Get thee to a mechanic, posthaste!

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By Ray & Tom Magliozzi Updated 11:32 AM Friday, October 23, 2009

Dear Tom and Ray:

We have a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Whenever we hit a big bump in the road, the Jeep starts shaking uncontrollably, and the steering wheel is next to impossible to hold straight. We have to slow down, pull over to the shoulder of the road and come to a stop before starting back up again. Then it’s fine. This doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s becoming more frequent.

Can you please help us determine what might be the problem so we don’t become a flaming ball of wreckage? — Tracy

TOM: Well, if you’re reading this from the burn unit, Tracy, you can ignore the following advice. But if you’re still pre-inferno, we suggest you take this car to your mechanic immediately.

RAY: Right. We understand the appeal of free advice. But when you’re having trouble controlling your car, don’t drive around and wait for us to answer your question in the paper. Remember, cars are dangerous, and we’re extremely slow and lazy.

TOM: You could have a bad ball joint, Tracy, or a failing tie-rod end. If either of those broke, the results would be disastrous, even for an experienced heap navigator like yourself.

RAY: If it’s not a ball joint or a tie-rod end, then it’s probably the steering damper. This vehicle has a suspension system that’s sort of — uh, what’s the word for it?

TOM: Barbaric.

RAY: That’s it. It’s old technology, it’s cheap technology and it’s further compromised by having to perform both on the road and off the road. The result is that the handling is only marginally acceptable, even when all the parts are working perfectly.

TOM: So to improve the steering, they added something called a steering damper. What does a steering damper do? It’s basically a shock absorber for the wheels that steer the car. It damps the oscillations of those wheels to keep the steering wheel from going back and forth in ever-larger gyrations until it’s shaking uncontrollably. Sound familiar, Tracy?

RAY: And of course, worn-out or overinflated tires, or bad shock absorbers will only exacerbate the problem.

TOM: In any case, you can’t drive like this. So take your car to a mechanic you trust, and have him check out the entire front end. If all the basic suspension and steering components look OK, then I’d strongly suspect it’s the steering damper. And don’t wait, Tracy.

Spa treatment for car not as kooky as it sounds

Dear Tom and Ray:

So I’m thinking of getting my car detailed, and an associate gives me a referral. While perusing the service sheet, under “Options” is listed “Claying, add $30-$40.” I’m thinking, “Holy spa treatment, Batman!” The other side of the service sheet explains the process:

“Why clay your car? Claying your car produces dramatic results. Using a lubricant spray, clay is slid alongside your paint. It picks up microscopic pollutants, which a car wash cannot remove. The result is stunning! Your paint looks cleaner and feels much smoother to the touch. With a coat of wax, your car will look the best it ever has.”

So my multipart question to you: Have you ever heard of this; what do you think; is this for real? — Claudia

RAY: Do they lay slices of soothing cucumber over your headlights, too, Claudia?

TOM: Believe it or not, this IS for real, Claudia. We’d never heard of it. But we checked with our pals in the body-shop underworld, and they say it’s a procedure that’s been accepted for a long time. It works sort of like Silly Putty works when you  press it against a newspaper. Small particles stick to the clay, and then are pulled off the car’s finish.

RAY: Apparently it’s one of the methods used to remove rail dust from cars. Sometimes new cars that are transported by train get covered in a fine coating of metal dust that’s created by the interaction between the train wheels and the tracks. And removing the dust by traditional methods can scratch the surface.

TOM: Claying is also said to remove acid-rain stains. And ring around the collar.

RAY: Is claying necessary? Of course not. It would be the kind of thing that someone who is very particular about her car’s appearance would do. And if you’re keeping a car forever, I suppose it might very well prolong the life of the finish.

TOM: Hey, while they’re claying the car, do you think they could reshape it? Maybe they can clay my ’78 Fiat and make it look like a Ferrari.

RAY: You’d be lucky if they could reshape it and make it look like a car.

Send your comments or questions for Tom and Ray to: Car Talk Plaza, P.O. Box 3500 Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02238. www.cartalk.com.

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