Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Symptom Related Diagnostic Procedures

Symptom Chart

Crabbing
Possible Source(s):
^ incorrect rear thrust angle.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the rear toe adjustment
Possible Source(s):
^ Front or rear suspension components.
Action(s) to take:
^ INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ Drive axle damaged.
Action(s) to take:
^ INSTALL a new drive axle.

Drift/Pull
Possible Source(s):
^ Unequal tire pressure.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the tire pressures. INSPECT the tire for excessive wear.
Possible Source(s):
^ incorrect wheel alignment.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment.
Possible Source(s):
^ Tires.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the tire pressures. INSPECT the tire for excessive wear.
Possible Source(s):
^ Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Damaged steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the steering system.
Possible Source(s):
^ Brake drag.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the brakes.

Front Bottoming or Riding Low
Possible Source(s):
^ Air springs.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the ride height INSTALL new air springs as necessary.

Incorrect Tire Wear
Possible Source(s):
^ incorrect tire pressure (rapid center rib or inner and outer edge wear).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the tire pressure. INSPECT the tire for excessive wear.
Possible Source(s):
^ Excessive front or rear toe (rapid inner or outer edge wear).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment.
Possible Source(s):
^ Excessive negative or positive camber (rapid inner or outer edge wear).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment.
Possible Source(s):
^ Tires out of balance (tires cupped or dished).
Action(s) to take:
^ BALANCE the tires.

Rough Ride
Possible Source(s):
^ Air spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new air springs as necessary.

Shimmy or Wheel Tramp
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose wheel nut(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the wheel nuts to specification.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose front suspension fasteners.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the suspension fasteners to specification.
Possible Source(s):
^ Front wheel bearing(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the wheel bearings.
Possible Source(s):
^ Worn or damaged suspension component bushing.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ Wheel tires.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the wheels/tires. BALANCE or INSTALL new wheels/tires as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ Air spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new air springs as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose, worn or damaged ball joint(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the Ball Joint(s).
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose, worn or damaged steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ Front wheel alignment
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment.

Poor Returnability of the steering
Possible Source(s):
^ Ball joints.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the Ball Joints.
Possible Source(s):
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary.

Steering wheel off-center
Possible Source(s):
^ Unequal front or rear toe settings.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment.
Possible Source(s):
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary.

Sway or roll
Possible Source(s):
^ Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose wheel nut(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the wheel nut(s) to specification.
Possible Source(s):
^ Air spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new air springs as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose front stabilizer bar or rear stabilizer bar.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the stabilizer bar to specification.
Possible Source(s):
^ Worn lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulators.
Action(s) to take:
^ INSTALL new lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulators as necessary.

Vehicle Leans to One Side
Possible Source(s):
^ Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Front or rear suspension components.
Action(s) to take:
^ INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ incorrect ride height Lateral tilt out of specification.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the ride height INSTALL new air springs as necessary.

Vibration/Noise
Possible Source(s):
^ Tires wheels.
^ Wheel bearings.
^ Wheel hubs.
^ Brake components.
^ Suspension components.
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary.

Wander
Possible Source(s):
^ Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Ball joints).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the Ball Joint(s).
Possible Source(s):
^ Front wheel bearing(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the wheel bearings.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose, worn or damaged suspension components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new suspension components as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose suspension fasteners.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the suspension fasteners to specification.
Possible Source(s):
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new steering components.
Possible Source(s):
^ Wheel alignment (excessive total front toe-out).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment.