Mystery Suspension issue Please help!

[Yaris79]

I have taken my car to be aligned twice within a month. According to the shope everything is within regulation when they put it up on the "rack." But something isnt right. I know I don't know the right terms but I know for sure that something is off. I am very sensative to change and I am very perceptive even if I am not mechanical. Here is what I knows. The care FEELS lower on one side than the other. When I turn corners the car is not as crisp as before. Especailly when I make a right turn, it is so akward. Because I was used to driving the car for a year my perception is now off so while the mechanic cant feel anything strange I can. When I make a turn at a light my car doesnt even go in to the lane crisply. I feel like I have to over compensate. And turning in tight spaces like around curbs in a parking lot is super akward. I cannot judge my space as well. Like I said some of it is any change I can be hyper sensative too so even if it is a minor issue if feel big. No one can figure out what it is. I did run over a curb and it may have been around that time, not that exact night but a couple of days later that I noticed the change. It bothers me so much but no one can figure out what it is. Also notice the "off" feeling when I am backing up it feels uneven. ANd when I park my front tires do not align as naturally as before I have to work at it to get it staright. Everyone thinks I am crazy but I know what I am talking about something is not right. THis is the first newer car I have ever bought and it is very distressful that it is no longer a pleasure to drive. I don't want to keep pouring money into getting alignments when that doesnt help. ANy ideas? Help me to think outside the box. I would be most grateful.
Thanks

[detroiter]

Honestly, I know this might be crazy but I've spent ALOT of time tinkering around with oddball stuff on my car. Take out the power steering fuse. Drive around for a day or so without it, making sure you turn your steering wheel all the way to the left and to the right during the day. Park the car with your steering wheel centered and wheels straight. Put the power steering fuse back in. Start the car up the and let it just idle for a good 10 minutes or so. Then shut it off, and turn it back on. Then take it for a drive.

Honestly, try it because I know what your going through with the steering feeling "off" but nothing is supposebly wrong. It's the electric power steering which causes all of this if you ask me.

[weedtank]

Try going to a different mechanic

[SailDesign]

My guess would be tire pressures. Check em twice!

[markitect]

And post the alignment specs, if they are checking your alignment they should be giving you a printout of the current values. You may just barely be in spec.

[severous01]

we have an issue with the new EPS units at bmw. it's a programming issue with the electric power steering. the cars pull to the right but the alignment is straight, with absolutely nothing out of spec. tires are good, but the electronics in the unit want to go right for some reason. let go of the steering wheel and you're gonna be changing lanes. it's not really noticeable when you have your hands on the wheel...it's not trying to take the wheel away from you, but if you let go it'll turn.

maybe with yours sitting so long it's 'center' or 0* is no longer center.

or you could have a weak/blown shock. if the car is still under warranty take it in. talk to the shop foreman or lead mechanic. i'm sure if he's seen or heard anything he'll know what to do. cuz when those problem cars come into bmw shop here and we talk to the customers wanting alignments, they usually understand programming issues and are happy to not have to pay for an alignment.

you may not have codes because the unit is responding how it should. say you have a sensor that detects torque ont he steering shaft from the wheel...the eps unit responds by applying power the direction its sensing torque. if the sensor is malfunctioning and detecting torque when its not supposed to, the unit is gonna react by applying power, even though you dont want it, and ther'es not going to be a fault because the system is reacting how it should. there is a way for the toyota techs to check the sensor. ask them if they can check it. if it's reading a level of torque and you're not turning the wheel, i'd say it's the sensor.

[Klumzyee]

^ no ._.

You dont have electronic steering.. it's just powersteering (hydraulic)..

Torque thing is called torque steer because you're front wheel drive and engines spin clock wise (or counter if ur a honda) one wheel is going to have more torque then the other causing torque steer.. LSDs and stiff engine mounts solve some of the pull.. but on a low power car like a yaris it really doesnt matter.. I doubt a sub 20k car will come with a LSD so rule that out..

OP.. go to a toyota dealer.. test drive a new yaris. see how it feels compare to yours...

questions to ask yourself:
have i gotten new crappier tires?
do i have proper tire pressure?
am i tripping out?

[Yaristeve]

First of all, what were you driving previously? How accustomed to it were you? In a Yaris, your butt is pretty high off the ground, say, compared to a Corvette. And, it is a narrow, tall, high CG car. My guess is that there is nothing wrong with your car; it is your perception playing tricks on you. The only physical thing you might have a point on is that the car is probably leaning a bit only because it is a very light car with light springs and small changes in weight distribution will cause the car to lean...

[cali yaris]

no ._.

You dont have electronic steering.. it's just powersteering (hydraulic)..


Yes, the yaris has electronically assisted power steering. The servo motor is on the steering column, and there is a separate ECU to control it.

[Viperoni]

Torque thing is called torque steer because you're front wheel drive and engines spin clock wise (or counter if ur a honda) one wheel is going to have more torque then the other causing torque steer.. LSDs and stiff engine mounts solve some of the pull.. but on a low power car like a yaris it really doesnt matter.. I doubt a sub 20k car will come with a LSD so rule that out..


Just for correctness, torque steer is caused by one axle transferring more torque to a wheel than the other due to them being different lengths, or by soft bushings through toe and camber change as the suspension rebounds during acceleration.

Caddy's and some Dodge's/Chrysler's get around torque steer by putting the tranny under the motor so they can keep the axle's the same length.

As for the strange feeling, it could be the tires too, worn bushings, tough to tell.
I like the tips to try removing the PS fuse.

How many miles on the car?

[Betrivent]

Could it be that your shocks are out but the mechanics didn't detect it because it was on a lift?

[yaris2010RS]

^ no ._.

You dont have electronic steering.. it's just powersteering (hydraulic)..

Torque thing is called torque steer because you're front wheel drive and engines spin clock wise (or counter if ur a honda) one wheel is going to have more torque then the other causing torque steer.. LSDs and stiff engine mounts solve some of the pull.. but on a low power car like a yaris it really doesnt matter.. I doubt a sub 20k car will come with a LSD so rule that out..

OP.. go to a toyota dealer.. test drive a new yaris. see how it feels compare to yours...

questions to ask yourself:
have i gotten new crappier tires?
do i have proper tire pressure?
am i tripping out?

lmfao rookie here with all the wrong answers.....

id get the sensor checked. after hitting a curb anything could happen. i know how it feels to have the car just not feel right. basically though sound like u will never get the car feeing 100% how it was.

[detroiter]

any pictures of the power steering sensor? Can it just be unplugged and then plugged back in, that way it can "clear" anything in it's memory?

[yaris2010RS]

any pictures of the power steering sensor? Can it just be unplugged and then plugged back in, that way it can "clear" anything in it's memory?

lmfao, i thought your post was instructions on how to do just that, lol

[detroiter]

lol no no, it was how to pull the power steering fuse under the hood.
I'm talking about if anyone has pictures of the actual power steering sensor that's on the steering column.

[cali yaris]

OP = MIA = interesting

[SailDesign]

OP = MIA = interesting

He fixed his tire pressures and is out driving again. :smile:

[Hershey]

" You dont have electronic steering.. it's just powersteering (hydraulic).. "

This is part of the window sticker from our '08 sedan . States , Electronic Power Steering ( E.P.S. ) which is circled in RED , located under MECHANICAL & PERFORMANCE . Doubt it's any different for the '07 .

[Yaris79]

I have almost 50,000 miles on the car.

[Yaris79]

Does anyone think it could have something to do with Radial pull? I have two newer tires on the front and two tires with almost 50,000 miles on the back. I have checked all the above ideas. I am getting so exausted by chasing this problem down. Does anyone know a good mechanic I might try that wont make up stuff that is wrong? Someone who has experience with wheels tires suspensions....metro Atlanta area. I could really use some advice.