Bought used car and steering wheel is way way off centre.

[Backontheroad]

Hey I bought a used car and had it delivered to me as it was a far distance off. The car has never failed an MOT and never had any serious advisories and had never been registered as being involved in an accident and felt like taking a punt.

Upon driving it straight away I noticed the steering wheel needs to be turned a lot lot more to the right to drive straight, along with this there is quite a bit of bump steer in both directions much more noticeable to the left/Passenger side and when I hard break wants to pull to the left also.

One thing that did show on the Advisory is Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)).

Why would the steering wheel be so very far off center and should I be concerned or will it likely just be remedied with a 4 wheel alignment?

Thanks

[Turkish91]

What car is it?

More than likely just needs an alignment. Could have had something like a track rod replaced then never set up afterwards

[Ian Geary]

I bought a 2nd hand car where the steering wheel wasn't straight.

A 4 wheel alignment sorted it, £80 from Kwik fit. Don't recall it pulling to the side though.

Hth

Ian

[Backontheroad]

Thanks so much for the replies if it just requires a good 4 wheel alignment then i'll happily pay it. My main worry was that it might have something bent maybe the car had been kerbed and was the reason for the previous owner selling it. But would I be right in guessing they would spot this at the MOT it just had a few days ago ?

Hopefully its not the rear if anythings out as I dont believe it can be adjusted.

As for the pull i'm hoping it's just due to the tyres following the road or due to the that wear on the edge as mentioned in the advisory when it passed the MOT

Car is a Vauxhall Corsa 2014.

[Belle427]

It’s the type of car I would guess sees kerbs etc a lot, get the tyre done and then aligned, they should be able to pick up any small issues if there are any during the alignment.
I would try and find a recommended alignment centre rather than Kwik fit as they tend to want to find more work to shaft you for.

[b19rak]

Vauxhalls are st for this. I had an Astra company car that constantly pulled to the side. No amount of visits to the dealer fixed it. My recently had a brand new shape Astra for three years and steering was never straight. Main dealer couldn’t resolve it, a really good Hunter 4 wheel alignment centre near me couldn’t fix it. My sister in law also had the same new Astra as we both ordered at the same time on a good lease deal. Hers was exactly the same..

[samoht]

Belle427 said:

get the tyre done and then aligned, they should be able to pick up any small issues if there are any during the alignment.

+1

If distance selling rules apply and you're still within 14 days of delivery, in the unlikely event that they find any more issues while doing the alignment, it'd be the perfect time to send it back. But sounds like it just needs the alignment doing and will be fine.

[ZX10R NIN]

samoht said:

Belle427 said:

get the tyre done and then aligned, they should be able to pick up any small issues if there are any during the alignment.

+1

If distance selling rules apply and you're still within 14 days of delivery, in the unlikely event that they find any more issues while doing the alignment, it'd be the perfect time to send it back. But sounds like it just needs the alignment doing and will be fine.

I'd inform them of the issue, then take it to be aligned & go from there.

[Saleen836]

samoht said:

Belle427 said:

get the tyre done and then aligned, they should be able to pick up any small issues if there are any during the alignment.

+1

If distance selling rules apply and you're still within 14 days of delivery, in the unlikely event that they find any more issues while doing the alignment, it'd be the perfect time to send it back. But sounds like it just needs the alignment doing and will be fine.

Kwik-Fit will check the alignment for free

[Belle427]

Budget for 4 new tyres and new discs and pads all round if you go to kwik fit.

[LightningBlue]

Do the tyres all match in terms of wear and brand? If not that could be the issue. Otherwise a wheel alignment should sort it but you might have to go back a couple of times to get it perfect

[dundarach]

Swap the tyres over if they're not directional, is it as bad?

[NMNeil]

Any sign of a respray, new lights or other tell tale signs of repaired crash damage?

[LightningBlue]

NMNeil said:

Any sign of a respray, new lights or other tell tale signs of repaired crash damage?

I guess the most likely thing is it’s been kerbed so wheel damage is an obvious thing to check. I whacked a kerb once when I got distracted by a pretty lady…damaged a wheel and knocked the alignment right out.

[andburg]

obvious step 1:

call the seller, assuming its a dealership and report the issue.

See what they say, they'll probably say get an alignment done.

[NMNeil]

LightningBlue said:

NMNeil said:

Any sign of a respray, new lights or other tell tale signs of repaired crash damage?

I guess the most likely thing is it’s been kerbed so wheel damage is an obvious thing to check. I whacked a kerb once when I got distracted by a pretty lady…damaged a wheel and knocked the alignment right out.

If the steering wheel is as off center as the OP posted, something may well be bent, such as suspension or steering components.

[HustleRussell]

What do you mean by 'bump steer', OP? Can you describe it?

Off-centre steering wheel may just be a track rod adjustment but other signs- one tyre heavily worn on edge, pulling under braking, 'bump steer'- indicate to me that something may be bent.

[ZX10R NIN]

So did you get it sorted OP?

[HustleRussell]

fendertele said:

Hey guys sorry for delay currently waiting on wages to drop in the next 2 days before getting round to having this checked. made the dealer aware days ago and told them I need to wait so theres no comeback on it. One more thing I've noticed I've never had a petrol car only ever had diesel while sitting parked in my car I'm smelling petrol not sure how strong it is but I'm smelling it and gave me quite a headache afterwards... the smell went when I started driving.. likely just coming from being parked in the spot or something I should have looked at ?

Probably (hopefully) ‘just’ a leak from the exhaust and there’s not actually petrol or petrol vapour in and around the car.

Send it back.

[fendertele]

HustleRussell said:

Probably (hopefully) ‘just’ a leak from the exhaust and there’s not actually petrol or petrol vapour in and around the car.

Send it back.

When you say send it back , send it back to be check within the warranty or refuse the car ? if the alignment works out and the only issue is the petrol one is not worth keeping it ?