Volkswagen New Beetle. Manual - part 41

STEERING COLUMN TROUBLE SHOOTING 

BASIC STEERING COLUMN TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART 

Flow control valve stuck or inoperative 

See POWER STEERING PUMP article 

Pressure plate not flat against cam ring 

See POWER STEERING PUMP article 

Extreme wear of cam ring 

Replace and check adjustments 

Scored plate, thrust plate or rotor 

See POWER STEERING PUMP article 

Vanes not installed properly 

See POWER STEERING PUMP article 

Vanes sticking in rotor slots 

See POWER STEERING PUMP article 

Cracked/broken thrust or pressure plate 

See POWER STEERING PUMP article 

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any 
unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble 
Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem 
symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, 
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing. 

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE 

CORRECTION 

Noise in Steering 

Coupling pulled apart 

See STEERING COLUMNS article 

Column not correctly aligned 

See STEERING COLUMNS article 

Broken lower joint 

Replace joint 

Horn contact ring not 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Bearing not lubricated 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Shaft snap ring not properly seated 

Reseat or replace snap ring 

Plastic spherical joint not lubricated 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Shroud or housing loose 

Tighten holding screws 

Lock plate retaining ring not seated 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Loose sight shield 

Tighten holding screws 

High Steering Shaft Effort 

Column assembly misaligned 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Improperly installed dust shield 

Adjust or replace 

Tight steering universal joint 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

High Shift Effort 

Column is out of alignment 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Improperly installed dust shield 

Adjust or replace 

Seals or bearings not lubricated 

See STEERING COLUMNS article 

Mounting bracket screws too long 

Replace with new shorter screws 

Burrs on shift tube 

Remove burrs or replace tube 

Lower bowl bearing assembled wrong 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

  

SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING 

BASIC SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART 

Shift tube bent or broken 

Replace as necessary 

Improper adjustment of shift levers 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Improper Trans. Shifting 

Sheared shift tube joint 

Replace as necessary 

Sheared lower shaft lever 

Replace as necessary 

Improper shift lever adjustment 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Improper gate plate adjustment 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Excess Play in Column 

Instrument panel bracket bolts loose 

Tighten bolts and check bracket 

Broken weld nut on jacket 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Instrument bracket capsule sheared 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

Column bracket/jacket bolts loose 

Tighten bolts and check bracket 

Steering Locks in Gear 

Release lever mechanism 

See STEERING COLUMN article 

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any 
unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble 
Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem 
symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, 
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing. 

CONDITION & POSSIBLE 
CAUSE 

CORRECTION 

Front End Noise 

Loose or worn wheel 

See Wheel Bearing Adjustment in SUSPENSION 

Worn shocks or shock 
mountings 

Replace struts or strut mountings 

Worn struts or strut mountings 

Replace struts or strut mountings 

Loose or worn lower control 
arm 

See SUSPENSION 

Loose steering gear-to-frame 
bolts 

See STEERING 

Worn control arm bushings 

See SUSPENSION 

Ball joints not lubricated 

Lubricate ball joints & see Ball Joint Checking in 

SUSPENSION 

Front Wheel Shake, Shimmy, or Vibration 

Tires or wheels out of balance 

Check tire balance 

Incorrect wheel alignment 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

  

Drive shaft unbalanced 

Check drive shaft balance 

Loose or worn wheel bearings 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

Loose or worn tie rod ends 

See SUSPENSION 

Worn upper ball joints 

See Ball Joint Checking in SUSPENSION 

Worn shock absorbers 

Replace shock absorbers 

Worn strut bushings 

Replace strut bushings 

Car Pulls to One Side 

Mismatched or uneven tires 

Check tire condition 

Broken or sagging springs 

See SUSPENSION 

Loose or worn strut bushings 

See SUSPENSION 

Improper wheel alignment 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

Improper rear axle alignment 

Check rear axle alignment 

Power steering gear 
unbalanced 

See STEERING 

Front brakes dragging 

See BRAKES 

Abnormal Tire Wear 

Unbalanced tires 

Check tire balance & rotation 

Sagging or broken springs 

See SUSPENSION 

Incorrect front end alignment 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

Faulty shock absorbers 

Replace chock absorbers 

Scuffed Tires 

Toe-In incorrect 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

Suspension arm bent or twisted 

See appropriate SUSPENSION article 

Springs Bottom or Sag 

Bent or broken springs 

See SUSPENSION 

Leaking or worn shock 
absorbers 

Replace shock absorbers 

Frame misalignment 

Check frame for damage 

Spring Noises 

Loose "U" Bolts 

See SUSPENSION 

Loose or worn bushings 

See SUSPENSION 

Worn or missing interliners 

See SUSPENSION 

Shock Absorber Noise 

Loose shock mountings 

Check & tighten mountings 

Worn bushings 

Replace bushings 

Air in system 

Bleed air from system 

Undercoating on shocks 

Remove undercoating 

Car Leans or Sways on Corners 

Loose stabilizer bar 

See SUSPENSION 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

  

WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING 

BASIC WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART 

Faulty shocks or mountings 

Replace shocks or mountings 

Broken or sagging springs 

See SUSPENSION 

Shock Absorbers Leaking 

Worn seals or reservoir tube 
crimped 

See SUSPENSION 

Broken Springs 

Loose "U" bolts 

See SUSPENSION 

Inoperative shock absorbers 

Replace shock absorbers 

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to any 
unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble 
Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem 
symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, 
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing. 

CONDITION & POSSIBLE 
CAUSE 

CORRECTION 

Premature Tire Wear 

Improper tire inflation 

Check tire pressure 

Front alignment out of tolerance 

See ALIGNMENT SPECS in WHEEL 

ALIGNMENT section 

Suspension components worn 

See SUSPENSION section 

Steering system components worn 

See STEERING section 

Improper standing height 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

Uneven or sagging springs 

See SUSPENSION section 

Bent wheel 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

Improper torsion bar adjustment 

See SUSPENSION section 

Loose or worn wheel bearings 

See WHEEL BEARING ADJ. in SUSPENSION 

section 

Worn or defective shock 

Replace shock absorbers 

Tires out of balance 

Check tire balance 

Pulls to One Side 

Improper tire inflation 

Check tire pressure 

Brake dragging 

See BRAKE section 

Mismatched tires 

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT 

Broken or sagging spring 

See SUSPENSION section 

Broken torsion bar 

See SUSPENSION section 

Power steering valve not centered 

See STEERING section 

 

1998 Chevrolet Pickup C1500 

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures