GSIRM3

This is the reason I never have cars aligned unless the car is not tracking properly or tires are not wearing properly. There's a reason most dealers offer a "free" complimentary alignment. Alignments are a big profit maker for service departments. They just want to show your car is slightly out is specs to convince you that your tires will be toast and handling will suffer if you don't let them align your car.

jsimon777

This is an alignment that I asked for...

I figured new car to me, new tires all the way around, and a fresh alignment would be the way to go.

I feel like if the drive it and can see the amount that it's off...they can adjust accordingly.

JimHJr

Was the steering wheel straight with the original tires on the car during the test drive/etc?

If so they really botched the alignment as I wouldn't think that it would've been that far off if the tires were wearing equally (which they must have been to pass CPO inspection).

GSIRM3

I can't say that I blame you for asking for it since the car was not new and you did not know the full history if the car. My comments about not getting my cars aligned were based on them being new when I buy them, and being familiar with the history of the car, the driveability of the car, and the wear of the tires. I just never get the car aligned if no evidence of any problems.

Michael_s

The wheel should NOT come off for an alignment...

jsimon777

UPDATE: I took the car back to the dealer..and it is now perfect. Dead center as it should be.

AF330i

That is good news ... I was going to say you should check in the menu's on the PCM there is one that shows the steering wheel and the degrees(or some type of measurement) it is at when turning.

At dead straight it should be at -0-

Porsche_nuts

did they realign it or redo the steering wheel?

jsimon777

I didn't know that on the PCM...how do I find that?

I think they did a full realignment. Not sure they needed to as it was tracking fine. But now it's straight.

It's amazing how even when slightly off it can drive you crazy

JC Lacayo

Nice to know it was 'straightened' out. I had similar and it was better once I figured the tire pressure was lower on one rear compared to the other side. Those tires are 25 height so it isn't obvious that they are low by looking at them.
Guess we can chalk this one up to an alignment issue at the wheels.

AF330i

Sorry for the delayed response I had to go and try it in my car because I forgot how to get to it.

Push the button 'Car' then push the button 'option' then go to 'Set Car' then go to 'Personal settings'. You should see some options allowing you to customize the 'Car' menu one of them is steering angle. Once you set one of the boxes to steering angle then exit everything.

Now press 'Car' button again and you see the 1 of 3 menu which I have showing my average miles per gallon, etc. go through these menus, mine appears on 3 of 3.

I think there is another way of getting the steering angle only to show up but it's been so long since I played around with the PCM I don't really remember.

jsimon777

Cool. I'll give it a try tomorrow