well i just recently bought a 06 TSX last month and now found out something's wrong w/ the car. The tie-rod is bent and that's the reason why my car doesn't turn right all the way (turns 1 1/4 instead of 1 1/2). The previous seller did not mention anything about it and i think that's the only thing that's wrong w/ the car right now... what do you guys think i should do?

 

is it out of warranty already?
silly question I know, you probably would have already brought it in...
but got to ask just in case.

 

by someone capable and see what other problems it has.

It is a used car...hopefully not abused....

 

There's probably not much you can do. I assume this was sold 'as is'. If so, it's your problem now. The responsibility was on you to have it checked out prior to purchase. if someone doesn't agree to let you have the car inspected, walk away. Now, if the seller is an honest person, they may meet you in the middle and split the cost of the repair. Take it as a life lesson. Good luck.

 

it's still under warranty 28000 miles but i got charged today cause that part wasn't under warranty anymore. But yea i guess live and learn... i'll be more careful next time

 

I would probably bring it to the seller's attention. If they're forthcoming in offering to pay anything towards repairs, take it. If not, don't harp on it. I would ask them how the tie rod got bent (accident, curbage, etc) to help determine if there's any other damage that might need to be repaired or might give you trouble down the road.

 

I would highly suggest you have a qualified mechanic not associated with the place you bought the car from give it a very thorough inspection. A banged up tie rod is red flag for either a past accident or serious abuse.

 

Also carfax the TSX. Find out anymore damages to the vehicle in the past.

 

i did carfax it but it came up as no accidents

 

carfax is weak sauce.
the amount of accidents and repairs not on carfax is astonishing.
it's good for a preliminary check, but nothing more, and nothing to be trusted.
if I were you, I would take the above advice and have the car looked over
carefully at a qualified shop and have things explained to you. I would be worried
about a prior instance of some sort, that is an uncommon problem for the car to have.

 

Carfax can only report what was reported to it. It's not magic and doesn't know everything. It can be useful, but don't put much faith in it.

Your only option is to have the car fixed, and carefully inspected to find any other problems. If they sold you the car with damage like that, they won't tell you about any other possible damage.

 

does anybody know how much a tie rod is?

 

^ if I knew exactly what it was, or rather what acura officially calls it, I could
tell you, but I don't. if you could give me some details I could find it.

is it in either one of these pictures?


or

or

 

i have no idea... i will try to look this weekend

 

which side of the car?
and from my bottom picture, correct?
(if it is #16 it's about $30, but tell me the specifics and I'll give you a link)

 

The tie rod is not in that picture. It's the thing that connects the steering rack to the carrier assembly.

 

It took me a while to find it, it is under the PS Gearbox.



It is number 10 and is about 30-40. I would stick with OEM on this for the few extra dollars it will run you. You may be able to get this off yourself since your car isn't that old. But when these things seize, the only way to get them off is by heating those suckers with a acetylene torch. If wish that Honda would shell out $5 more and use anti-seize on these parts, they are not fun to remove.

If this is bent, you may have damage with the rack as well. I would get this looked at and get an alignment after you fix the tie rod because I see alignment issues even with the replacement.

 

ah.
PS, for some reason I didn't equate PS with steering.

anyway,
left one:
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...._TIE_ROD_END#
^32.08 plus shipping.
right one:
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...._TIE_ROD_END#
$32.08 plus shipping.

these are numbers 10 and 12 in that picture.
the tie rod ends.

 

10 is actually pointing at the ball joint it appears which is pressed into the tie rod. The tie rod itself doesn't appear to have a number... unless the ball the joint comes already pressed into that piece of the the tie rod.

In my experience, the part that tends to get bent up is the threaded bit that connects the tie rod end to the steering rack. This is tie rod end itself is cast steel and pretty strong. The threaded part is what adjusts the toe of the front tires.

Edit: ^^^ Apparently they come already pressed together which is good for the DIYer as not many of us have a press in the garage.

 

I do not understand why it is out of warranty. Bumper to bumper warranty is 4 years or 50,000 miles.

 

thanks guys i think i'm going to take the car in soon, so it doesn't mess anything else up.

 

I just double checked it but yep the tie rod is 10 even though it looks like it is the ball joint. Usually on most recent Honda tie rods it comes pressed together as one unit.

10 53540-SDA-A01 END, R. TIE ROD 1 2006 TSX 43.20 32.40

 

awesome... should i replace both? if i do it myself?

 

There wouldn't be any point in that unless the other one is messed up too.

 

As Lukeatron says there isn't a point to change it unless it is damaged.