Q1: I recently got a new Honda Civic Hybrid.
The first time I drove the car, I realised the car was pulling to the left when driving on a straight road, which slants slightly to left, ie road crown. If the road slopes to the right, the car will pull to right.
Occasionally if I’m able to drive on a level road, the car seems to go straight without pulling to the sides.
I had the car checked twice and the service centre adjusted the alignment twice.
My questions are:
> Is this normal for car to behave like this, pulling due to road crowning?
> Does manufacturer alignment specifications compensate for the road crown?
> Could there be something else that is wrong with the car?
Lee
Kuala Lumpur.
The car’s direction will behave based on the condition of the road surface. It doesn’t mean that your wheel alignment is perfect therefore you will just let go the steering wheel.
The weight of the car is greater as compared to the other side hence the car tends to move into that direction.
A common check is, drive your car on a straight road that has a good surface and let the steering wheel go. The car should not pull to either direction.
But please be reminded not to drive fast as only a professional road tester should do this.
Q2: I have a Toyota RAV4 5-door full time 4WD 98 model.
The problem is when I drive on uneven road it sways. The car is not steady and when I try to turn it, it drags as if the wheels are sliding.
I have done suspension overhaul but it still behaves the same way. When I do wheel alignment it gets better for a few days but the problem returns shortly after.
The vehicle is also guzzling fuel. The RAV4 had been involved in an accident once.
Zim
Kuala Lumpur.
Most likely the cause of this kind of problem is the steering and suspension system.
It could be loose suspension bolts, linkages or defective steering system components such as tie rod, tie rod end or ball joint.
So even if you do wheel alignment, the problem will still recur if those components are found defective. You have to conduct a visual and preliminary inspections of those components before you do the wheel alignment.
The other probable cause is a bent chassis. If the chassis is distorted, it will be impossible to resolve the complaint.
On the poor fuel economy, the vehicle is quite old so contaminants and wear and tear are major factors to consider.
An overhaul may be due for the engine, fuel system, ignition system or air induction system after the proper inspections have been done.
Q3: I have a 2011 Kia Forte 2.0SX. Mileage is about 30k. I have noticed that my fuel gauge drops very quickly compared to before (i.e. travelling to the same place and at the same speed and style).
This problem started long before the fuel price hike. A check with the diagnostic system showed no trouble or error codes. The service centre suspected the fuel pump was faulty and replaced it. But the problem remains.
The other problem is that there is some undercarriage noise when there is heavy impact on the suspension system such as going over bumps, getting onto the flyover, etc.
Normal drive on normal roads, there is no noise. The service centre checked and found all suspension parts to be OK but the shock absorbers were replaced just to be sure. However, the problem still exists.
Stressed Out!
Klang.
Your car is fairly new and the mileage shows that you don’t usually drive your car on long distance journeys.
Take your car back to the dealer for a full inspection to determine the cause. Sending the car to an independent workshop would void its warranty.
To provide you with some technical insight, there are so many probable causes of sudden increase in fuel consumption such as under inflated tyres or poor observance of periodic maintenance.
As for those noises, they are perhaps caused by very stiff suspension bushings or linkages hence the noise.
You may not suspect a loose component because it’s intact but it can be the source of those noises.
