'Cracking' coming from front of car

Dear Doctor: My wife owns a 1994 Ford Mustang GT convertible with 60,000 miles. It has Kumo tires on that are getting ready to be replaced. No sign of odd tread wear. Recently the front end began making a "cracking" noise when backing up and turning the wheels to the left or right (not lock to lock). The car has been to a wheel alignment center and a mechanic and they say everything is tight and it should be OK. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Joe

Dear Joe: Have the shop take a close look at all of the rubber bushings in the control arms, as well as disconnect the steering linkage and check for binding in any of the moving steering linkage. Most moving parts do have lube fittings and will tend to bind up and make noises.

Dear Doctor: I own a 1996 Saturn SC2 with a squealing noise. I had the belt and belt tensioner replaced and the noise was gone for a short time. Can it be the idler pulley or timing chain? I have good knowledge of repairs and can replace the parts myself. Edward

Dear Edward: The first step is to remove the belt and start the engine. If the noise is gone then it is related to the belt and pulleys. You have to use factory Saturn parts when making the repair. Worn pulleys will cause a new belt to squeal shortly after belt replacement.

Dear Doctor: My daughter owns a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo with 75,000 miles. The engine is using a quart of oil monthly. Where is the oil going? We do not have any leaks. Gil

Dear Gil: If the PCV system is functioning, then the likely culprit is a valve seal or piston ring internal problem. Either would be too expensive to repair. There are many brands of high-mileage oil that will cut down the oil usage.

Dear Doctor: I own a 1999 Ford Ranger pickup in good condition. The problem is the truck drifts to the left. I had the tires rotated and brakes checked. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Francis

Dear Francis: Sounds like you need front-end alignment. If the braking system is not dragging, then the alignment should take care of the problem.

Dear Doctor: I own a 2000 Chevrolet Venture minivan. The ABS light came on and the dealer said the ABS pump and module assembly was faulty and would need replacement at a cost of $1,500. We live in the Sun Belt area and never have snow or ice. My wife is annoyed with the warning lights on the dash cluster. Is it safe to drive without the anti-lock brake feature? George

Dear George: An anti-lock braking system is a good safety feature, but the Venture braking should be fine without the ABS feature. Some state regulators require the ABS system to be in working order to receive a valid state inspection sticker. There is always the option of a used or rebuilt ABS unit.

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