Steering Problems While Driving

does it have key less ignition ?

ive come across it with a reanault scenic

no it does not have key less entry.

Have you taken it back to dealer ? this is a must if you are to be beleived by the law.

because if you dont they might question even more if you were telling the truth and there may be a problem under the car thats not apparent

In addition to being believed in court, how about the issue of I CANNOT STEER MY CAR! That sounds like something I would complain about.

Are you still driving it? Do you have confidence it will not happen again?

My van was towed by the police. I have my insurance investigating the problem. They informed me to look online and do my own research to see if I can find any information on the problem.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f106de4

try this link as well

I must agree with the last two posts. It is absolutely essential that you have the vehicle checked by an authorized dealer for two very good reasons. Maybe more than two. First as stated previously it gives your explanation to the officer some credibility. Second, do you think you will be comfortable driving that car with a known problem that could cause you more trouble than you now have. Third, if the other vehicle's insurance company decides to have you pay for all damages , that could cause some real problems not to mention a possible increase in your insurance premium. Only you know the feeling of being behind the wheel of a vehicle out of control. Personally I wouldn't drive that vehicle off my property . Have the dealer where you purchased it come and take by flatbed truck. If they don't know what caused the trouble , "This is only what I would do" Tell them in no uncertain terms ," I don't want it back until you can assure me the problem is rectified". This stance may just help you in the event the other vehicle's insurance co/driver decides to go to court over this incident. What do you think?

h

If it was me i wouldnt have driven it at all. i would of got the garage to tow it from the scene.

If you drove it away from the scene after telling a police officer the steering locked up, You would have a job toconvince the courts your story is true

I agree, and I am doing as so, I have informed my insure of the problem causing the accident. I have also not driven the vehicle. It was towed away from the scene and now I just have to wait on the appraiser to review the van and have it inspected by a mechanic to figure out the problem. I also informed the officer I do not feel safe driving the van after this incident. The officer was not so nice. Before he even asked me my side of the story he informed me I would be charged with careless under the highway traffic act.... so I was kinda screwed right from the start. However, I am determined to prove my story and I am fighting the ticket. I just hope something come us to back it up...

I hope these links help

There appears to be a problem with the power steering which could be used to prove resonable doubt

http://204.16.221.2/direct/view/.f172b27

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f172b27/79

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX?ed_searchResults@@.f0a25f0!keywords=allin%3Amsgtext%20limit%3A.f0a25f0%20steering%20faults&count=20

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX?ed_searchResults@@.f0a25f0!keywords=allin%3Amsgtext%20limit%3A.f0a25f0%20steering%20locks%20up&count=20

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rack+and+pinion+steering+on+Chrysler+vans&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7DKUK_en-GB&redir_esc=&ei=q_7-S5XyMIuI0wS416X0DQ

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-gb%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7DKUK_en-GB&q=accidents+caused+by+steering+on+Chrysler+vans&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Hope it helps

Thanks a lot Peter. I will look into these links and keep yous posted....

http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com/

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/10871/Terry-West-Interview.html

i cant find any more

Please excuse my opinion of an insurance company telling you to go look for yourself on the internet. I hope this was just the opinion of the agent and not the company. If this is the co's attitude I would dump them like a hot potato. Also, if that is the case let us know so if we buy insurance from them we can dump them. Not knowing if the vehicle was financed, maybe you didn't have any choice of insurance coverage. Back to the mechanical problem, a lot of good references have been posted and maybe they will help in your search. As always, we/I would appreciate if you kept us informed as to just what the person inspecting your vehicle had to report as to what they found. Thank you.

h

I suspect you temporarily lost the hydraulic power assist steering. Could be a slipping belt? It is possible to steer a vehicle without the power assist, BUT the difference in required driver effort can be quite LARGE! It could easily feel like the steering was locked to anyone not familiar manual steering.

Manual steering used to be a good way to develop "Popeye" like forearms as well as upper arm and shoulder strength.

Hopefully the investigation will find the cause.

Many of the links posted seem to be about leaking power steering systems. Was your van a leaker? If it was full at the time of the accident, will it still be full when the investigation gets to looking into the cause?

Has your van had it's rack repaired, or replaced? A small piece of grit, or a rubber O ring caught between the rack and pinion gears would stop the ability to turn the car.

Just jacking the van up and turning the wheels back and forth is NOT the test you need. If it was me checking the van, I would want to pressure clean the outside of the rack, the pump and the hoses connecting them. If there is a cooler, count that in also. THEN, collect all of the fluid that runs out as it is removed from the van. There are no loose parts in there. All parts are held in place in some manner. Flush the hoses, filter and collect the contents. As the pump is dismantled, again, collect all fluid that runs out. look for anything that is not secured. Dismantle the rack assembly using the most caution. Again filter and collect all contents. Now look at the two meshing gears very carefully. Is there any signs of a small pebble having scarred either one? Any remnants of a piece of O ring? The tip of a screwdriver? An out of place snap ring?

There is no neon sign in any of these components that will light up and show you the cause. Another thought. How motivated is the dealership to discover that it is their fault, not yours? Good luck. There are some decisions you will have to make that I hope turn out well for you.

I will look into all of those for sure. Thank you very much for the info....