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How Do I???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
How Do I???
I brought the new Vette in to the dealer to have the steering wheel centered (slightly skewed to the left while driving straight).
They put the car on the allignment rack and they said they fixed the issue but the wheel is more off center now than before and there seems to be a lot of play on-center.
I stopped by again this morning and the service advisor said that the was a TSB from GM to not touch any of the suspension settings or components for the first 5000 miles, as there maybe some settling because of the vehicle being tied down during transport.
Even if this were true, the car I bought was an early '09 build, I think the 3rd Vette the dealer got all year. That can't be right.
Should I just go to another dealer and have them fix the minor issue?
They put the car on the allignment rack and they said they fixed the issue but the wheel is more off center now than before and there seems to be a lot of play on-center.
I stopped by again this morning and the service advisor said that the was a TSB from GM to not touch any of the suspension settings or components for the first 5000 miles, as there maybe some settling because of the vehicle being tied down during transport.
Even if this were true, the car I bought was an early '09 build, I think the 3rd Vette the dealer got all year. That can't be right.
Should I just go to another dealer and have them fix the minor issue?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
That's retarded... Take your car somewhere else. Find a reputable shop that knows how to deal with suspensions and tire alignment. Make sure they use and have had training in using machines like these: http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/al...84-T/index.htm
My local suspension has one and I've never had any issues after getting aligned.
My local suspension has one and I've never had any issues after getting aligned.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
That's the first I've ever heard of that TSB but it seems they ignored it if they adjusted the alignment within the first 5,000 miles. I'd try to speak with the shop manager (not the service manager but the actual head mechanic) at another dealership to see what he says. Depending on the results of your second opinion I'd either give your dealership another chance or take the car to the other dealership. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Because so many 'vettes come misaligned from the factory, I always get a warranty alignment soon after delivery. Did it last month on the new 2009 and I asked about minimum miles for warranty, they said GM wants 1,000 miles on the car before a warranty alignment. Mine had that and it was also out of spec just like our previous C5 and C6.
There is also a max mileage for warranty on alignment, I've heard people say 6,000 miles and 12,000 miles; no personal knowledge.
There is also a max mileage for warranty on alignment, I've heard people say 6,000 miles and 12,000 miles; no personal knowledge.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
First I've heard of a "warranty alignment." Not that the car doesn't need it, just never heard/read of it before to my recollection.
And to OP's point, I can't imagine why you'd want to talk with the lead tech; they supposedly fixed your car, and didn't. Regardless if it was the manager, lead tech or another, they can't get it right. My take: go somewhere else because they don't know what they're doing, and proved it in deed and word.
And to OP's point, I can't imagine why you'd want to talk with the lead tech; they supposedly fixed your car, and didn't. Regardless if it was the manager, lead tech or another, they can't get it right. My take: go somewhere else because they don't know what they're doing, and proved it in deed and word.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Someone else coined the phrase, I guess it comes from the fact that GM will not warranty the alignment for the full 36/36 time period because they say a perfect factory alignment may get bumped out of spec by potholes, etc. But they will do one within a specified mileage.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
Steering wheel "alignment" is cosmetic only, the wheels/tires can be perfectly aligned with the steering wheel off center.
Needless to say; DO NOT have the Dealer align your car, the factory plus or minus specs are too broad. take the car to a Pro. (Independent) alignment shop and pay the aprx $125 for a good alignment to your specs.
Needless to say; DO NOT have the Dealer align your car, the factory plus or minus specs are too broad. take the car to a Pro. (Independent) alignment shop and pay the aprx $125 for a good alignment to your specs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 44
From: Gods Country WI
Steering wheel "alignment" is cosmetic only, the wheels/tires can be perfectly aligned with the steering wheel off center.
Needless to say; DO NOT have the Dealer align your car, the factory plus or minus specs are too broad. take the car to a Pro. (Independent) alignment shop and pay the aprx $125 for a good alignment to your specs.
Needless to say; DO NOT have the Dealer align your car, the factory plus or minus specs are too broad. take the car to a Pro. (Independent) alignment shop and pay the aprx $125 for a good alignment to your specs.
Not sure about Vettes but this is true on other GM vehicles. If the steering wheel is to far off center it will give a false reading to the active handling sensor.
Get you car realigned they are feeding you a line of bull, I align cars for a living. Easiest thing in the world to center the wheel. If they cannot even get that right I wonder what is happening to your $1800 worth of tires as you drive.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
Not entirely true.
Not sure about Vettes but this is true on other GM vehicles. If the steering wheel is to far off center it will give a false reading to the active handling sensor.
Get you car realigned they are feeding you a line of bull, I align cars for a living. Easiest thing in the world to center the wheel. If they cannot even get that right I wonder what is happening to your $1800 worth of tires as you drive.
Not sure about Vettes but this is true on other GM vehicles. If the steering wheel is to far off center it will give a false reading to the active handling sensor.
Get you car realigned they are feeding you a line of bull, I align cars for a living. Easiest thing in the world to center the wheel. If they cannot even get that right I wonder what is happening to your $1800 worth of tires as you drive.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Steering wheel "alignment" is cosmetic only, the wheels/tires can be perfectly aligned with the steering wheel off center.
Needless to say; DO NOT have the Dealer align your car, the factory plus or minus specs are too broad. take the car to a Pro. (Independent) alignment shop and pay the aprx $125 for a good alignment to your specs.
Needless to say; DO NOT have the Dealer align your car, the factory plus or minus specs are too broad. take the car to a Pro. (Independent) alignment shop and pay the aprx $125 for a good alignment to your specs.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11,216
Likes: 178
From: Pensacola Florida GO GATORS!!! www.rlsebring.com www.c6c7vette.com
St. Jude Donor '17
I agree that a shop who can't even get the steering wheel straight is a shop I'd never let touch anything that's actually important. It has been my experience that independent shops, which depend on their good reputations to get and keep business, are better than dealer shops who subsist primarily off of their captive warranty work. That doesn't always mean a Chevy shop is incompetent, it just means it is more likely to be incompetent. In this case, I'd strongly suggest avoiding this particular dealer's shop in the future.
I just went through a bout of trying to get my steering right. Several alignments later I ended up replacing my steering rack.
With the help of a local Vette mechanic, that's becoming more and more a friend, we finally got it completely right. After the rack install we put it on the alignment rack and for the first time plugged in a TechII to do the alignment.
The techII enabled the steering wheel position sensor to be "zeroed" out meaning the wheel was in the correct position. The sensor affect the variable steering effort system.
Along with the rack problem I was 11 degrees out of center even though the wheel was centered. It caused some really strange steering compensation. The problem was mostly to the left steering coordination.
Prior to finally fixing the problem I would not drive over 80mph, it just didn't feel "right" always drifting and steering input was generally oversteer.
Now I feel I could go 200 mph and feel rock solid. Sorta like it's suppose to.
On your next alignment Check to see about checking the sensor prior to or during alignment it may make an improved difference.
