I have only put about 85 miles on my new TL and have noticed that I have to hold the wheel at a very slight angle to the right in order to go straight (1 or 2 degrees). When I put it right at 12 o-clock it gradually veers left. It doesn't pull at all, it just seems that the steering wheel isn't centered perfectly. Should I have this looked at?

Thanks.

 

this is an [increasingly] common issue on TL's. I found a loaner car (VIN 42xxx) with < 2000 miles had an alignment problem, but not sure if it was factory or post-sale...

The angle can be fixed by the dealer in an alignment/adjustment - it's not just a steering wheel thing as discussed last week.

 

So I should push the issue onto the service dept? Or are they going to say it happened post-sale?

 

I'm having the same problem sdkirby. I bought mine back in February, and took it in for the complimentary wash I didn't get when purchased. I let them know about the pulling to the left and the Acura tech went on a drive with me. He expalined to me that the way the roads are paved has something to do with it. they obviously didn't want to check the alignment (too much time), but they did offer to rotate a tire or two. I can live with it, but maybe I need to get it checked out again just for the hell of it.

 

I noticed my rear tires were out of alignment only after I had worn the rear tires out at 8500 miles.

My Acura Service Advisor was aware of alignment problems on the new TLs and did not give me any trouble about a complimentary alignment.

Insist on a free alignment.

 

I had a free alignment performed back when they replaced my steering wheel (a tech nicked the leater). The rear wheels were way off spec, but the fronts were okay.

 

Check your tire pressure. My two front tires differed by 4 pounds and this created a slight pull to the left in my case.

 

I've had similar probs with alignment when i first got the TL but now im just used to it...
My TL always pulls slightly to the left for some reason...I took it to service and they told me it was normal...I even went on a test drive with the foreman and the service manager and they said its normal...but i still wasnt satisfied so they did a re-alignment...and i still have the same prob...Im jus guessing its b/c the TL is front-wheel drive....

 

I'd have them check the toe position (for simplicity purposes think (or use as a demonstration) R/C cars). If it's off one wheel could be turned in more than the other and/or the steering wheel will be slightly off.

 

I have same probs. I had a free alignment performed at 2900 miles. now drives straight.

 

To shadowfax123;

No, it's not normal at all. Neither your car, or any car for that matter "normally" pulls to the right or left. If it does, it could be something as simple as unbalance tire pressure or more serious like a problem in the alignment, suspension, or steering geometry.

You should not accept such an explanation from a dealer's service department personnel. This is just plan hogwash. Mine was 4 pounds lower in the left front than the right right so it caused a slight drift to the left. I have never purchased a new car where the tires were perfectly pressured with air. So the very next morning after purchase, I check and add air accordingly.. while the car is in my garage before it has been driven or exposed to the outside and/or sun. If you do not have a garage, do this before the sun comes up and try not to park the car facing east/west or visa-versa. Park it north/south or south north.

My TL aims straight and true and on a level piece of highway (when you can find one), you can take your hand off of the wheel and there is absolutely no variance. Plus the wheel has no vibration or "strange" feeling at a given speed.

Make them fix your problem.

 

Assuming the car tracks consistently straight, I wouldn't worry about it if the outer rim of the steering wheel was within a half inch of the centerpoint. This can be caused by a perfect alignment done while the steering wheel was less than perfectly centered.

Road surface does affect this. I have never had a car that was absolutely perfect in this area. I think it shows more on the TL because there are two large flat areas at the hub of the steering wheel, and it's easier to see when they don't line up than it is to check other cues, like how the spokes compare to features on the instrument cluster.

Of course, if the car pulls in any way on level roads, I'd take it back even if the wheel looked perfectly aligned.

 

To cpurick;

Yeah, my steering wheel is tilted a degree or two to the right when going straight. As long as that's all it is, it's not a problem considering the alignment is fine on my car.

 

I had the same problem. 4 wheel alignment corrected my slightly off center steering wheel.

 

When I 1st bought my TL last November I had an issue with it pulling to the right. It was driving me crazy. I had my wife and a few friends drive it and they said they didn't notice anything. The problem was somewhat subtle.

I had the dealer do an alignment and that didn't really help. Then they switched the front left and right tires. That did the trick. It seems like the narrow 45 series tires are fairly sensitive. A slight difference in alignment or tire pressure can cause the car to drift. I have never had that problem with my old cars, but I have never had anything less than 55 series tires.

I think the problem might be "normal" in the sense that it seems to be a fairly common issue. Each car acts a little different. Either an alignment, checking the tire pressures, or rotating the tires should help.

 

I got to take it in Friday anyway. I will see what they will do for me. Thanks guys.

 

Read your manuals,..aligment is WARRANTIED for the first 12,000 miles. Go get it done !

 

Yes, but a slight offset at the wheel is not necessarily "out of alignment" when they put the car on the rack.

 

I had a problem where when my steering wheel was centered, my car was steering to the side.

The guy had me sit in the car while it was on the alignment rack and told me to hold the steering wheel in what I perceived as dead center. He then "locked" it in, and adjusted the wheels to match that. That's really the only way you can do it.

 

They re-aligned it for me, and I don't notice any more problems.

 

my TL does the same thing. i got mine in may 2004. i have to bring it in.

 

I noticed the same thing on my TL one week after getting it. I called the dealer to schedule service and they were going to make me wait 4 days! I just took it to the local Tire Kingdom and paid for the alignment. While they said it wasn't off spec that much, they were definitely able to adjust it so the steering wheel and wheels both steer straight when the wheel is centered.