Questions and Answers

Dodge Avenger Questions Q. Dear sir, my car is a 1996 Dodge Avenger, 2.0 liter 4 cylinder with 108,000 miles. My questions are; my steering wheel shakes when I approach 60 mph or when I go over that speed. Is it bad alignment or a bad tire? Also, my car will hesitate or shimmy while driving. It acts like it loses a spark or something. And one last question is my brake light keeps coming on but my brakes are good and my parking brake is completely off. If you could help me out it would be very much appreciated.

A. The shimmy could be caused by a bad tire. That's much more likely then the wheel alignment. But if it has been so long you can't remember the last wheel alignment, maybe it's time to have one done.

I would rotate and balance the four tires and that will eliminate them as a possibility. Have the front end inspected and the alignment done. That will get the front end in good shape and more than likely cure the shimmy.

What has been done in the way of basic maintenance? The best place to start is with a fresh tune-up, new spark plugs, new ignition wires, distributor cap and rotor, new air and fuel filters. Check the vacuum lines and EGR. Then check the PCM for stored codes.

The brake light will come on when the brake fluid level is low.