Car Talk by J. B. Griffin III.

Dear JB,

I have a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada which has recently developed a very annoying jerk in the drive train when I am in a slow tight turn, such

as maneuvering through a parking lot. I had the steering and u-joints checked, but nothing appears to be wrong. What am I overlooking?

Signed,
Bumpy Bravada

Dear Bumpy,

For the benefit of those who are keeping score at home the Bravada was Oldsmobile's very dressed up version of the Chevy S-10 Blazer. All Bravadas came equipped with a computer controlled 4 wheel drive system called "Smartrac." The way it worked was that the vehicle normally functioned in rear wheel drive. There were no external

controls or levers for the driver to operate to engage the four wheel drive. Instead, the traction control computer got information from the anti-lock brake computer that told it the speed of each individual wheel. If the rear wheels began to spin the traction control computer would engage the transfer case clutch pack to direct power to the front wheels. Since the clutch packs are pre-tensioned or preloaded with a

little bit of friction built in GM engineered a special synthetic lubricant to smooth out the feel of the drag to the passengers. Over time this lubricant wears out which requires you to drain out the old oil and refill it with new. Do this and your problem will disappear.

Dear JB,

For several years I have been putting up with a problem, but now it is getting to the point of embarrassment. I must either fix it or trade my 1991 Lincoln Towncar. For several years I put up with the fact that if I parked it for any length of time it would slowly sink to the ground. Once I parked too close to a concrete curb and when I

returned to the car I couldn't open the driver's door. That time I crawled across the seat after entering through the passenger's door. I had the rubber air springs replaced to supposedly stop the problem, but to no avail. I would probably put up with all that except now I have the exact opposite problem. It has shot up as tall as a 4 wheel drive truck and has stayed there. A trip to the grocery store and bank now feels like a safari through the Outback. One wisecracker yesterday asked me if I was "a-runnin' 'shine!" I am tired of my car being the joke of my bridge club and am thinking of a nice new Avalon.

Signed,
Lois the Lowrider

Dear Lois,

OK, you got half the problem cured by replacing the air springs, so there is really only one thing left. In order for the air ride suspension to adjust itself it utilizes an air compressor. Inside this compressor are some solenoids to direct the airflow into and out of the air springs. What is happening to your car is that these solenoids have been going bad for several years and now one of them has completely failed and won't let the air vent out of the springs to lower itself back down. A simple replacement of the compressor assembly will even things back out.

JB Griffin owns and operates JB's Auto Sales and Service in Evensville, Tennessee. You may see him weekly on the WDEF-TV News 12 Morning Show every Tuesday at 7:10 a.m. where he will answer your car care questions live and on air. Visit him on the web at:  www.500overcost.com
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