Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 890

 

  Index      Dodge     Dodge Nitro - service repair manual 2007 year

 

Search            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content   ..  888  889  890  891   ..

 

 

Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 890

 

 

-

13. Damaged engine 
cradle/crossmember.

13. Inspect the cradle/crossmember for 
cracks or other damage. Replace as 
necessary.

POPPING NOISE

1. Loose steering gear mounting 
fasteners.

1. Check fasteners for proper torque and 
retighten as necessary.

-

2. Loose outer tie rod mounting nut 
or jam nut.

2. Check fastener torque. Replace nuts 
as necessary and tighten to 
specifications.

-

3. Loose intermediate (steering) 
shaft coupling at gear input shaft.

3. Make sure coupling is fully seated on 
gear input shaft. Retighten or re-seat as 
necessary.

-

4. Worn tie rod (outer or inner).

4. For evaluation and correction, see 
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.

-

5. Worn axle half-shaft.

5. For evaluation and correction, refer 
to DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING .

CHIRP OR SQUEAL 
(POWER STEERING 
PUMP)

1. Loose power steering pump drive 
belt.

1. Inspect belt. Replace belt if worn or 
glazed. Tighten/adjust power steering 
pump drive belt if equipped with a 
manual tensioner.

-

2. Pulley alignment incorrect.

2. Realign accessory drives.

-

3. Malfunctioning belt auto-
tensioner

3. Verify belt tension. Replace belt 
auto-tensioner.

-

4. Power steering pump noisy (worn 
bearing/bushing noise).

4. Using an electronic listening tool, 
determine if noise is coming from 
pump. Replace power steering pump as 
required.

-

5. Generator or water pump noisy.

5. Using an electronic listening tool, 
determine if noise is coming from 
Generator or water pump. Replace 
faulty component.

WHINE, GROWL, MOAN 
OR GROAN (POWER 
STEERING PUMP)***

1. Low power steering fluid level.

1. Fill power steering fluid reservoir to 
proper level and check for leaks (make 
sure all air is bled from the system 
fluid).

-

2. Air in power steering fluid.

2. Inspect for excessive air bubbles in 
fluid (fluid will appear foamy and 
lighter in color). Inspect hoses for leaks 
and replace as necessary. Bleed air from 
fluid. See STANDARD 
PROCEDURE
.

 

3. Power steering hose touching 
body or frame of vehicle.

3. For evaluation and correction, see 
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.

-

4. Wear of power steering pump 
internal components.

4. For evaluation and correction, see 
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.

COLD START WHINE 
OR MOAN (POWER 

1. Low power steering fluid level.

1. Fill power steering fluid reservoir to 
proper level and check for leaks (make 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 STEERING Steering System - Nitro

  

STEERING PUMP)***

sure all air is bled from the system 
fluid).

-

2. Extremely low ambient 
temperature (near 0°F (-18°C) or 
below)

2. Some noise is expected as pump 
attempts to pull cold, thick fluid. Noise 
should go away as vehicle warms up. 
Acceptable levels of excessive noise are 
one second at 0°F (-18°C) and 15 
seconds at -20°F (-29°C). If noise is 
excessive, look for poor sealing on the 
return hose or a possible fluid leak.

SQUEAKING OR 
RUBBING SOUND

1. Steering column shroud or shaft 
rubbing.

1. While turning the steering wheel, 
listen down column to locate. Check 
interference between moving 
components. Move or realign shrouds 
or shaft as necessary. Replace 
components if this does not correct 
problem.

-

2. Clockspring inside steering 
column noisy.

2. Remove clockspring and reinstall 
steering wheel for testing. If noise is 
gone, replace clockspring.

-

3. Boot/dash seal lubrication 
inadequate.

3. Remove boot seal and recheck for 
noise. Lubricate seal as necessary.

-

4. Steering gear outer tie rod noisy. 4. While a helper turns the steering 

wheel, use an electronic listening tool to 
determine if noise is coming from either 
outer tie rod. Replace outer tie rods as 
necessary.

-

5. Steering gear internally noisy.

5. Remove dash seal boot, then exercise 
the steering wheel. If noise is still 
present at gear, replace steering gear.

SCRUBBING OR 
KNOCKING SOUND.

1. Incorrect tire or wheel size.

1. Replace incorrect size tire or wheel 
with original equipment size.

-

2. Worn motor or transmission 
mount.

2. Drive vehicle, moving accelerator 
pedal rapidly up and down attempting 
to locate noise. Try in both forward and 
reverse. Replace mounts as necessary.

-

3. Tires contacting wheel well.

3. Make sure wheel house is properly 
positioned. If not, reposition as 
necessary. If steering wheel is properly 
centered, check steering gear travel left 
to right by rotating the steering wheel to 
each stop. Steering wheel should rotate 
the same amount in both directions 
from center. If not, replace steering 
gear.

-

4. Interference between moving 

4. Check for bent or misaligned 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 STEERING Steering System - Nitro

  

PERFORMANCE ISSUES 

steering components and other 
components.

components. Correct or replace as 
necessary.

-

5. Accessory drive pulley rubbing 
against another component.

5. Check pulleys for wear. Check for 
worn engine or transmission mount. 
Reposition components or replace 
mounts as necessary.

NOTE:

* There is some noise in all power steering systems. One of the most common 
is a hissing sound evident when turning the steering wheel when at a standstill 
or when parking and the steering wheel is at the end of its travel. Hiss is a very 
high frequency noise similar to that experienced while slowly closing a water 
tap. The noise is present in every valve and results when high velocity fluid 
passes valve orifice edges. There is no relationship between this noise and the 
performance of the steering system.

NOTE:

** A light clunk may be felt or heard during steering wheel reversal while vehicle 
is stationary. This results from internal steering gear rack movement at the 
bushings and in no way affects the performance of the steering system. This 
movement may be felt in the steering components during steering wheel 
reversal.

NOTE:

*** Power steering pump growl/moan/groan results from the development of 
high pressure fluid flow. Normally this noise level should not be high enough to 
be objectionable.

CONDITION 

POSSIBLE CAUSES 

EVALUATION/CORRECTION 

STEERING WHEEL OR 
COLUMN HAS 
FREEPLAY/LASH/LOOSENESS 
(CLUNKING OR RATTLING)

1. Loose coupling pinch bolt 
at gear input shaft.

1. Check pinch bolt torque. Replace 
pinch bolt if equipped with thread 
locker patch and tighten to 
specifications.

-

2. Power steering gear loose 
on cradle/crossmember.

2. Inspect gear mounting bolts. Replace 
if necessary and tighten to 
specifications.

 

3. Excessive freeplay or noise 
from steering column 
bearings.

3. Replace steering column.

-

4. Excessive intermediate 
(steering) shaft coupling u-
joint free-play.

4. Rotate steering wheel back-and-forth 
while watching coupling. Observe for 
free-play. Replace intermediate shaft as 
necessary.

-

5. Loose or worn outer tie 
rod.

5. For evaluation and correction, see 
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.

6. For evaluation, refer to 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 STEERING Steering System - Nitro

  

-

6. Lack of lubrication in 
lower ball joint or ball joint is 
damaged.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . 
Lubricate ball joint if equipped with a 
zerk fitting and check for function. If 
not equipped with a zerk fitting, test 
and replace ball joint as necessary.

-

7. Excessive lash inside 
steering gear.

7. Disconnect intermediate shaft and 
turn steering gear input shaft. Observe 
for any movement without a 
corresponding tire movement. Replace 
steering gear as necessary.

STEERING WHEEL HAS FORE 
AND AFT LOOSENESS.

1. Steering wheel retaining 
bolt loose.

1. Check steering wheel retaining bolt 
torque and tighten to specifications as 
necessary.

 

2. Loose steering column to 
instrument panel fasteners.

2. Check steering column to instrument 
panel fastener torque and tighten to 
specifications as necessary.

 

3. Steering column lower 
bearing spring retainer 
slipped on steering column 
shaft.

3. Pull steering wheel fore-and-aft 
while observing movement. Replace 
steering column as necessary.

STEERING WHEEL, DASH OR 
VEHICLE VIBRATES DURING 
STEERING MANEUVERS 
(ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED 
OR STANDSTILL).

1. Air in power steering fluid. 1. Inspect for excessive air bubbles in 

fluid (fluid will appear foamy and 
lighter in color). Inspect hoses for leaks 
and replace as necessary. Bleed air 
from fluid. See STANDARD 
PROCEDURE
.

 

2. Tire(s) not properly 
inflated.

2. Check and inflate tires to the 
specified pressure.

 

3. Excessive engine vibration. 3. Ensure that the engine is tuned 

properly.

 

4. Loose tie rod end jam nut. 4. Check torque and tighten the inner to 

outer tie rod jam nut to specifications.

 

5. Overcharged air 
conditioning (A/C) system.

5. Turn A/C off and verify issue goes 
away. Repair A/C as necessary.

-

6. Grounded, damaged or 
loose engine mount.

6. Visually inspect for damaged or 
misaligned mounts. Check fastener 
torque. Replace, realign or retighten as 
necessary.

-

7. Loose or worn outer tie 
rod.

7. For evaluation and correction, see 
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.

-

8. Steering gear noisy.

8. During a parking event at 0 mph, 
verify there is vibration only with 
steering. Steer in both directions and 
verify that the noise follows the 
steering input. Check TSB's for any 
known issues. Replace steering gear as 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 STEERING Steering System - Nitro

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content   ..  888  889  890  891   ..