My Prius had less than stellar handling at freeway speeds. It was twitchy and very sensitive to winds or road conditions. Reading here I thought it was the inherant problem everyone was talking about. But, I planned on getting the free alignment every buyer is allowed to get at my 5000 mile service. Well, I was right, the alignment was way off. Left front: -0.31 Right front: 0.11 I requested the dealer to adjust it to 0.02 toe in on each wheel and now I wished I hadn't waited so long. The car feels like a totally different car. I have been driving this thing for a long time and I could have had it fixed all along. Everyone that doesn't like the way their car feels on the freeway should get their free alignment right away. Maybe dealers should check new cars before selling them. That is a pretty bad setup to sell a new car with.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tony_Min @ Apr 1 2007, 11:43 AM) [snapback]415966[/snapback]</div> I had my 5000K mile service a few months back, and the service agent never mentioned to me about a free alignment. I'm using the Prepaid maintenance coupon. I'm wondering if these coupons include alignments?? I've noticed my steering wheel just a little off. It's really no big deal, but I've heard that your tires might wear out unevenly if you don't have proper alignment. Thanks for the info.
That first alignment makes a big difference in handling. I can't understand why all new cars aren't aligned before sale. The factory alignment apparently becomes kaput in transit when the cars are strapped to the carrier deck.
I guess my post was too technical for the general forum. Let's hope some people that don't read the technical stuff won't miss my valuable information because of the move... Yes, everyone buying a new vehicle is allowed one free alignment within the first year. Any brand vehicle.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tony_Min @ Apr 1 2007, 01:16 PM) [snapback]415980[/snapback]</div> You say that as if it's a federal law, applicable to all cars and dealerships. Can you provide a reference for that? I presume it's on a dealer by dealer basis, or at best case on a brand by brand basis.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 1 2007, 11:06 AM) [snapback]416014[/snapback]</div> I can't comment on other manufacturers but I have been told by the local Toyota dealership that it is a Toyota policy but you have to ask for it. You don't actually have to walk in and say "my car needs an alignment" but you do need to say something that indicates that it does, such as "the steering wheel is not straight" or "it pulls to the left or right" or the steering "feels flakey at highway speeds". Having a little bit of toe in in the front as mentioned by Tony_Min really does help. I have mine set a little more than Tony does, it is .05 degrees on each side. I have been driving it that way for about 15K miles and there has been no unusual tire wear. Tracking and resistance to wind gusts are greatly improved, at least in my car.
From a Toyota Rep that was at the dealership where I bought mine said it was free if done within the first year or 10k miles the salesman told me 20k miles so I went with the rep and had it done at the 5000 mile service and mine was way out now is like a whole different car. JUST ask for it when you go have service or just take it there for that tell the service writer its the free alignment they all know about it.
My car was really squirely before I got the BT Tech Plate, which made a big improvement, but I have never had the alignment checked. With this new knowlege, I am going to go ask for the free alignment becuase when I loaded the car with four passengers and some luggage for a 90 mile trip, I noticed a little bit of the swuireliness returned. I knew that the factory alignment could be compromised when the cars are stapped in containers, railrosd cars and then onto semi transports, so I had already gone to my Toyota dealer where I boght the car to aske if they did alignments upon receiving new cars. They said they don't, and don't even have an alignment shop. They said if there was a problem, they would send me to Les Schwab, but we didn't discuss cost. Then I called a second Toyota dealer with a tire shop to ask about the free alignment for the first year. They said I could only get an alignment if the car was pulling or having other handling problems. I guess tomorrow, I will call and say it is not stable on the road. Or, see if the first dealer will pay to have Les Schwab do it.
