Symptom Table

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Mercury Montego, 2006 Ford Freestyle, and 2006 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM TABLE

Condition	Possible Sources	Action
Incorrect thrust angle (dogtracking)	Damaged rear suspension components	INSTALL new rear suspension components as necessary. REFER to REAR SUSPENSION .
Incorrect thrust angle (dogtracking)	Incorrect rear wheel alignment	CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
Drift/pull	Unequal tire pressure	ADJUST tire pressure.
	Mismatched tire(s)	INSTALL matching tire(s). REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Excessive side-to-side difference in camber	CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
	Tire forces	ROTATE tires front to rear.
	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Steering components	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Brake drag	REFER to BRAKE SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
Front bottoming or riding low	Strut(s)	INSTALL new strut(s).
Front bottoming or riding low	Front spring(s)	CHECK ride height. INSTALL new front spring(s). REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
Incorrect tire wear (uneven or excessive)	Incorrect tire pressure (rapid center rib or inner and outer edge wear)	ADJUST tire pressure.
	Excessive front or rear toe (rapid inner or outer edge wear)	CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
	Excessive negative or positive camber (rapid inner or outer edge wear)	CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary. INSTALL new tires as necessary. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Tires out of balance (tires cupped or dished)	BALANCE tires.
Rough ride	Shock absorber(s) or strut(s)	INSTALL new shock absorber(s) or strut(s).
Rough ride	Front spring(s) or rear spring(s)	INSTALL new front spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
Shimmy or wheel tramp	Loose wheel nut(s)	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Loose front suspension fasteners	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
	Front wheel bearing(s)	REFER to NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS .
	Wheel or tire concerns	REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Front spring(s)	INSTALL new front spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
	Shock absorber(s)	INSTALL new shock absorber(s) as necessary.
	Loose, worn or damaged ball joint(s)	GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION .
	Loose, worn or damaged steering components	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Front wheel alignment	CHECK the wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
Sticky steering, poor returnability	Ball joints	GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION .
Sticky steering, poor returnability	Steering components	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
Steering wheel off-center	Unequal front settings (side-to-side)	CHECK the wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
	Steering components	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Damaged rear suspension components	REPAIR as necessary. REFER to REAR SUSPENSION .
Sway or roll	Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Loose wheel nut(s)	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Shock absorber(s)	INSTALL new shock absorber(s) as necessary.
	Loose front stabilizer bar	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
	Stabilizer bar bushings	INSTALL new stabilizer bar. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
	Front suspension lower arm bushings	INSTALL a new front suspension lower arm. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
	Front spring(s) or rear spring(s)	INSTALL new front spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
Vehicle leans to one side	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Front or rear suspension components	INSPECT the front and rear suspension system. INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
	Front spring(s) or rear spring(s)	INSTALL new front spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
Vibration/noise	Tires and wheel concerns Wheel bearings Wheel hubs Brake components Suspension components Steering components	REFER to NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS .
Wander	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Ball joint(s)	GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION .
	Front wheel bearing(s)	REFER to NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS .
	Loose, worn or damaged suspension component(s)	INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
	Loose suspension fasteners	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
	Steering components	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Wheel alignment	ADJUST as necessary (excessive total front toe out).