2007 Model Alignment issues

when I had mine done after 5k miles they showed me the printout how far off and then with it corrected.
I would go back and ask for the printout or a copy there of. Remember it is still under warranty I dont know how long after they do the alignment , my service writer told me if it was still bad they would check it out again. I call that good service

 

You might have a tire radial pull issue, I would suggest to rotate the front tires to the back and back tires to the front and see how it drives, let us know if that works for you.

 

At my 5K, the right front was slight out of spec although
right now I can't remember exactly what was out.

The alignment was done for free. I told the service
writer that it was pulling to the left.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patrickindallas @ Jun 7 2007, 08:36 PM) [snapback]457815[/snapback]</div>

Alignment is not something that never changes over the life of the car. With the great quality of road conditions that is present in the S.F. Bay Area, the alignment can change right after you leave the shop - one pothole is all it takes. If you are having problems after the dealer has set the alignment, you could be looking at something else (like mike m posts). At that point, you are looking at having a shop with more qualified expertise (such as a suspension/alignment shop) handle the issue. It will be on your nickel, but if you want a resolution, that will get you one.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rolling @ Jun 7 2007, 04:30 PM) [snapback]457611[/snapback]</div>

Let me ask you.... How do you feel this drift? Do you notice this with your hands on the steering wheel?

 

I've got approx 1700 miles on car, and can notice pull to left especially when braking, as other have indicated. I talked to dealer and they said could do alignment (N/C), but he recommended wait until first oil change. I'm keeping close eye on any tire wear, but may take it in sooner. Once a tire wear pattern starts it's difficult to counteract it. Of course, another cause for pulling is low tire pressure.

Another thought on pulling to left, it may be aligned this way to counteract the high crown of road, i.e., road slopes slightly to right for drainage, therefore car is aligned to "pull" left to compensate. Any thoughts on this?

Update 7/14/07:
Car was still pulling to left when braking. Took car to dealer for first oil change, and sure enough front end alignment was off: camber and toe of right front wheel. This was at about 2500 miles. They first tried swapping front tires but that made no difference. After alignment everything is in spec, and car drives and stops straight. Also got the cute little diagrams of before and after alignment. All is well now. IMO all new cars should have the alignment checked before you start having tire wear problems. (Unless, of course, you want to wear out the OEM's and buy some real tires.)

 

My new '07 - less than 200 miles on it - has a slight, but noticeable, pull to the left as well during breaking.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusincc @ Jun 12 2007, 08:24 AM) [snapback]460141[/snapback]</div>

Looking at the alignment specs per the Service Manual, it appears that they do not purposely offset to one side or the other.

I noticed that my car had strange handling at freeway speed when I first got it, but decided to wait until the 5k service to have it checked.

After the rotation at 5k, I noticed that my car has a very slight pull to the left when braking or coasting. I attempted to get the dealer to check alignment last weekend, but they didn't because they said they couldn't reproduce the issue. So I took it to an alignment shop that was running a "Free Alignment Check"

Here is what they found:


[attachmentid=9087]



I have an appointment to take it back to the dealer on Friday.

 

So this is why they give us one alignment within one year? It would be interesting to see if the dealer values are the same.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr.Vanvandenburg @ Jun 21 2007, 06:55 AM) [snapback]465682[/snapback]</div>

Don't hold your breath (for the dealer values to be the same). Running over a pothole will change the readings. The important thing is to look at the overall picture and adjust accordingly. While you might have to pay for the alignment shop to do the work, you might be more satisfied with the result of their efforts.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jun 21 2007, 11:26 AM) [snapback]465877[/snapback]</div>

Yes, I realize that they can actually affect the readings while its on the machine by bouncing the suspension. However, my RR wheel is out by quite a bit (2x the max toe) and the camber is almost 1° different from side to side.

The guy at Goodyear initially was acting like I was a nut for having them check my practically new car, but then changed his tone after seeing the result. He said just the difference in camber would give the car a tendency to pull.

He said they couldn't do anything for me because they do not know of a shim kit for the Prius, either from Toyota or aftermarket. He showed me a shim made by Hunter for the Camry, but he said that the machine will calculate the position of the shim for them to correct the rear alignment. Since there isn't a shim for the Prius, the machine won't give him the calculation.

I'll see what the dealer has to say tomorrow.

 

Ok, the dealer had the car this morning.

I will point out (because it comes into play, later) that I called for an appointment Wed AM and wanted to get an appt that afternoon (cause I'm anticipating them needing to order parts, e.g. the axle beam) and we are driving to Portland on Saturday. Friday is the soonest they can get me in, but that will be no problem because "We can get it done on Friday, No Problem". I tell them I'm concerned because the alignment problem is at the rear and they may need to order parts to fix it. Again, I'm told "No problem, they will get it done on Friday"

So, we drop the car off this morning at 8am. I tell the Service Writer (SW) that I'm a little ticked because I brought the car in last weekend and they never put it on the machine. I show him the printout from the tire shop machine (posted above). He asks me to leave it on the seat for them, so I did. I ask him: "If the rear toe is out, like the alignment data says, how are you going to fix it?" He says they can adjust the toe. I tell him that the GY shop says they do not know of a shim for the Prius. He says they just don't have an aftermarket one yet, but they (the dealer) have a Toyota part. He is supposed to give me a call when its ready, he thinks around 12 noon.

After taking care of some other stuff, I don't get around to checking messages until 12:45. He has left me a message: The rear alignment is off, they cannot fix the car today because they cannot get a camber bolt, the earliest they can get the part is next Monday. I'm confused about how the camber bolt is going to fix the problem with the rear toe, but obviously the problem is not going to get fixed today.

We make it back to get the car (unfixed) by 3:30 and I stop by the SW area before going to the cashier to get the paperwork. I ask the SW how they are going to fix the problem with the rear toe by using a camber bolt. Where are they going to install this bolt? Is it holding the rear spindle on? He says yes (Please note this answer for future reference) I tell him I'm concerned because we are going to put about 1200 miles on the car next week and the toe problem is going to cause uneven tire wear. He says "No Problem" we will make "adjustments" if necessary for the tire wear. He says have a good trip and call in when you get back and we will set up another appt to fix the car.

I go pick up the paperwork from the cashier. Noted on the workorder:

Verified Slight Wonder (sic) at Freeway Speeds, Found Tire Pressure at 40 PSI (actually 38/36 cold). Reset to 32. Negative Camber LF, Camber Bolt on Order. Will Align Upon Return.

[attachmentid=9150]


So when I get home, I have another message on the machine: He says "I misspoke, the camber bolt is for the LF because they couldn't get it into spec without changing the front camber. " If I have any questions, give him a call.

I want to know how they are going to fix the rear toe. So I call him back.

Me: "Okay, I get the front camber, but how are you going to fix the rear toe problem?"

Him: "We will adjust the toe after we straighten out the front camber"

Me: "How are you going to adjust the rear toe? Because I have read several places that the rear toe and camber are not adjustable" (One of those places is the Service Manual, BTW)

Him: "I'm pretty sure that its adjustable, let me go doublecheck" (He puts me on hold for a couple of minutes)

Him: "We think after we install the camber bolt, the rear toe will come into spec"

Me: "How is that going to work? Aren't those adjustments completely independent of each other? I don't see how fixing the front camber is going to fix the rear toe"

Him: "Well, sometimes when the measurement is close to spec, just a small adjustment will bring it in. After all, I could just put someone in the passenger seat and it would change all the readings"

Me: "Thats what I'm concerned about."

Him: "After we fix the front camber, we will look at the rear toe. If we have to change parts to make it come into spec, then we will do that"

Me: "So if you need to change the rear axle, you will have that part on hand?"

Him: "I have only had to change one rear axle on one of these, so I don't think it will be necessary to do that. But if we have to order it, it will only take 24 hours to get one" (Reminder: Its going to take at least 72 hours to get a camber bolt).

So I end the conversation there, realizing that it will take at least one more trip to the dealer to get this fixed (3 times, not counting the original request to check alignment at the 5k service). And thinking if the rear "miraculously" comes into spec, I'll have to get another independent check to know for sure.

At this point I'm wondering if the SW is:

a. bullshitting me
b. incompetent
c. deliberately trying to waste my time
d. all of the above

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Jun 22 2007, 10:51 PM) [snapback]466764[/snapback]</div>

Probably a mix of a. & b. It is not in their interest to waste your time because in wasting your time they are wasting their time.

I think you are seeing a perfect example of why a dedicated suspension/alignment shop is more qualified to handle suspension alignment issues than the dealer. The suspension/alignment shop does more alingments in a day than the dealer does in a month. If you can get the parts that the GY shop would need to do the alignment from the dealer, you may get to a solution quicker and be more satisfied with the results. It will cost you, but I really think you will be better served by the GY shop.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jun 23 2007, 03:35 AM) [snapback]466797[/snapback]</div>

I vote for d. Keep in mind that the SW is there anyway and getting paid so it really doesn't matter to him how much of the customer's time is wasted. IMO time to start writing your Lemon Law letters. If the dealer's moron can't fix it maybe Toyota can find someone to educate him. I would demand a loaner so they can keep your car as long as needed until they figure out how to fix it and get the parts.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jun 23 2007, 04:48 PM) [snapback]467029[/snapback]</div>

How are they in Lemon Law territory? This was the first "attempt" to do the repair and arguably the repair has not been finished....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Jun 23 2007, 11:25 PM) [snapback]467165[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, I don't think we are in lemon law territory yet, I'm just bitching because I knew that they would not have the parts to fix it on the second visit, but they wouldn't listen. And if I get them to admit that the rear axle needs to be replaced, I will have to wait for at least another day or two waiting for the parts.

I drove the car to Portland OR this weekend (that's where I'm typing this from), and had crosswinds most of the way. I'm starting to realize why its disconcerting to drive in crosswinds; the car does not handle the same turning left as it does turning right. Its a little harder to initiate a right turn but the car seems more stable turning right. Its easier to initiate a left turn, but its easy to oversteer and have to correct in a left turn. The feeling when hit by a crosswind reminds me of when I tow my camping trailer and get an extra input at the rear whenever the trailer is hit by a gust of wind.

I don't think its dangerous to drive, just not as stable as it should be.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Jun 24 2007, 08:06 PM) [snapback]467448[/snapback]</div>

Alignment issues can definitely magnify the affect of crosswinds. It is unfortunate that the dealer seems to be following a serial approach to fixing your problem, but to some extent, that may be dictated by Toyota and the "just-in-time" inventory model they like to follow - minimal inventory on hand means no carrying cost for Toyota, but delayed time for repair completion for the customer....

 

I took the Grey Magnet in for it's 5000 mile service. Asked them to check the alignment. The wheel's been off-center and a bit of drift since it was new.

Anyways, they did the alignment free of charge, and did adjust the front alignment, although I don't think I got a number. Feels a bit smoother, but I haven't driven much yet.

I say everyone with a new Prius should get the alignment checked if at all concerned.