
This bulletin involves diagnosis and correction information for vehicles with a smooth road high-speed vibration or shake condition.

Low-speed:
Lateral wobble of the body and/or steering wheel at speeds less than 35 mph (56 kph) is addressed by TSB 22-02-94.

Mid-speed:
Steering wheel/seat cyclic vibration (33-35 mph (53-56 kph)) on vehicles equipped with 3.0L engine and 31TH transaxle is addressed by TSB 19-04-97.

High-speed:
Vibration is characterized by vibration in the seat, floor, instrument panel, and/or steering wheel at speeds greater than 60 mph (97 kph).

Models:
1992 - 1995 Town & Country/Caravan/Voyager
1993 - 1995 Chrysler Voyager (European Market)
1996 - 1999 Town & Country/Caravan/Voyager
1996 - 1999 Chrysler Voyager (International Market)

Equipment Required:

Tire & Wheel Run out Gauge (PSE # HE490 or equivalent recommended)

Off Car Tire & Wheel Balancer (PSE # H-GSP9702DDR or equivalent recommended)

On Car Tire & Wheel Balancer (Hoffman Finish balancer or equivalent recommended)

Dial Indicator

2 to 3 Inch Micrometer

Dial Caliper