Occasional Popping sound/feel in steering while driving - 2006 LE
Hello,
Our van has had this issue since the spring. It seems to come and go. Sometimes weeks or a month go by with it not happening and then it will happen every day or so.
Basically, while driving along, you an hear a pop as well as feel it slightly throughout the wheel and pedal. It seems to resonate throughout the vans frame.
At first, it only happened while making left turns (slight turns on roads, not sharp 90 degree turns) and that's the most common scenario, but it has happened while driving straight down the road.
My gut tells me it's something slipping/popping in either the front suspension or steering. It seems to come from the front-left of the van.
I'm out of warranty (46k miles) so I had my mechanic take a look/drive at inspection time and they didn't find any issues.
I'm debating whether to take it to the Toyota dealer, but since it's hard to replicate on demand and there are no visible problems, I'm afraid I'll just be paying them to tell me everything is fine.
My main concern is with the safety of this vehicle since my wife and kids are in it daily.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what this could be or anything I could check out myself?
I need to put new brake pads on and if there is something I can check out while the van is jacked up, I'd like to try.
Thanks for any ideas!
Our van has had this issue since the spring. It seems to come and go. Sometimes weeks or a month go by with it not happening and then it will happen every day or so.
Basically, while driving along, you an hear a pop as well as feel it slightly throughout the wheel and pedal. It seems to resonate throughout the vans frame.
At first, it only happened while making left turns (slight turns on roads, not sharp 90 degree turns) and that's the most common scenario, but it has happened while driving straight down the road.
My gut tells me it's something slipping/popping in either the front suspension or steering. It seems to come from the front-left of the van.
I'm out of warranty (46k miles) so I had my mechanic take a look/drive at inspection time and they didn't find any issues.
I'm debating whether to take it to the Toyota dealer, but since it's hard to replicate on demand and there are no visible problems, I'm afraid I'll just be paying them to tell me everything is fine.
My main concern is with the safety of this vehicle since my wife and kids are in it daily.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what this could be or anything I could check out myself?
I need to put new brake pads on and if there is something I can check out while the van is jacked up, I'd like to try.
Thanks for any ideas!
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Excellent - Thank you!
Would this be covered under the 5 year 60k mile powertrain warranty?
Would this be covered under the 5 year 60k mile powertrain warranty?
No. The TSB is only good for 36 months or 36,000 miles. This does not fall under the powertrain warranty.99Stang said:Excellent - Thank you!
Would this be covered under the 5 year 60k mile powertrain warranty?
That's what I was afraid of.robo5 said:No. The TSB is only good for 36 months or 36,000 miles. This does not fall under the powertrain warranty.99Stang said:Excellent - Thank you!
Would this be covered under the 5 year 60k mile powertrain warranty?
Is it safe to assume the part that is replaced should be engineered to last longer than the original or will it likely fail in another 40-50k miles?
I'm trying to decide if this should be replaced right away or if I should wait until after this winter since road salt seems to be the cause of the issue.
Thanks.
99
There is a post here talking about this problem and some of the members,lube up the u joint in the steering shaft,in fact one member used a syringe full of lube to get in the tight spots which worked great and fixed his problem. I think what is going on here is that u joint is getting dry and then wearing out premature.Hope this helps.
There is a post here talking about this problem and some of the members,lube up the u joint in the steering shaft,in fact one member used a syringe full of lube to get in the tight spots which worked great and fixed his problem. I think what is going on here is that u joint is getting dry and then wearing out premature.Hope this helps.
That was me and it still works like new. Very easy and cheap fix. I got the idea from a Camry forum. All that is happening is that the grease works it way out over time, which is normal. It just needs to be regreased. They should have designed it with a grease nipple for easy regreasing. Here are my posts about what I did including pics:steelcity said:99
There is a post here talking about this problem and some of the members,lube up the u joint in the steering shaft,in fact one member used a syringe full of lube to get in the tight spots which worked great and fixed his problem. I think what is going on here is that u joint is getting dry and then wearing out premature.Hope this helps.
http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,942.15.html
Just read on down and it is all there.
http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,942.msg17784.html#msg17784
REPLY #23/Page 2
Also, REPLY #24 - 25, 28, 32 (Page 3),
EDIT: added more info on the relevant link(s)/discussion
BY: topspy/Mod-Squad 8)
My T&C and F250 did this also, one thing to check is the anti sway bar bushings that mount the bar to the frame. Dust and winter grime eat the bushings up in just a couple years. Infact on the T&C when I replaced the sway bar bushings they still popped because manufacturing tolerance on the outside of bushing to it's housing. A strip of tire tube cured that, that is a common problem with Caravan and T&C vans.
That is why I have a Sienna now.
PS the bushings are cheap ,about $20. and easy to change. Hope this helps,
Colin
That is why I have a Sienna now.
PS the bushings are cheap ,about $20. and easy to change. Hope this helps,
Colin
We had this problem on our 2006 and it was covered under our extended warranty.
However, if you get suspension parts replaced, make sure they do an alignment. For some reason this didn't click for me and obviously the dealer did NOT do an alignment after the repair. We chewed the heck out of a set of Michelins before I made the connection and got an alignment done.
Hopefully my experience will save someone some hassle.
TR
However, if you get suspension parts replaced, make sure they do an alignment. For some reason this didn't click for me and obviously the dealer did NOT do an alignment after the repair. We chewed the heck out of a set of Michelins before I made the connection and got an alignment done.
Hopefully my experience will save someone some hassle.
TR
This topic/thread is now CLOSED/LOCKED to avoid duplication.
Please reference the existing discussion regarding steering clunking/popping....
TSB: ST003-04R / Steering Shaft Noise 29Apr2004
http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,225.0.html
topspy/Mod-Squad 8)
Please reference the existing discussion regarding steering clunking/popping....
TSB: ST003-04R / Steering Shaft Noise 29Apr2004
http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,225.0.html
topspy/Mod-Squad 8)
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