Wheel alignment requires special equipment?

Not sure, but I recently had an alignment and was charged the normal amount with no mention of traction control.

 

Ask him what a traction control reset consists of.

 

wow, is there no end to the lengths these auto conmen will go to?

 

Nope.

 

Not saying you need this "service," but there is a fair amount of discussion around the Web about Prius alignments and need for VCS calibration afterwards. Not that I understand a lot of what they talk about. Here is one link:


Tire Review - 2001-09 Toyota Prius Alignment & Suspension Specs

 

The steering zero point calibration should be carried out after wheel alignment. This is to ensure the VSC computer knows the exact angle the steering is at to perform it's calculations along with the yaw sensor and wheel speed sensors to help bring back control if the the vehicle is in a skid.

John (Britprius)

 

How difficult and how much time is involved in this extra procedure? Are there others cars with this feature? I'm just wondering if it is a rather typical procedure that most front end shops would be knowledgeable about or is it a very specialized procedure that should only be done by the dealer?

 

It does require some specialist equipment such as Techtream and no doubt some of the latter more sophisticated alignment systems have the capability built in. Other vehicles with stability control must have similar, "but I am sure very manufacturer specific" systems built in that require calibration.

John (Britprius)

 

Is there a way the car owner would know if this extra procedure was done at all or done within specs?

 

Not until he crashes the car. No seriously I would think that if it were way off a fault code would show, but how far out it would have to be I have no idea. Toyota state if any work is done on the steering that requires tracking, steering zero point calibration must be done. I would anticipate that the power steering could also be affected along with auto park assist fitted vehicles. I would also expect if the system was way off calibration for the VSC system to constantly keep operating, flashing the light on the dash.
I should have also pointed out that with the correct equipment it is only a few minutes work. My argument would be to any workshop that offers tracking at a fixed price, calibration should be done within that price, because the work is not complete until it has been done.

John (Britprius)

 

Thanks John.

 

The Hunter Alignment video posted on this thread states that resetting the sensors should be a normal part of the alignment.
Hunter Alignment Racks Are Now Able to Perform Zero-Point Calibration Without Factory Scantool | PriusChat

However, when I took my prius to Hunter, they did not provide a printout, and did not reset the sensors, and now I get a skid warning alert at highway speed. I still need to go back to the shop and point this out to them and see if they can do the reset.

 

I came across this article:

Alignment & Suspension Specs: 2001-2009 Toyota Prius: Brake and Front End

It mentions something about disconnecting the negative battery terminal to reset the sensor, so I tried that. I parked the car on flat, level road, made sure my wheels were lined up straight, unhooked the black cable from the trunk battery for a few minutes, hooked it back up and what do you know, it worked! It's been a few days, I've driven about 30 miles and the skid alert has not come back.

So I'm hypothesizing that it was caused by a lack of zero-point calibration after alignment, and that disconnecting the battery reset the sensors.

 

Now, that's a good thing to know.

 

Was your car in an accident and this is part of the repair? I too just had an alignment when i bought new tires and was $89 and no mention of anything special or reset.

Had toe on both front wheels out at .043 on each wheel. Rears were fine. The car steers much better now. Steering feels slightly more nimble now. Surprised it was only out 043 as had weird wear line on inside of front tire.

It could require a reset of the VSC system if the steering wheel is off centered (clearview) or toe is radically out hence my accident mention. Here's a brief description of the VSC reset using Techstream Software.


Toyota Tech Feature: Diagnosing Today's Complex Electronics Systems: Underhood Service

 

Same situation today. Had the car aligned about 3 times in the past at Dobbs tires and was never told about this steering reset. Not one of the 5 Prius in my family have needed or heard of this. Called the Dealer who said they do that with any Prius they align but not totally needed unless a warning light comes on. To prevent having to go back if I get a warning light I'm grudgingly letting them do the reset just this one time for $69. Not happy but thinking of it like giving the car a treat since it's at 157,xxx.