Steering And Tyre Pressure

[CVP2006]

Wanting some advice and wondered if anyone could help!

Have recently started experiencing problems with the steering of my Yaris. (apologies if the descriptions are not very technical!)

Since the 20K service (4 weeks ago), the steering has progressively got much lighter (especially turning right) and the handling of the car around corners, especially on sharper bends, has got very poor. The steering wheel also seems to be slightly out of alignment. Last week, the handling of the car became much worse. The wind did not help matters but it felt like I was 'driving on ice' and the wheels felt like they would not grip the road, especially at higher speeds.

I checked out the tyre pressure and found it to be 8psi down uniformly on every tyre. I suspect some of this is due to the mixed weather but have my suspicions that the service (or rather lack of it!) might have played some part! Have since put tyre pressure back to normal - but the handling problems are still there.

I took it into Toyota who agreed the steering is out of line and abnormally light. They want to carry out a full wheel alignment. However, they are stating this is not covered under the warranty because they assume I might have done the damage myself, despite there being no evidence on the bodywork / wheels of my car to support this. Is this correct?

I am also wondering if the tyres being under pressure could have some way contributed to the current problems I am experiencing. I cover around 1300 miles a month on coastal and country roads (very bumpy) and am wondering if this could be, in part, to blame. Any ideas?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[cfc1]

OK.. 1st of all the correct tyre pressure for a 1.3 Yars Blue 3Dr is 32psi on the front and 30psi on the rear under normal load... don't rely on air lines in garage forecourts are these are never accurate due to mis treatment from he public, get a small dihgital tyre pressure guage from an accessory shop, these are quite good.

When tyres are under pressure the stearing on a car tends to get heavier, when they are over pressue it get lighter. Under inflated tyres will not grip the road properly due to the contact patch being restricted to both outer edges of the tyre. Over inflated tyres will not grip the road properly due to the contact patch being restricted to the centre of the tyre.

When the alignment is out the car...

It can be easier to turn one way than it is the other way.

It may want to veer slightly to one side (it could veer a little or a lot depending on how far the alignment is out)

The steering wheel could be off centre when driving in a straight road. (the camber of the road can tend to make the car drift slightly towards the passenger side... this is quite normal)

Tyres would wear slightly more on one edge than the other edge.. it is most commonly the inner edge of a tyre that will "track" down. (Power steering will cause the outer edge of the front tyres to "feather" slightly.. again this is normal)

Wheel alignment is something i would recommend be checked every 6 months, as hitting potholes and other undulations etc in the road does knock it out (hence no warranty cover on alignment)

The problems you are having could well be tyre related, and that is the best place to start checking.. the alignment is also a possibilty and will do no harm getting it re adjusted... however Mr. T could well charge over the odds, good idea to shop around.

[Rayburn]

CVP2006.

you started off by saying Just after the 20k service, things went bad.

Have you been back and told them this?

Also unless you have clobberd the kerb, the Steering wheel just doesnt go Off centre by itsself.

It does sound on 1st reading, that They, the Toyota garage have done something....??

Did they in fact re-align the steering, and forgot to realign the steering wheel.

But I think the first job is, to go back and tell them, it wasnt like this, untill I got it back from the service.

Be polite, ask, is it possible that They have done something.?????

If they insit, they have done nothing, and want to charge you, I would suggest you find a tyre dealer and get the front steering Alignment checked out. Checking takes 5 mins. IF they say its OUT, go back to the Dealer and say this is rather suspect, seeing as it was Not like this before the service.

Difficult one this, but reason with the Dealer, and say that customer Confidence needs to be built on here.

Good luck

Ray

Ps. At 20k the front tyres could well be getting worn. Check that they are ok and no bits of cord are sticking through.