What would you do?

dannyrst

My SEAT Ibiza has a wonky steering wheel. Is that the same thing?

dcouponzzzz

ChumLee wrote: »

One would think so however I note it's had a diagnostics check by VW so I wonder exactly what they have done. Plugging it into a laptop won't find the issue. It's a bit poor they haven't offered any solutions. Tyres, tracking etc.
I thought the days of say it pulls to the left and getting the reply, oh they do do that were long gone.

They offered the solution of a 4wheel alignment to resolve the problem, despite that I'd told them Arnold Clark have performed full alignments twice in the off-site broadridge center and produced both hunter reports to me to show everything was pointing where it should be. They also took care of the tracking.

I said this on picking it up from VW and asked it they checked the bushes/suspension/brakes/mount and the guy was like 'yeayeayea of course we checked all that'. The problem wasn't something advertised in the sale or mentioned during it, and unless they want to take it off me every week until is dies to waste money on alignments.... they'll have to make a decision soon

atrixblue.-MFR-.

ChumLee wrote: »

One would think so however I note it's had a diagnostics check by VW so I wonder exactly what they have done. Plugging it into a laptop won't find the issue. It's a bit poor they haven't offered any solutions. Tyres, tracking etc.
I thought the days of say it pulls to the left and getting the reply, oh they do do that were long gone.

If it has EPS then you can access the EPS module via ODBII to see if there Is a problem with the electronic unit, calibration and sensitivity. plus the standard practice of doing any updates to ECU software which can take upto an hour to download depending on their internet speeds.

Every car will drift left due to road camber, theres a difference between pulling left (I.E your fighting the steering wheel to stay center and if you let go of the steering wheel it will snap left immediatly, excessive passenger side tyre wear) and holding the wheel center and gradually drifting off left due to camber of the road.

dcouponzzzz

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

If it has EPS then you can access the EPS module via ODBII to see if there Is a problem with the electronic unit, calibration and sensitivity. plus the standard practice of doing any updates to ECU software which can take upto an hour to download depending on their internet speeds.

Every car will drift left due to road camber, theres a difference between pulling left (I.E your fighting the steering wheel to stay center and if you let go of the steering wheel it will snap left immediatly, excessive passenger side tyre wear) and holding the wheel center and gradually drifting off left due to camber of the road.

Thanks Atrix, it actually still pulls left even on a slight adverse camber, and at motorway speeds if I hold the wheel straight and let go for a moment, the wheel does snap about 1-2cm to the left immediately (I can even change lanes at a safe speed without touching the wheel). It's not a massively significant pull, but it's enough for me to notice I'm putting more effort than should be required to keep it straight.

Edit: The previous owner had replaced all 4 tyres so they were almost brand new upon purchase. AC confirmed they are of reasonable quality and the correct spec for the car

BJV

Was it an approved used car? The only reason that I ask is that some manufactures offer a 30 exchange policy. As you reported it within 30 days it might be worth looking at. Arnold Clarke have Volkswagen dealers within their group and VW insist on a 30 day exchange program.


http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used/our-programme

dcouponzzzz

BJV wrote: »

Was it an approved used car? The only reason that I ask is that some manufactures offer a 30 exchange policy. As you reported it within 30 days it might be worth looking at. Arnold Clarke have Volkswagen dealers within their group and VW insist on a 30 day exchange program.


http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used/our-programme

Thanks BJV,

I checked out the link and it covers 30 days or 1k miles. I'll double check this evening but I'm almost sure I've put over 1k miles on the clock since purchase (I commute 60miles 5 days a week). If it is less I'll ask for advice from VW.

Retrogamer

If the hunter allignment system confirms it's alligned ok that there are very few things that could cause it to pull to the left.

Does it do it more under acceleration, or de-acceleration or does it do it all the time regardless?

If you can find a closed off part of road where you can drive on the right hand side of it, check and see if it still pulls to the left.

The other things that spring to mind that could be causing it.

Sticky / blinding brake/s
Incorrect tyre pressure.
Unevenly worn tyres on the same "axle"
Problem with the differential in the gearbox.
Road camber.
Problem with the steering rack

dcouponzzzz

Retrogamer wrote: »

If the hunter allignment system confirms it's alligned ok that there are very few things that could cause it to pull to the left.

Does it do it more under acceleration, or de-acceleration or does it do it all the time regardless?

If you can find a closed off part of road where you can drive on the right hand side of it, check and see if it still pulls to the left.

The other things that spring to mind that could be causing it.

Sticky / blinding brake/s
Incorrect tyre pressure.
Unevenly worn tyres on the same "axle"
Problem with the differential in the gearbox.
Road camber.
Problem with the steering rack

It occurs in all situations, most noticeable at steady high speeds.

The first hunter alignment report from AC showed every possible measurement in the red before, and all in the green after. The 2nd alignment showed that since it was taken in (a week prior) there were at least 4 measurements back in the red again. Basically the wheels are only taking a week or so to move out of alignment. I'm a very sympathetic driver and there were no occurences that could have knocked them out again.

The tyre pressures were all set according to the Kwik Fit site's advice, however after AC returned it they were all pumped up to 41psi (4 above the recommended level). As the tyres are new there is no noticeable wear.

I'll speak to VW and ask for a list of the possible causes they checked and see if the steering column/gear differentials are on the list. Thanks

ChumLee

dcouponzzzz wrote: »

It occurs in all situations, most noticeable at steady high speeds.

The first hunter alignment report from AC showed every possible measurement in the red before, and all in the green after. The 2nd alignment showed that since it was taken in (a week prior) there were at least 4 measurements back in the red again. Basically the wheels are only taking a week or so to move out of alignment. I'm a very sympathetic driver and there were no occurences that could have knocked them out again.

The tyre pressures were all set according to the Kwik Fit site's advice, however after AC returned it they were all pumped up to 41psi (4 above the recommended level). As the tyres are new there is no noticeable wear.

I'll speak to VW and ask for a list of the possible causes they checked and see if the steering column/gear differentials are on the list. Thanks

I would set the pressure at the handbook setting for the driving you are doing.

If you're not driving on !!!! roads and something keeps moving after adjustment ask them what the part is and ask them to change it.

dcouponzzzz

are there any roads that aren't !!!! roads in england? Especially the north haha. I do avoid potholes where possible and slow down where it's not. I had the tyre pressure at 37 x4 as advised for a single passenger on high speed journeys which is the majority of my commuting, AC decided to pump them up for whatever reason.

Can't complain too much though, it's bumped by mpg from 82 to 87 haha