So a buddy of mine took his 2016 VW Jetta in to have it aligned. He asked them if they could have the steering wheel setup so it’s straight and not crooked and they said not a problem. They do their job he gets the car back and proceeds to drive home. He notices the steering wheel is crooked and takes it back to have them look at it. My personal opinion, I don’t think they aligned it but they tell him it’s because he has a telescopic steering wheel. Never heard that one before so I figured I’d ask
Alignment question
- Thread starter jdcobra
- Start date
I've had many alignments done where the steering wheel still isn't perfect. I watched a friend align my Cobra and it's still off. I even checked the wheel myself while he was doing it to make sure it was straight.
They didn’t tell him that they did the best they could and that it just didn’t line up. They were saying it’s because of the telescopic steering wheel and if the steering wheel changes position it would throw it off.
That makes zero sense. So they're blaming a factory installed option on the steering wheel being off? I wouldn't take that explanation.
That was my initial thought. I didn’t believe that would have any course of effect on the alignment but wasn’t 100% sure.
Can't speak for a Jetta but that sounds like hog wash.
I've done dozens of my own alignments on my Chevy, Dodge and Ford's. Some of them have telescopic steering wheels as well and I have no problem getting the wheel straight.
One note though, most shops will align the car to actually pull slightly to the left (slightly more + caster on the passengers wheel) on a perfectly flat surface. Most roads are crowned so they do this so the car tracks straight on those roads. If the steering wheel is slightly to the right on a flat road this may be the cause as you are counter steering slightly to keep things straight.
They should be locking the steering wheel straight and then adjust from there if done properly. If the steering wheel isn't locked it can easily move a little when adjusting things like the toe.
Again, I've never done this work on an import or a Jetta so their "could" be something that prevents it (electronic steering maybe) but in general it should be able to be done.
I've done dozens of my own alignments on my Chevy, Dodge and Ford's. Some of them have telescopic steering wheels as well and I have no problem getting the wheel straight.
One note though, most shops will align the car to actually pull slightly to the left (slightly more + caster on the passengers wheel) on a perfectly flat surface. Most roads are crowned so they do this so the car tracks straight on those roads. If the steering wheel is slightly to the right on a flat road this may be the cause as you are counter steering slightly to keep things straight.
They should be locking the steering wheel straight and then adjust from there if done properly. If the steering wheel isn't locked it can easily move a little when adjusting things like the toe.
Again, I've never done this work on an import or a Jetta so their "could" be something that prevents it (electronic steering maybe) but in general it should be able to be done.
What? He took it to the dealership? Mistake number 1 unless it's one of the RARE dealerships these days with integrity and skilled workers.
But, being at a dealership he's got a good solution. Take the GM to all the new Jetta's on the lot and let them find out how many have steering wheels that tilt to the side. I bet not many if any at all. If that's the case the GM gets to eat some crow. If they are all to the side then I guess your friend eats it. But if the other ones are straight claim it as a warranty issue and don't accept it back until it's fixed correctly.
As a dealer tech i can tell you the answer he got was shit. Either VWs genuinely are huge pieces of shit and a telescopic wheel will throw it off, or the tech did a shit job. Did he get a copy of the alignment specs and results?
2 things could have happened:
1. The alignment machine lied to the tech. Yes, it honestly happens. Ive had it a few times ill do a 4 wheel alignment to zero spec, take it on a road test and the damn wheel is off center. Drives straight, wheel is just off. Ill pull it back on to the alignment rack, remount the sensors amd compensate and sure as shit, the front toe is still off. Adjust and its all straight.
2. The tech did a front toe and go. Meaning tech just adjusted the front spec with the wheel straight. If the rear toe is off, the front toe will NEVER adjust correctly.
Now, road crown will cause a driver to need to correct to the left to go straight, but a flat road the wheel and car should go straight.
Id have your friend call VW customer service and explain the situation. See if they will escalate with the dealer on his behalf. If not, he'll have to go asshole on them and get them to prove their results.
Tilt telescope response is pure bullshit.
2 things could have happened:
1. The alignment machine lied to the tech. Yes, it honestly happens. Ive had it a few times ill do a 4 wheel alignment to zero spec, take it on a road test and the damn wheel is off center. Drives straight, wheel is just off. Ill pull it back on to the alignment rack, remount the sensors amd compensate and sure as shit, the front toe is still off. Adjust and its all straight.
2. The tech did a front toe and go. Meaning tech just adjusted the front spec with the wheel straight. If the rear toe is off, the front toe will NEVER adjust correctly.
Now, road crown will cause a driver to need to correct to the left to go straight, but a flat road the wheel and car should go straight.
Id have your friend call VW customer service and explain the situation. See if they will escalate with the dealer on his behalf. If not, he'll have to go asshole on them and get them to prove their results.
Tilt telescope response is pure bullshit.
Yea, I pretty much figured that answer he got was a bunch of crap but decided to ask since I didn’t know 100% was only 90% sure that the answer he got was the GM trying to blow smoke up his ass.
Thanks for all the info guys, I appreciate it.
Have him get it checked somewhere else. If it’s off then go back to the dealer and ask for a refund. That’s what we do at my dealer
This x1000. I was thinking maybe the steering angle sensor would need to be re-calibrated, but that wouldn't cause the wheel to be off. This is why there are CSI surveys.
Unless the dealer changes the guy's address in their system before the survey gets sent out lmao
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I've done alignments for a living. Just bring it back and have it redone for free. If they cant realign it for free, get a refund.
If the parts are worn(tie rods, idler, pitman arm etc), then it can be damn near impossible to get the steering wheel exactly strait. Just keep that in mine.
Discussing the whole did they even do anything is BS since the only way you know that is if you were watching them knowing how to do it.
edit* The alignment machines do mess up a lot. But a test drive after the alignment by the tech will let you know if the wheel is crooked.
If the parts are worn(tie rods, idler, pitman arm etc), then it can be damn near impossible to get the steering wheel exactly strait. Just keep that in mine.
Discussing the whole did they even do anything is BS since the only way you know that is if you were watching them knowing how to do it.
edit* The alignment machines do mess up a lot. But a test drive after the alignment by the tech will let you know if the wheel is crooked.
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They fed him a line of bs.
guilty.
Operation CYA commencing in 3...2...1... 
If that is the case then the alignment was not done properly in the first place. Inspecting for worn components should be done before any adjustments or measurements are made. It would actually be a disservice to the customer to perform an alignment on a vehicle with worn steering components. A decent shop would report needed repairs like that to the customer before even starting the alignment.
I expected my steering wheel to be straight. Paid for alignment twice, they found their machine was messed up, didn't refund me for the initial test on messed up machine. I've lost all faith in dealers ethics. I have noticed there is no mention at the FORD dealership of "quality one" or what ever flag they used to fly. Now they use "The Rock" as their mission statement. Total B.S.
We have been sold out here.
We have been sold out here.
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