Alrighty, so my grandmother owns a 2009 Dodge Journey 2.4cyl (hamster wheel edition) 68k miles and I get to be the person that works on it.
Two problems, one I will probably fix and one the dealer will probably fix but I would like to know the cause of.
What I will probably fix: When I turn the wheel with acceleration I notice a noice (kind of like a moan) that definitely makes me think it is the power steering pump. Now I am a person that works on suspension usually (brakes, rotors, cv shaft, lower ball joints, tie rods, struts, etc.) and don't know that much about power steering, much less this "truck". I take it this noice is not usuall (not to mention the sound of the engine that is not usual to me haha) because she brought it to my attention and I have been driving it lately and also noticed this noice. It doesn't constantly happen, but when it does I can definitely hear it. I took a brief dark look at the PSF and it looks to be more on the red side, possibly a little brown (mind you I was in a closed garage with not much light and a crappy flashlight) and smelt a little burnt. The engine department does not include a diagram of the pulleys so I tried to trace the lines and from what I can see I beleive the pulley is at the top front part of the engine, which looks to be extremely easy to get to, correct me if I am wrong. She still has warranty, not sure if they will cover this, so if they don't is there something I need to know before I take this c*cksucker apart and don't have the right tools to finish it? Also am I correct to presume the culprit is the power steering pump?
What the dealer will probably fix: I have noticed a pretty rough vibration at idle. I work as a driver for a local company and my car is down because I hit a raccoon and busted my radiator and bumper, so I have been driving this car. I do start this vehicle frequently throughout the day (on/off more than a dozen times a day) and it doesn't do this at first, but later on in the day when I start it and am just idling I feel a pretty heavy vibration. It doesnt necassarily shake the car, but I can feel it in the driver seat pretty well, feels like sitting in a lower-powered massage chair. My first thought was motor mounts, but I decided to come here and register and see if I can get any input/experience/expertise, with respect to the "power steering" problems.
Thanks for your input guys and I hope to get some help through this forum. I usually find the best help subscribing to forums inwhich people have more experience than me dealing with these problems with a specific car.
