Car pulling left. Advice please.
Discussion
Hi all.
My mother in law has a Vauxhall Meriva - yes, I know that is the problem right there.
She has told me it is pulling left a little bit. On driving it, it isn't pulling left, it is doing its damndest to turn left.
I've done the standard things, tyre pressures, tracking, etc and nothing seems amiss.
Have taken it to the garage it was bought from and they cannot find what is wrong. The spoke with the local Vauxhall Dealer and their response was TADTS. There was some wear in the track rod ends which were changed, but nothing else. For the record, the garage is run by a family friend and he has agreed that there is something wrong, but he cannot find it.
Drove it yesterday and it is definitely worse, the wheel is constantly tugging left. No strange wear on the tyres, brakes not binding.
Anyone any other ideas or things to try? (Apart from shooting it, selling it etc)
My mother in law has a Vauxhall Meriva - yes, I know that is the problem right there.
She has told me it is pulling left a little bit. On driving it, it isn't pulling left, it is doing its damndest to turn left.
I've done the standard things, tyre pressures, tracking, etc and nothing seems amiss.
Have taken it to the garage it was bought from and they cannot find what is wrong. The spoke with the local Vauxhall Dealer and their response was TADTS. There was some wear in the track rod ends which were changed, but nothing else. For the record, the garage is run by a family friend and he has agreed that there is something wrong, but he cannot find it.
Drove it yesterday and it is definitely worse, the wheel is constantly tugging left. No strange wear on the tyres, brakes not binding.
Anyone any other ideas or things to try? (Apart from shooting it, selling it etc)
Brakes binding on one side? Does the LH disc get really hot?
Really cheap tyre's?
I'd be more inclined to say it'd had a botch job done on the tracking at some point though........
Dealership probably isn't gonna have a clue, because if it doesn't give an error code, the "mechanic" will just say there's nothing wrong.
Also:
http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?t...
Really cheap tyre's?
I'd be more inclined to say it'd had a botch job done on the tracking at some point though........
Dealership probably isn't gonna have a clue, because if it doesn't give an error code, the "mechanic" will just say there's nothing wrong.
Also:
http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?t...
Four-wheel alignment on the proper Hunter kit might be a good place to start.
If the previous owner managed to slide the rear end of the car into a kerb in the snow, for instance, is it possible to have set a rear wheel pointing to the right which might make the front end seem to be pulling to the left?
Having just the front wheels tracked wouldn't reveal this, I wouldn't have thought.
If the previous owner managed to slide the rear end of the car into a kerb in the snow, for instance, is it possible to have set a rear wheel pointing to the right which might make the front end seem to be pulling to the left?
Having just the front wheels tracked wouldn't reveal this, I wouldn't have thought.
Brakes seem fine, wheels spin cleanly etc.
I'll check the rear alignment.
Wheels are steel - this thing is proper poverty spec shopping trolley - and no damage evident, tyres all Michelin and recent.
No evidence of crash damage, although that doesn't rule out a low speed knock. The car is really smooth, no wheel wobble, shacks or rattles, just this pulling left that has got worse over the past 6 months or so, and gradually as the MiL didn't even notice it and has adapted. She is a decent driver and had a range of tasty vehicles which makes me suspect a very gradual worsening - however yesterday was the first time I have driven it for 6 months.
I'll check the rear alignment.
Wheels are steel - this thing is proper poverty spec shopping trolley - and no damage evident, tyres all Michelin and recent.
No evidence of crash damage, although that doesn't rule out a low speed knock. The car is really smooth, no wheel wobble, shacks or rattles, just this pulling left that has got worse over the past 6 months or so, and gradually as the MiL didn't even notice it and has adapted. She is a decent driver and had a range of tasty vehicles which makes me suspect a very gradual worsening - however yesterday was the first time I have driven it for 6 months.
In the link I posted there's a suggestion that the PAS can get confused if the battery has been disconnected at some point.
This would also suggest that disconnecting the battery with the wheels perfectly straight MIGHT reset the PAS to the correct alignment.
But I could be wildly mistaken......
This would also suggest that disconnecting the battery with the wheels perfectly straight MIGHT reset the PAS to the correct alignment.
But I could be wildly mistaken......
andrew said:
easy things first : swap the wheels left to right
This - We had a brand new VW Polo in at work that pulled left. Huntered it, checked everything even rack centering, then eventually we sided the front tyres and it was perfect.Some far more experienced and intelligent members of my group theorised that it was a defect in the way the carcass of the tyre had been laid and, although common in cheap tyres, it can occur in decent rubber.
Worth saying that if it's seriously pulling to the left it probably won't be this and I'd be looking towards binding calipers, faulty alignment and perhaps even power steering issues as mentioned.
If the tyres aren't directional try swapping front wheels to opposite sides.
Is the steering rack action smooth?
I've known strut top mounts to give similar problems after structs have been off and refitted, sometimes just loosening them off, with car on ground and giving the car a "shaking" settles them into position. Then a 4 wheel alignment, which should pick up any camber and or castor issues, if any, that might point to smething bent or worn. Sometimes wear in bushes or their mounts is not readily apparent, especially if they are loaded.
As said above a careful examination of steering, suspension and brakes is required.
Is the steering rack action smooth?
I've known strut top mounts to give similar problems after structs have been off and refitted, sometimes just loosening them off, with car on ground and giving the car a "shaking" settles them into position. Then a 4 wheel alignment, which should pick up any camber and or castor issues, if any, that might point to smething bent or worn. Sometimes wear in bushes or their mounts is not readily apparent, especially if they are loaded.
As said above a careful examination of steering, suspension and brakes is required.
lyonspride said:
In the link I posted there's a suggestion that the PAS can get confused if the battery has been disconnected at some point.
This would also suggest that disconnecting the battery with the wheels perfectly straight MIGHT reset the PAS to the correct alignment.
But I could be wildly mistaken......
Usually necessary to "calibrate" the ESP, if so, procedure should be in owners manual.This would also suggest that disconnecting the battery with the wheels perfectly straight MIGHT reset the PAS to the correct alignment.
But I could be wildly mistaken......
I haven't done a full geo check yet - was trying cheaper things first.
The links are talking about electrically assisted power steering, this car is an 04 model, not one of the newer ones.
Going to rotate the wheels - when there is break in the weather.
Then off to the garage to get the arse end checked over - so far we have been concentrating at the front.
Cheers for the advice so far
The links are talking about electrically assisted power steering, this car is an 04 model, not one of the newer ones.
Going to rotate the wheels - when there is break in the weather.
Then off to the garage to get the arse end checked over - so far we have been concentrating at the front.
Cheers for the advice so far
davemac250 said:
I haven't done a full geo check yet - was trying cheaper things first.
The links are talking about electrically assisted power steering, this car is an 04 model, not one of the newer ones.
Going to rotate the wheels - when there is break in the weather.
Then off to the garage to get the arse end checked over - so far we have been concentrating at the front.
Cheers for the advice so far
Fairly sure that all Corsa's since the B have been full electric, so I'd expect an 04 Meriva to be the same. Still I'd put that well down the list of things to check unless there's an easy recalibration procedure to try out.The links are talking about electrically assisted power steering, this car is an 04 model, not one of the newer ones.
Going to rotate the wheels - when there is break in the weather.
Then off to the garage to get the arse end checked over - so far we have been concentrating at the front.
Cheers for the advice so far
Check the rear end by all means, but I would expect rear end misalignment to be evidenced more as a 'crab' than a 'pull'
The Wookie said:
Fairly sure that all Corsa's since the B have been full electric, so I'd expect an 04 Meriva to be the same. Still I'd put that well down the list of things to check unless there's an easy recalibration procedure to try out.
Check the rear end by all means, but I would expect rear end misalignment to be evidenced more as a 'crab' than a 'pull'
My 2001 Corsa is electric, and the meriva is very similar underneath, so I'd say you're right.Check the rear end by all means, but I would expect rear end misalignment to be evidenced more as a 'crab' than a 'pull'
doogz said:
I think there's some confusion here about power steering.
Corsa B's and C's had hydraulic power steering, unless I'm very much mistaken, which was powered by an electric pump, as opposed to running off the engine.
That's not the same as modern electric power steering, which is, as i understand it, an electric motor mounted on the steering column that provides assistance.
As i said, unless i'm mistaken. Which is highly likely.
There's PAS (power assisted steering)Corsa B's and C's had hydraulic power steering, unless I'm very much mistaken, which was powered by an electric pump, as opposed to running off the engine.
That's not the same as modern electric power steering, which is, as i understand it, an electric motor mounted on the steering column that provides assistance.
As i said, unless i'm mistaken. Which is highly likely.
and there's EPAS (electronic/electrical power assisted steering)
The later is as you suspect, a large electric motor (typically 3 phase AC) geared onto the steering column, controlled and powered by it's own dedicated ECU, often isolated from the vehicles main ECU.
abbotsmike said:
The Wookie said:
Fairly sure that all Corsa's since the B have been full electric, so I'd expect an 04 Meriva to be the same. Still I'd put that well down the list of things to check unless there's an easy recalibration procedure to try out.
Check the rear end by all means, but I would expect rear end misalignment to be evidenced more as a 'crab' than a 'pull'
My 2001 Corsa is electric, and the meriva is very similar underneath, so I'd say you're right.Check the rear end by all means, but I would expect rear end misalignment to be evidenced more as a 'crab' than a 'pull'
I remember taking my car to have its MOT and there was a Corsa (circa 2000) on the ramps with the tester checking bushes etc. I know the tester well and he mentioned to me that the car was pulling left on the drive to the garage, so when he had the front end jacked up, he turned the engine on, put the wheels straight and they just kepy on turning to the left. He failed it as a "Power steering Failure" as was bloody dangerous.
He did say that this was common on that type of power steering.
I would get the PAS checked out!
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