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Car steering question?

I had a rental that, when driving on the highway, started (all of a sudden) to jerk right-left-right-left. It stopped jerking back and forth and then when I pulled out of a parking lot (had stopped for something), started jerking back and forth again (both car and steering wheel).

I called to have the rental company pick it up and deliver another car - which they did - but can anyone tell me what was wrong?

Thanks!

Update:

Craig - the word is "Geek", thank you! And if you want me to program something (code) or create a web site, no problem. Cars? Big problem!

We ALL have our specialities!

Update 2:

BTW - I've had flat tires, unbalanced tires, and out of alignment issues before; this was NOT a shimmy or a 'pull'.

7 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    the rack and pinion in the steering system was clogged.

    and for that reason the steering wheel was back and forward,the valve that control the pressure to left and right ,went "insane"

  • 1 decade ago

    sounds like an alignment issue to me.

    Signs of Poor Alignment

    If your vehicle needs an alignment, you'll notice the following:

    A steering wheel that shakes at certain speeds

    A constant need to correct your steering to keep the vehicle moving in a straight line

    Uneven wear on your tires

    Vibration in the steering column at higher speeds

    There are several ways your car can be knocked out of proper alignment. Every driver at one time or another has done one of these:

    Run over a curb

    Hit a pothole

    Run over or collided with a parking barrier

    Hit a speed bump while moving too fast

    Hit another vehicle

    All of these can knock your wheels out of alignment. If your car has perfect alignment before you hit that pothole, but drifts to the left or right afterward, you know your vehicle's alignment has been altered. It's not an emergency condition, but driving your car with bad alignment can cause premature wear and tear on the suspension system and the tires.

  • 1 decade ago

    Had this happen to me yesterday it was a very seperated

    tire,If not the tire then it is something dangerously wrong

    with the wheel or steering assembly.

  • bur p
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    sounds like a power steering pump with a defective valve.

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  • 1 decade ago

    Probably a flat tire.

  • pwrmax
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    It might be low on steering fluid

  • 1 decade ago

    sounds like the rack is going bad.

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