My brother just bought a 2016 LE AWD with Upgrade Package. The car drives great, smooth and its a very solid car.
The only one thing I find it «different» from my Acura is that the steering wheel is not exactly 100% straight, somewhere at 12.02 position, just «very slight» to the right and we are talking just .02 to the right (100% straight would be 12.00).
The car drives straight even if I let go my hands, it would go straight for a few seconds before requiring attention, however if I were to centered the steering wheel (moving from 12.02 to 12.00 position), the car would pull to the left a little. Wheels alignment are OK (car still under 50 km or 30 miles), dealer said they checked the alignment during the PDI.
Is this acceptable? I’m OK with the very slight not 100% centered steering wheel as long as it will not effect the tires in the future. I guess its just human nature to automatically «straighten» out the steering wheel when its not 100% straight, lol.
248 příspěvků · Připojeno 2015
Would not be acceptable to me on a new car. The wheel can be straightened by very slight (canceling) adjustments to the toe on both sides. If the steering wheel is off to the right, the left front wheel should be toed in a very small amount and the right front should be toed out exactly the same amount. Total toe-in will be exactly the same afterwards but the steering wheel will move slightly to the left. The short story is whoever set up the alignment (dealer or at factory) didn’t have the steering wheel straight when they set it.
2016 AWD Limited, Silver/Gray, Advanced Tech
matt007 Discussion starter
71 příspěvků · Připojeno 2016
Hey Jerry, thanks for the reply. Is the «toe on» the same or something like the link below?
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10256 příspěvků · Připojeno 2011
In my experience and with my RAV on most roads the steering will require slight correction to the left, but that is because the roads here have center crowns to direct rain water off the pavement. For a vehicle to pull towards the left here generally would indicate an alignment or other related problem.
Jim
2011 Upgraded Base V6 4WD
2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT
2002 Craftsman LT1000 V2
matt007 Discussion starter
71 příspěvků · Připojeno 2016
Very interesting as that’s exactly the service advisor told my brother when he first picked the car, cause it rains a lot here, lol.
We drove to Seattle this afternoon on I-5 and I didn’t notice the not «centered». I hope the dealer would be able to tell if my steering wheel is «centered» or not next week by using whatever tools they have and if its already «centered», then I’m OK with it.
The 2016 RAV4 is really a nice car, so quiet (according to Toyota, the 2016 RAV4 has the quietest interior in RAV4 ever, 55% more insulation and other sound proofing measures than those of 2015) and the ride is definitely A+ with the default 17″ wheels, standard Michelin Latitude Touring HP tires, the new Digressive Valve Shock on all 4 corners (smarter shocks), updated suspension & stiffer rear suspension mounting points, improve number of spot weld & support mount in rear.
812 příspěvků · Připojeno 2013
So, what is your reference to say that the wheel is «0.02» off? If you are using the top of the dashboard than bear in mind the dash isn’t 100% flat / horizontal easier.
Regarding using toe-in to adjust the steering wheel position, this is fine in a car build in the past century, but won’t do any good in the RAV. Modern cars have steering position sensor in the steering column that communicates with the stability control. Basically, the purpose of the sensor is to communicate the driver’s intention («I want to go straight» vs. «I want to turn», as well ashow fast is the steering wheel being turned — gentle curve vs. crash avoidance maneuver, etc.). The computer compares the signal from the steering wheel sensor and if it detects that the car’s motions differs from the driver’s intentions, stability control kicks-in to correct car’s trajectory to match driver’s intentions.
If you adjust the steering wheel’s position without re-calibrating the steering wheel sensor you will give conflicting inputs to the stability control computer. The steering wheel will tell the computer that you want to turn, while the motion sensors will tell the computer that the car is moving straight — an uncontrolled skid / understeer.
That’s why the steering wheel sensor has to be re-calibrated after alignment.
matt007 Discussion starter
71 příspěvků · Připojeno 2016
I forwarded your reply to the service advisor where my brother bought the car and got the following reply:
Ahoj Matt,
If you would like us to attempt to address this, I can book an appointment for you to have the alignment/steering wheel adjusted one time. Calibration will also be included to make sure the sensors read correctly.
Let me know what works for you.
Well, now I’m on the fence as the more I drive the car I’m beginning to think maybe this is the characteristic of Toyota’s electric power steering (my previous car was a 21 yrs old Acura Integra with just the regular power steering).
I’m on the fence because upon close observation on most road surfaces (especially on highways), be it 12.02 or 12.00 (centered) the car drives straight:smile, and I’m thinking maybe this tiny movement/play is «normal»? or maybe its just getting used to it as I noticed it the most was on the 1st day we drove the new car home from the dealership (1st day switching from my old car).
The car is great so far and I’m trying not to visit the dealer at all costs if possible (even its under warranty).
42 příspěvků · Připojeno 2016
Most people I would guess wouldn’t even notice if their steering wheel is slightly off, but it would bug me to no end. LOL. All roads have a crown so water won’t collect in the middle. If you’re driving in the middle lane in a perfectly straight road you’re steering wheel should be also be straight (assuming there’s not enough wind to push your car to the left or right). I would get it done because if you’re anything like me I would always notice it and try as I might I won’t be able to just ignore it.
matt007 Discussion starter
71 příspěvků · Připojeno 2016
Děkuji za zpětnou vazbu!
I’m even more confused now after reading:
http://www.rav4world.com/forums/123. uestion-sport-mode-new-owner.html#post2019993
«I prefer Normal Mode. In Sport Mode, I find the car to be too jittery, busy and the steering too sensitive. I like very slight play in the steering wheel, which Normal Mode gives me, so I don’t jerk into other lanes too easily. I also prefer the throttle response in Normal.»
I kinda wish someone can take a test drive of my car and tell me if its «normal», cause I’m trying to avoid going to the dealer at all costs cause if its «normal» characteristic of the Toyota’s electronic power steering, meaning «no problem» with our RAV4 in the first place and we brought the car to be serviced/corrected, there is always a possibility they might messed up and make it worst, lol!
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64 příspěvků · Připojeno 2013
Don’t presume that the problem is with the front end. You need to get the car 4 wheel aligned.
When new, our 2013 LTD’s steering wheel was not centred. The cause, determined by the dealer performing an alignment was related to one of the rear wheels. When the rear wheel was corrected the steering wheel was almost but not quite centred. Dealer had another go at the steering wheel which made it a bit better. Since I live quite a distance from the dealer, and the roads around the dealer are not conducive to testing I just centred it myself over a few weeks. Must have done a good job as a recent alignment before new tires found the alignment to be dead on.
When you are testing find a piece of quiet road that will allow you to drive down the centre. Then test it on the roads you normally drive on. In wind or a road with an exaggerated slope to the ditch the steering wheel will be off centre.
2013 RAV4 LTD Blizzard Pearl
matt007 Discussion starter
71 příspěvků · Připojeno 2016
Went to another Toyota dealer and explained to the service advisor I wanted a 2nd opinion (just to be sure) and he was nice enough to get a technician to go with me for a test drive. I told the technician that my previous car was an Acura Integra and just wanted to make sure that the kinda soft brake pedal feel is normal (I’ve no problem with the brake pedal feel, but just to test him out, lol), he drove my car for about 15 mins and upon returning to the dealership, he told me that the brake pedal feel is normal (I knew that, lol), and I asked him «are you 100% sure?» he said «yes» and then followed by «however your steering wheel is OFF» and he also told me that he has been a Toyota tech for the past 18 years, at that moment I told myself «bingo». He also told me that the off center steering wheel would be easily fixed (they just need to keep the car for about 1 hr) and should I decide to get it done later, no harm to the car/tires either.
I’m glad that we finally get to the bottom of this very minor issue, but how on earth could the dealer that sold my brother the car missed this during the PDI (I’m sure they performed a test drive during PDI, no?) and the 2nd day when my brother brought the car back (after a technician test drove the car, they told him that all alignments were OK and the car drove straight).
Right now I’m not having a lot of confidence of the service department that sold my brother the car, however the 1st service inspection (6 month) and 2nd service — oil/filter change (12 month) are free (included as part of the new car purchase), if you were me, would you go back to the dealer?
