Steering wheel off center (2003 LX470) (1 Viewer)

[LEXCRUISER]

Hi,

My LX steering wheel off center after several months of alignment. I am sure the dealer adjusted the VGRS after alignment or service done. However, it happens all the time. Please advise what can be wrong.

Thank you.

AW

 

[options2]

Not to take away from the OP but I am interested in this as well.

My steering wheel was straight until I had an alignment done a month ago. Now its slightly off center to the left.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Pull the wheel and adjust it, the column is fine spline.

 

[LEXCRUISER]

Mine is also slightly to the left. Always happens months after alignment.

Trunk Monkey, the steering is center before. I will pull the wheel and center it soon. I will see how that goes. My concern is what if the steering wheel move more degree to the left?

 

[agaisin]

For models with VGRS you should take it back to the dealer and have them perform the steering angle adjustment.

If alignment is correct and the only issue is the steering wheel off center then it's probably a vgrs issue.

I had the same thing after an alignment at the dealership on two separate occasions. First time I brought it back (and they resolved it). Second time I used techstream lite to reset it myself to save hassle

Can't explain why it happens after an alignment though.

I guess part of an alignment should check that steering wheel is centered. In old school alignment theory I believe if toe is set correctly the steering should be centered (unless steering wheel was put in of center) since it's all mechanical. However with vgrs there's a new factor - the ecu. And therefore having toe set correctly and steering wheel on correctly still doesn't gaurantee centered steering wheel since it's not purely mechanical - to illustrate, if I want to I can use techstream to set the steering wheel's center off by 15 degrees (and prolly cause strange behaviors) and alignment would be unaffected (i believe)!! Someone not familiar with vgrs would call bull**** but pretty certain that's fact with vgrs - you can have perfect alignment but still have steering wheel off centered.

So that much I think I understand. What I don't understand is why would our steering wheels go off center after an alignment to begin with if the only thing they changed was camber/caster/toe? unless they attempted to set initialize/reset vgrs and botched that job, or if they did something that causes vgrs to require recalibration like replacing the ecu or removing the steering column etc...

Three other things to note:
1) is your vgrs warning light on? do you have vgrs dtc codes (fsm has procedures to follow but easiest to have dealership take a look). doubt it's your issue but i've seen reports of people that had vgrs issues (sometimes leading to failsafe mode) where vgrs ecu needed replacement.

2) you (or really the tech) would want to confirm the straight angle flag ("straigh ang flg") parameter is valid (ie that the vgrs system is "initialized").

3) recently, LS models had vgrs recalls related to steering wheel off center but I don't think that's what the op is describing (although i also have this same condition in my lx):
"
On certain Lexus vehicles equipped with VGRS, under certain limited driving circumstances the steering wheel may temporarily become off-centered.

If the steering wheel is fully turned in one direction to the end of its travel (full lock position) and then very quickly turned in the opposite direction, the driver may observe that the center position of the steering wheel is temporarily off-centered. The VGRS system will self-correct the steering wheel off-center condition as the vehicle is driven for a few seconds (approximately five seconds).
"

 

[tmdvtpike]

Question then...

So is it best to only have vgrs equipped vehicles aligned at a dealership familiar with the vgrs system as opposed to one of the chain tire shops?

 

[agaisin]

So is it best to only have vgrs equipped vehicles aligned at a dealership familiar with the vgrs system as opposed to one of the chain tire shops?

Let me preface with the fact that I'm not a mechanic, just an enthusiast so it's just my opinion. The quick answer I'd give is if you believe VGRS and AHC are not an issue and you just need a standard alignment (for them to check and adjust toe/camber/caster to specs and give you a readout), you can take it to a regular shop. If you suspect VGRS or AHC issues (i.e. steering wheel not centered for vgrs or height not to spec for ahc), I would take it to a Lex/Toy specialist that has knowledge and experience with those systems.

Here's the long winded version...

Even in standard alignments there are numerous variables that need to be checked and set:
Vehicle height
camber
caster
toe
steering wheel at center

For a typical vehicle (non VGRS and non AHC), the concepts behind these settings are pretty universal, they're changed mechanically not with proprietary electronics systems, and the difference is in the specifications for each value. From what I hear/read, in practice many alignment shops really just make changes to the toe and assume your vehicle height is correct and assume that the steering wheel comes back to center once toe is set correctly and they don't touch caster/camber either. However, even if there was a major issue with vehicle height or steering wheel being off centered, they are pretty standard to adjust and fix. For steering wheel you can adjust tie rod ends and if that's set correctly but the steering wheel is still off centered then it literally means the steering wheel was (re) installed off center at some point. For vehicle height on a non ahc cruiser, for example, you would use the Torsion bars to adjust the vehicle height to spec - no big deal, same for every truck with TB springs up front, only difference is how to adjust the TB (different tools for different makes).

For a vehicle with VGRS things are different though. Toe is not the only way to adjust steering wheel position, the ECU also needs to be set properly (and it usually is) and unless you have a handheld tester or techstream you're basically SOL. And I think you're lucky if you're dealing with a shop that even knows you have VGRS and even luckier if they realize that they need to use Techstream to adjust it. I think most shops would treat it like a non vgrs steering system and try to adjust steering wheel to center with the TRE (which would center the steering wheel but I think causes another issue where either the wheels don't turn by the same amount on each side and/or the alignment settings while steering wheel is turned is exaggerated on one side more/less than the other - can anyone confirm, I don't understand this detail well enough).

For a vehicle with AHC, vehicle height is not adjusted with the TBs, it's adjusted through the height sensors. The TB would only be used to adjust level left to right in the front (i.e. if driver side sags by .5" you would either crank up the driver side or crank down the passenger side depending on how it got that tway).

Another point about both VGRS and AHC is that they are (complex) ECUs that have special procedures to diagnose and adjust them and they basically require you to have either the handheld tester or techstream software to work with them. Generally speaking, to work on the system you should be able to read DTCs, run diagnostics and make adjustments if needed but that requires the factory 'tool' (handheld tester or techstream software). There are typically steps provided in the FSM for those without hand held tester but I don't know for sure if EVERY procedure has the alternate route. From what I remember offhand, any time you need to read or clear DTCs, there's an alternate path. In my book - if your mechanic is using the manual steps his labor is going to be waaay more than it would if he had the right tools. It's like going to a caveman to work on your 'wheel'

Now back to the question you asked. If your steering wheel and vehicle height are fine, and you just need a standard alignment (+ printout of where your alignment numbers are) then a standard alignment shop is way cheaper.

Caveat -> Technically according to Lex/Toy, for a vehicle with VSC, anytime you adjust suspension or do an alignment you're also supposed to run the zero point calibration procedure. I am 99% certain no standard shop does that, and I am not certain whether every dealership does it either. But technically it is supposed to be done. The practical side of me says that if no major changes were made (and just minor tweaks to toe/camber/caster) then it's not a concern but I don't know for sure.

If you have VGRS and your steering wheel is off center for some reason (ecu changed, steering column removed, battery issues) I would want to take it to a Toy/Lex specialist (a trusted dealership etc). I would assume a typical non toy/lex shop cannot deal with it unless they can demonstrate knowledge/experience.

If you have AHC and you suspect your vehicle height is not to spec, I would want to take it to a Toy/Lex specialist and would assume a non toy/lex shop cannot deal with it unless they demonstrate knowledge/experience.

Also - if you so choose you can try to get smarter on these topics/procedures yourself and even use Techstream lite

 

[r3run33]

not to create bad news but the vgrs unit is very esxpensive!! I know I had to have mine replaced!!!!!!! I had to fight with corp lexus because I felt dealership took advantage of me. They did not cover the repair total but enough to satify me. I checked thru this site back in the summer of 2011 and not many people have had the vgrs system fail; so either many 100 series do not have this or they are good units and don't fail. If your vgrs light is not on then it may just be a simple alignment issue. My vgrs light was on as well as the vsc off plus the steering wheel was off and would have lots of play (meaning easy mpovement with no real movement of vehicle from left to right).

 

[04UZJ100]

Vgrs is 03+ lc and lx's?

 

[bamabrock]

Pull the wheel and adjust it, the column is fine spline.

Here is the pic of my column when I pulled the wheel for the recovered wheel.