Hope you don't mind me posting this question. I have been searching for 2 days and can't find any description similar to my steering issue although it could be I can't find the correct words to search on.

This is about my 2000 Dodge Durango SLT 5.9L v8, 4X4. About 95,000 miles.

The car has sat in my driveway in Michigan for the last 2 years because I moved back to take care of my mother. No need to have 2 cars at this time. I did not want to sell it and kept it as a back up. I did try to start and drive the Durango once a month, although a few months I skipped especially the last 6 months.

I want to register and use the car now but the steering is hard and not right. I think it went bad this past winter but I can't really recall, it may have been gradual. I know the steering in the Durango always felt like a "truck" when compared to our jeep so I always expected a different feeling but this time it is broke.

The steering when going straight feels fine when I turn either way, not only is it hard to turn it feels like there is a lump or 2 I am driving over. Almost like a bulge in the tires. (checked - no bulge). Like driving over a very small almost undetectable speed bump twice either side. I inflated the tires but no change. Also when I have to turn into the driveway or any other 90 degree turn the wheels feel like they get stuck for a moment and I hear a "peeling out squeal". (like when youngsters take off fast and squeal their wheels leaving marks). The power steering fluid is filled and looks good . There have been no leaks in the driveway the last couple years. No additional noises anywhere. No squeaks, clanking or screaming pump noise. Actually the car is very quiet. It was serviced 2 years ago. No codes come up on the dash.

I am sure this problem is described a million times in this forum but I am having a hard time relating these symptoms to others. Any ideas?

Being a women I never really has a huge interest in cars but the last couple years I have had good luck fixing our jeep with suggestions, directions, pictures and parts bought myself instead of paying huge money to a mechanic.

 

Sounds like the transfer case is in 4 wheel drive.

 

With the power steering pump squealing I would say that a bearing in the pump might have givin out. One thing you could try is to start it and let it run for a bit to heat up the bearings/seals and they might break free and start working again. Let it heat up and go out every 5 minutes and try to turn the wheels both ways to engage the pump.

 

Thank you so much.. I am experiencing a serious blonde moment... Yes.... I now recall I shifted into 4wd hi this winter to move the vehicle out of a snow pile.

I forgot to put it back to regular 4wd so it sat there in 4 hi for awhile and I never bothered to checked when I drove it down the street for the first time 2 days ago. This past winter was the only time I ever used the 4wd hi or lo.

Now I know why I could not find similar symptoms searching the internet for 2 days.. I am a dork x-large..

My problem now is getting it out of 4wd high.. It won't shift back to regular 4wd. I don't recall there ever being a light on dashboard that lights up either way. I don't have a light now warning me of hi/lo.

I tried a few suggestions to try to get it unstuck but it is dark and I will have to look under the vehicle tomorrow because driving it backwards and forward is not helping.

 

Try letting the truck roll in neutral. 2 to 3 miles an hour.

 

+1

start the truck and in forward gear roll like 1-3 MPH and try to switch gears back to 2WD.