Some 2002-03 Jeep Grand Cherokee models may produce a whining or moaning sound from the power steering system when the driver makes left or right turns.
One likely cause for the noise, says Chrysler, is contact between the low- and high-pressure hoses at the steering gear.
To make the diagnosis, begin by putting the vehicle on a lift. Next, start the engine and have a fellow technician turn the steering wheel while you listen for the noise from underneath.
If the whine or moan becomes obvious, look at the two steering hoses where they attach to the steering gear. If they're making contact, as shown in the illustration above, you've verified the cause.
Begin the fix by removing road debris from the hose connections at the steering gear.
Now loosen the hoses and rotate them so that there's at least 1/8" clearance between the two.
To complete the job, tighten the hose connections, lower the vehicle, fill the power steering reservoir and turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock several times to bleed air from the system.
Grand Cherokees that are prone to the steering noise include 4.7L V8 vehicles built prior to 11/15/02 and 4.0L inline Six models built before 2/12/03.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].