Can't drive a straight line

I always think my Prius has nice and tight handling. When it's windy it does get pushed around but not anymore then most other cars. You wanna drive something that wanders try driving a 10 year old school bus with 300k on it LOL. That'll keep your hands busy on the wheel.

 

I've had my Prius for three weeks today, and I love it. I've driven 3200km/2000miles already.

I believe the traditional answer to your problems may be an alignment adjustment.

On my car, the steering wheel must be held slightly to the right for the car to go straight ahead, so I guess I need an alignment as well. I haven't tested it in windy conditions yet, but it seems ok under normal conditions.


-Stein

 

I believe the traditional answer to your problems may be an alignment adjustment.

On my car, the steering wheel must be held slightly to the right for the car to go straight ahead, so I guess I need an alignment as well. I haven't tested it in windy conditions yet, but it seems ok under normal conditions.
-Stein

This might just be due to a crowned road which tends to pull car slightly to the right.
Russ

 

Sounds like alignment issues possibly. Check out this bulletin:

http://priuschat.com/PULL-to-the-Left-Problem-t31235.html

My car handled much better after I had an alignment done.

 

It's a minor nuisance to me to have the car blown around a bit by crosswinds at high speeds, but it's not unsafe. Come to think of it, I don't think I've noticed it since I replaced the OEM tires with Michelin Hydroedges. Could be that we haven't had any really windy days since the tire replacement. I got the tires this past summer, whereas the windiest time of the year around here is spring. Maybe Efusco can comment on this; he's been running Hydroedges for a lot longer.

 

Alignment, tyre pressure 42/40 then a BT plate

 

We had some pretty hefty winds in the pacific northwest yesterday. My wife mentioned that while she was driving on the freeway she noticed a lot of cars having trouble steering straight while she had no problems with our 2007 Prius.

I would do the following, If I were you. I'd take the car onto a very straight (low traffic) road on a calm day, keep it at a steady brisk pace, and remove my hands from the steering wheel. If the car starts heavily steering one way or the other, I would say you have an alignment problem.

You could also have the dealer check the alignment, although they'll probably charge you for it.

You could also ask them about taking another Prius for a short test drive. I'm sure they have a few loaners.

Hope this helps,

E.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Spark @ Oct 19 2007, 03:08 AM) [snapback]527673[/snapback]</div>

 

Hey ya'll left out the steering issue..

The power steering is electric assist, thus it will be more responcive than the standard vehicle.

I uesd to tell every one I had to change the way I drove the car from a normal car.

Efusco's right about the alignment and the cross winds too...

 

If the alignment is okay, there are two other issues: 1) The OEM Goodyear Integrity tires are not very good. Our Prius is much easier to drive since we switched to Michelin MXV4+ Energy tires. 2) The steering in the Prius is anything but sloppy. The Prius steering is perhaps the tightest power steering system I've ever used, which leads to your handling problem. Every little control input is transfered to the tires. There is essentially no dead band, so it is very easy to over-control the steering, which induces oscillations. Once I learned to relax my grip and started steering very lightly, I had no problem with tracking. Try it.

Tom

 

Second that. The steering on mine felt awfully twitchy for about a month. Then I got accustomed to it, and ever since it feels great. Try just driving it carefully for a while, and you may save yourself a trip to fix a non-existent alignment problem.

 

A Prius will feel sloppy when compared to a VW - a VW will feel sloppy when compared to a Corvette. A sufficient test drive would have revealed the driving characteristics of the Prius - I don’t think your problem has anything to do with alignment or tire pressure. When my mother drove my car she said the same thing, and compared to her Crossfire (junk) it does feel sloppy. One good thing about the Prius, if you don’t like it, you can sell it and get another VW without loosing your shirt.

 

I haven't driven my Prius on anything but Michellin HydroEdge tires. The car does handle horribly in high wind. I have feared for my safety on the interstate, driving 65, when it's really windy (this is in central Illinois), but I've always been able to control it. My drive from Illinois to Utah in August was without any problem and wind wasn't a problem. When it isn't windy, the car handles like a dream. I love how she makes corners!

You might want to replace your tires if they're Goodyear as well as doing the other things suggested.

 

Hmm, 5700 miles later on stock tires I would say that the Prius drives VERY straight but that the steering wheel is REALLY sensitive. If you get it right it can go straight without touching the wheel for more than a mile.

Many here say to get an alignment or change tires, but my suspicion is that most of the time people aren't used to the electric steering wheel on the Prius.

 

I see people who can't drive in a straight line all the time...never seen one in a Prius. This morning it was a lady in a Honda trying to dial a cell phone. I've never had stability problems in 45,000 miles (OEM tires, no alignment). If it is that bad you can try a dealer visit, I guess. I do have a BT plate, and 42/40 TP.

 

The stock tires track road grooves.. alot. Just relax, loosen your grip and "guide" the car, with little steering inputs.

Cross-winds do kind of suck though.

 

Your welcome. And welcome to PC! I've always gotten the straight scoop here - even when I didn't want to hear it! :lol:

 

Something I just thought of, I drive the Prius with a very light grip on the wheel. Try relaxing your grip on the wheel, if you hold the wheel too tight you tend to over drive it. You get more feel if you have a feather grip on the wheel. I'm not talking fingertips, a full grip but very light, give it a shot.

Edit, sorry I didn't see Devil's already said this.