Prius (Gen 2) :: 2006 - Steering Wheel Sluggish And Not Returning To Center
Mar 12, 2011
My friend has a 06 Prius with about 85,000 miles.
Ever since he purchased the car (used) at about 67,000 miles, I've noticed that the steering wheel is slow to return to center and the steering lacks the "springy feel" of the low-mileage Priuses that I have driven. I noticed abnormal tire wear on the car so I suggested 4 new tires and an alignment-- which was done without any improvement. The front toe was set to 0, and the rear toe is minimal (0.05 and 0.1 on the LR and RR, respectively). However, I did not have a zero-point calibration performed at the time of the alignment.
There is no obvious damage or wear to the suspension, as far as I know. Recently though, the steering wheel has decided to clock itself to the right so I know it needs another alignment. It has only been 17k since the last one. Are there any parts that I should consider replacing before doing this alignment?
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I'm stuck failing a vehicle inspection for the steering wheel not returning to center after a turn. It turns most of the way back but you definitely have to finish the job yourself. I've jacked it up and turn the wheel lock to lock with no bind at all, one finger, nice and smooth. I've replaced almost everything up front (ball joints, u-joints, bearings, drag link both ends, etc.).
Mechanic that did the inspection seems to think the steering gearbox and/or the power steering pump could be the source. I have only seen threads for loose/wandering steering (which is why I replaced everything up front already) pointing to the gearbox. I brought the state trooper in to verify it and he said while he wouldn't necessarily fail it, he can't override the mech's call because it does require assistance to straighten out.
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Had mine for 5K service and had them check alignment. Steering felt sluggish and wheel was a few degrees off center from the day it rolled off the lot.
Both front wheels had toe-in over 1/2". Makes you wonder if this is due to spring settling.
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Purchased a Prius C II last weekend. I noticed that when not accelerating hard the steering wheel needs to be nudged back to center after making a turn. Or, put another way, if I move the wheel 5 degrees to the left or the right from dead center, it stays that way, and the car veers off in that direction instead of straightening out on its own.
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We just took in a 2001 Grand Marq with just shy of 170,000 on the clock. Super clean old man's car, runs great. I took it for a test drive with it today, and I noticed the steering does not return to center after a turn. It seems to stop at about the 1/8-1/4 turn mark, and you have to manually have to turn it back the rest of the way. It makes for some odd feeling driving. Now the car has already been through our shop, but they did not see any problems. The tires are like new, and otherwise, it runs great?
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My 'new to me' 01 Ex has 129k miles on it and the one problem is the steering. I read (all 34 pages of) the wander cure thread and I played with my steering box extensively over the last 3 weeks. The initial tightening really worked with the slack in the steering, as did adding air to the passenger front tire to even it out with the driver's side. But it did not cure everything. In fact, the tightening of the box revealed something else - the steering now exhibits what feels like binding. And now I must make minute corrections every second or two all the way down the road, even perfectly straight, flat roads. It's sorta driving me crazy(er) and my wife won't even consider driving it until it's fixed.
I was so caught up in diagnosing this problem that I completely missed that the steering wheel would not re-center itself after turns. My father noticed when he visited last weekend and tried to drive it but parked it after going around the block. If making a 90 degree turn, the wheel will maybe make it back to 45 degrees and stops. So you must manually turn the wheel back to center if you want to go straight.
So I've gone back and tried to loosen up the steering gears to start again, but now the gears seem tight regardless of how I adjust it.
I have already planned to replace the ball joints and get the alignment adjusted when I do the shocks and rear sway next week. Should i wait to see if the ball joints fix the problem or should i plan to replace the steering box at the same time? What say you all?
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Ok try this. On your 2011-13 Elantra if your driving below 60 on backroads and the road slightly turns to the left or right when you get back to a straightaway does the wheel automatically center itself or will it stay turned in the direction you just slightly turned? My wheel stays turned in the direction of the turn and I have to manually move it back to go straight. I have a 2013 Elantra GLS Auto.
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I've got a 2005 F350 that i recently did balljoints, tierods and shocks/stabilizer on. Just stating that because i don't believe anything could be binding up to cause this.
If i am to take a left turn, more than 45 degrees, the truck will seem to lose power assist on the return to center and be very stiff when i return it by force until i jerk the wheel past center and let it come back the other direction and it seems to regain power assist.
Also, the steering is just generally bump. I have not driven a better condition 2005 to tell the difference but i'm sure this isn't the way it's supposed to be
I am not having any issue with braking force, as of yet. The first winter i got the truck i blew a power steering line that goes from the gear to the cooler, in which direction i don't know. It's been a year and a half since then so not sure that caused any failure.
Before this symptom the pump would whine when on left turns only, no problem turning right if i feel like doing right turns the rest of my days. I guess what i'm getting at is, does this sound like a bad pump? Bad gear? Both?
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When I picked up my car I noticed the steering wheel is slightly off center to the left. I brought it back to the dealer who checked the alignment which was spot on. Toyota was notified and another C on the lot was driven which it's wheel was also slightly left. Dealer notified Toyota and offered to adjust wheel one more click but at the risk of it possibly moving to far to the right. I left it as is and as long as alignment is in specs I'm not to worried.
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Wife bought an '06 GS300. Not a bad car, but isn't my 2000 Camry either.... Of course I pick my Camry to the Lexus. I noticed driving it from the day she bought it with 75K on it, it has a jerk or detent when the steering wheel is brought back to center. On the road it drives me nuts, cause I was gifted at driving a car without tossing the passengers back and forth while going down the hwy and in the twisties. I turn and return, I don't try to crack sniff my way down the road. So the dealer can't feel it, the wife feels it some, and low and behold today, I bumped into a co-worker with the same model/year. She feels it too.
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I have a new 2 week old Prius 4. So far I love it. I've put about 600 miles on it. This past weekend I spent a decent amount of time on the freeway and noticed an issue with my steering. I'm pretty sure it is an alignment issue.
The car tracks straight. When I let go of the wheel the car goes dead straight but...the steering wheel is a bit off center turn slightly to the left. If I hold the wheel and turn the steering wheel right to exactly straight the car will go right. It's like they they aligned the car with the steering wheel slightly off center.
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Today, I just picked up my 2014 prius. Basically, when I do a right/left turn on the car, when accelerating out of the turn, the steering wheel does not fully return to the center position (its approximately in the one/eleven o'clock position). Also, if I leave the wheel straight, and drive straight, the car will drive straight and not pull towards the side so I don't think its an alignment issue. I'm not sure if this is normal, or if its happening just because they car is new or just because I'm not accelerating hard enough out of the turn (I always stayed in the eco range with the HSI. )
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Ok just swapped out the stock steering wheel(polyurethane) to the oem leather wheel...
The diy install went fine then i went to sleep, in the morning i took the car for a spin, i noticed when keeping the steering wheel straight i kinda veer to the left, ok maybe i got the install wrong so i popped out the wheel and adjust...but now it veers to the right!
How can I now keep my steering wheel straight w/out it veering left or right? I did change rims about 2 months ago, wheel alignment perhaps? Probably wasnt paying attention to the steering wheel before..
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Just got my golf R 4 door/Nav. When driving straight on the highway (regardless of road crown)... my wheel was about 4 degrees off to the left. No problem alignment wise, but the nice flat bottom wheel is cockeyed.
Car has only 330 miles on it. Took it back to the dealership, they put it on the alignment rack - actually had me sit in the car ensuring the wheel was straight as the tech adjusted the Tie Rods below.
This made it better - I instantly noticed it was better when I took a short test ride with the tech, just as they were closing. However, on the highway home I noticed its still about 2 degrees to the left. Really frustrating as now I have to take it back to the dealer a second time.
The tech actually showed me the alignment printout which was close to-but not totally perfect. Said the only way to make it perfect is to adjust the sub-frame? Really? on a new vehicle.
I do have plans to mod the car's suspension with H&R Coilovers - but will not touch anything until I get this wheel thing square and I am 100% satisfied.
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2012 Sonata ... I took it to dealer for alignment. Steering wheel off center.
mechanic said the left camber is off, cannot be corrected.
My question is, can the steering wheel still not be put to center so as it is not tilted to the left aprox. .5 "
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The center of my steering wheel rattles (part that you press for your horn) is there any way to tighten this?
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13.5k, 2.2 Ecotec, Automatic
The MAF had to be replaced, while the car was at the dealer the power steering motor was replaced (recall). When I got the car back the steering motor (reman) was making a lot of noise and I took it back. This time the motor and the steering column were replaced. After a week I got the car back last night.
This morning I noticed the steering wheel is off center (~1/2 to 3/4") to the right. The car tracks straight with no pull to either side.
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I noticed the first time drove it on the highway since I bought it last week, the steering wheel finds its home a couple of degrees left of center. It tracks perfectly with no pull dragging it off to either side.
After searching, it looks as if it isn't uncommon for the toe to be set while neglecting to lock the steering wheel down at its center position. And it's a simple tie rod adjustment.
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Brand new 2015 Camry SE and I think the steering wheel is slightly off centre... basically driving straight on most roads you need to hold the wheel a bit to the right... and if you hold the wheel completely straight the car will slowly veer to the left.
I checked tire pressure (fine) and I don't think its road crown (most roads are angled a bit right but this car veers left when wheel is held straight). Mostly noticed it once I started doing some highway driving.
I don't think the alignment is bad really but it seems like it might have been done at the factory without the wheel being fully straight.
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I have a 2007 Mercedes G500. The steering wheel is constantly off-center in the counter clockwise direction. The dealer says this is normal, seriously. I spoke with Mercedes customer service and they said to get the vehicle aligned. I told them the dealer did a 4 wheel alignment. Why the steering wheel is not properly aligned?
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I just noticed 2 small puddles under the car tonight. They are in the center left to right, and about even with the steering wheel (front to back). They appear to be water, but I was just wondering if this is the normal a/c discharge, or something else?
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