2006 LX470 crooked steering wheel.

[Kamran Khan]

Hello everyone.

I did the alignment twice on my LX470 and the steering wheel straighten up after alignment but after a week of driving, the steering wheel goes back to the old poisition and doesn't line up anymore.
I had replaced the battery on LX470 3 months ago. I am wondering if battery replacement is causing this issue because I know that it has electronic steering. Anyone knows how to fix this issue?

Regards!

Fixed it! Watch my video on how to fix it using techstream.
VGRS Calibration

 

[Mauser]

Vgrs. Techstream.

 

[Kamran Khan]

Thanks for reply. Can you explain briefly the process of fixing it with Techstream software. Beside that is there any alternative other than techstream because I don't have teahstream right now. I ordered a cable from china which is probably going to arrive when I am 100 years old.

 

[TrillyPop]

You can pull the codes which can help you start. Sometimes it just needs a calibration, for which you will need techstream. The software walks you through how to do it. It could also be the snap ring (check if recall was ever done), VGRS ECU, or intermediate shaft that failed.

 

[Kamran Khan]

No codes in the system. I read about zero point calibration. I think that's all what it may need. I am not sure if zero point calibration will make the steering wheel straight though. The car is fairly new and has 135k miles. Plus I also checked it's VIN number for VGRS recall and luckily this VIN isn't included in recall.

I noticed one thing though, is that this car pulls from one side of the road to another side. I have to constantly correct the steering. Some times it pulls to the right when I correct the steering, it will go to the left immediatly but this ofently happens on the roads that has grooves due to heavy traffic. The tires are 15 years old and the tread is fairly worn. I ordered a set of new cooper tires 285/60/18 tires from Amazon.

 

[badlander]

Don't know anything about electronic steering but this sounds more like a mechanical alignment issue with the pulling from sise to side going on. Maybe something loosed up and threw the allignment back out during that week of driving. Other than that, the steering wheel can be re-centered simply by adjusting the tie rods. 1/4 Turn of the tie rods equals about 10 degrees of steering wheel movement. Make sure to rotate both rods in the same direction to preserve the toe in setting.
Also, when the steering wheel is restored to it's normal center position the zero point calibration should be back in cal due to the sensor being moved back to it's original location along with the steering wheel.

 

[8lifgr8]

Check your rack bushings and your tie-rod end. Just crawl under the vehicle (out of the way of the tires) and have someone turn left to right. You'll see the rack shift before the tires move. If it's excessive (it will be obvious), then you'll need to do rack bushings. Mine are on order.

I first thought it was inner tie rod ends because you could lift the front and do the 3-9 o'clock shake and feel the play. But if you have someone else shake it while you are under you'll see the tire-rods stay secure and the entire rack shifting.

Sadly, I'm an '03, and it sounds like the job on the later models is horrible. The early models seem to go out more often, but is Apperently easier to service.

 

[Kamran Khan]

Check your rack bushings and your tie-rod end. Just crawl under the vehicle (out of the way of the tires) and have someone turn left to right. You'll see the rack shift before the tires move. If it's excessive (it will be obvious), then you'll need to do rack bushings. Mine are on order.

I first thought it was inner tie rod ends because you could lift the front and do the 3-9 o'clock shake and feel the play. But if you have someone else shake it while you are under you'll see the tire-rods stay secure and the entire rack shifting.

Sadly, I'm an '03, and it sounds like the job on the later models is horrible. The early models seem to go out more often, but is Apperently easier to service.

I took it to dealership and they did the alignment and calibration. It’s not 100% centered but better than before. I may take it back to them because the steering wheel is 1/4 inch off center.

 

[Bear Lake Cruiser]

Follow these simple steps in small increments:

 

[jLB]

I took it to dealership and they did the alignment and calibration. It’s not 100% centered but better than before. I may take it back to them because the steering wheel is 1/4 inch off center.

Follow these simple steps in small increments:

Caution, the VGRS equipped LX has its own idea of what "straight ahead" is, this mechanical correction adjustment may or may not work for you. There is a separate item in Techstream to "re-align the steering wheel", which electronically disconnects the steering, allows you the "center it" and "reconnect" it.

 

[Kamran Khan]

Caution, the VGRS equipped LX has its own idea of what "straight ahead" is, this mechanical correction adjustment may or may not work for you. There is a separate item in Techstream to "re-align the steering wheel", which electronically disconnects the steering, allows you the "center it" and "reconnect" it.

I have got the cable for vgrs. But haven’t used it yet because of busy work schedule. Can you guide me on how center it with help of techstream?

 

[jLB]

I have got the cable for vgrs. But haven’t used it yet because of busy work schedule. Can you guide me on how center it with help of techstream?

Probably, but I'd have to go hook up Techstream to my 06 LX, and find the menu item again (probably in "VGRS/utility" or something similar). Once you find the "menu selection" in Techstream, it pretty much walks you step by step through the process

 

[Jerzywerzy5]

Have your rack checked for play.

 

[Kamran Khan]

Have your rack checked for play.

No play in steering rack. The car has stock suspension and tire size, hasn’t been misused and abused. Only driven on flat roads and have 135k miles.

 

[jLB]

I have got the cable for vgrs. But haven’t used it yet because of busy work schedule. Can you guide me on how center it with help of techstream?

Assuming that you have a working Techstream install, and it's a similar version to the one that I'm running....

• Start techstream
• Click “connect to vehicle”
• Click “next”
• Click “VGRS”
• Click “green right arrow”
• Click “Utility”
• Click “Steering Angle Adjust”
• Click “green right arrow"
• <Follow Techstream instructions from here>

 

[Kamran Khan]

Thank you very much bro. I really appreciate your effort to show me the steps in techstream.
I was able to follow the table and I went to the green arrow mark but then I exited techstream because my car wasn't parked on level surface. Because of snow my assigned parking spot isn't flat anymore. I may take it to a school parking lot and follow the procdure there. Beside that I was using techstream on my macbook and the icons of windows xp in virtual box aren't very clear either.
I might have to search for a beat up windows xp laptop.

 

[jLB]

Thank you very much bro. I really appreciate your effort to show me the steps in techstream.
I was able to follow the table and I went to the green arrow mark but then I exited techstream because my car wasn't parked on level surface. Because of snow my assigned parking spot isn't flat anymore. I may take it to a school parking lot and follow the procdure there. Beside that I was using techstream on my macbook and the icons of windows xp in virtual box aren't very clear either.
I might have to search for a beat up windows xp laptop.

I've played with old XP laptops, virtual XP machines on MacBooks, virtual XP machines on modern Windows laptops, running directly on a modern 64-bit laptop, and running on 32-bit Windows tablets.

My personal preference is running Techstream directly on a 32-bit Windows 8/10 tablet. I've built a double handful for friends/family using the "Dell Venue 11 Pro Tablet 5130", purchased used off of eBay for ~$100 or less. You can use it as a tablet, or purchase the accessory keyboard and treat it like a laptop.

 

[aalmos]

Man, I have the exact same issue with a 2019 LC. I've done like 5 wheel alignments, and steering always gets skewed sooner or later .

 

[bdruff]

Assuming that you have a working Techstream install, and it's a similar version to the one that I'm running....

• Start techstream
• Click “connect to vehicle”
• Click “next”
• Click “VGRS”
• Click “green right arrow”
• Click “Utility”
• Click “Steering Angle Adjust”
• Click “green right arrow"
• <Follow Techstream instructions from here>

Fixed it… after YEARS!

 

[wengejor]

My 06 LX with vgrs is always clocked to the left slightly for the straight ahead steering wheel.