Wheel alignment

Looking through the settings it looks like all they did was set the front toe. I think you have nothing to worry about, the red numbers are so close to correct to be insignificant.

 

IMHO this is how many of them set up from the factory. Not specifically toe but the two Prii I've driven extensively had the steering wheel set up like that. Annoying as hell, but when you getting it out of dealership with 4mi on ODO and it is like that you know it is not you.

I think they do it to compensate for road crown, b/c they're made in Japan and they drive on left side of the road.

 

Pris are made for the market they are sold in. I don't think they set the alignment for the Japan market, then use those settings for all Prius. Gen2 Pris in US have the Coolant Heat Recovery System. IIRC, only US model Prius have the CHRS.

As for alignment, nearly all of the after measurements are w/in specs. Two aspects of the rear are out of spec, but the reported value is super close to spec. If the Pri C is like the Gen2, the rears are not adjustable except w/o using a shim. Only tire alignment place will use a shim, but can be costly ($200-$250, IIRC). Toy dealers will not use a shim. They will only offer use of a new replacement rear axel beam (for the Gen2).

Consider buying a lifetime alignment from a tire place. I bought one from Firestone Tire ($120, 6-2010). I just drop the car off once a year for alignment check/adjustment, unless new tires or suspension work, cause me to go in sooner. One of the angels is always slightly out of spec every time. Read the fine print as the lifetime has a specific frequency you can bring it in.

From what I have read and been told about alignment, it will always go out and goes out easily b/c of road conditions: hitting debris, pot boles, speed bumps, curbs (parallel parking), etc. Probably only time alignment will be kept is if the car is driven on a closed racing track free of debris.

 

Rear alignment issues you see on printouts are commonly due to techs not averaging suspension load prior to putting on stand. This is a common problem for torsion beam rear design; due to play/wear in bushings if you are not going in straight line it can swing to the side.

With respect to front, the issue is not with alignment; IMHO it is an issue on how the steering wheel put on. If you look at alignment numbers before alignment was done toe-in is well within specs. That if you rotate steering wheel a few degrees to left. I suspect this may be how the steering parts fit and perhaps Toyota has no choice but to put it this way. Or the steering rack comes sometimes not 100% aligned, or is a byproduct of alignment procedure/equipment.

I'll be taking my brand new C to dealer for 1st free oil change, and have them put it on stand and correct it. After all it is free - under warranty.

 

If you look at the printout, Front LEFT Toe was out of spec by .27degree
Front Left BEFORE = -.32degree; AFTER=.07degree. Specified Front Left range: -.05deg to .15deg

The Average TOE BEFORE was w/in spec. But the tech changed the front left to bring it w/in spec, which brought the Total Toe closer towards the middle of the specified range vs being at the edge of the range. Before .27deg. After .13deg. Specified Range: -.10deg to .30deg.

The values have to be taken at face value. Yes, there are possible errors: equipment, tech, or both. Yes, it is possible that the tech moved the steering wheel slightly when getting out of the vehicle, and then attempted to return the steering wheel back to center.

What I think you mean is not the steering wheel and how it was mounted on a Prius, but rather the Prius uses an electrical driven steering mechanism, that seems to have ZERO play. A non-hybrid car might use a hydraulic assisted rack & pinion system. These systems have a little bit of play in the steering wheel, before the hydraulic system responds, turning the wheels left/right. But as many Prius owners have noted, Prius steering is super sensitive.

No matter what, alignment, slightly higher tire pressure (than listed on the door jamb), and regular tire rotations will help maximize tire life.

 

IMHO looks like we're splitting hairs: the total cross toe is .325. On printout left looks out of spec b/c of the steering position; if you turn steering left .16 deg it would be right in the middle. Well within the spec.

So an issue is that steering was not set straight when the values were set.

Since many new cars coming from dealership this way, it is likely an issue somewhere in toyota factory. It could be procedural, random, supply issues, etc. Could be issue with springs settling differently, etc.

On right hand drive cars steering specifically set up to be slightly turned to the right. Why? to compensate for road crown. Most roads you drive on are slopped few degrees to the shoulder for water drainage. So when you drive straight you have to turn wheel a few degrees to the left to compensate. If you were to set up steering wheel straight, it would look crooked to you driving in straight line.

You could compensate for crown by adjusting trust angle, but rear is not adjustable, so they likely use front steering.

We can only speculate why it is this way on Prii. I am only stating that many of them come this way from dealership, and set up like this would make sense for left side drive car.