What is the reason if the car does not go straight (i put the steering in the centre)?

Question

Yesterday, i tested one car from dealer. I found one problem. When i was driving, i put the steering in the center, the car suppose to be go stright, but it did not. It went to left a little bit.

And i asked dearler why? He said because of the front left wheel did not have enough air pressure. Is that ture?

In facted, i check the left front wheel, not much air pressure. But i ignore to check the right one. I think if air pressure of the left front wheel is lower than the right one, that thing would happen. And i can not remember the right wheel.

So what else the reason would be? Does it mean the car has been crashed? Or any other possiable reason?

Thank you very much!

1 second ago - 3 days left to answer

Answer 1

1. check all tires for the correct air tire pressure because vehicles will loose pressure from just sitting and if all is okay.

2. have the dealer do an alignment on the vehicle and if you are going to buy it then you need to be there while this is done, reason if there is a big problem and the tech does the alignment make sure that he does not have to make any severe changes to it because if he has to then the vehicle could have been in an accident or worse.

3. front wheel drive vehicles will need a 4-wheel alignment.

4. rear wheel drive vehicle will need a 2-wheel alignment.

Answer 2

yes it sounds like you need a wheel alignment.however if it pulls to the left as you're braking it would be your brake pads,which would lead to uneven wearing tyres.

an easy way to see if a car has been in an accident front or rear,stand in front of each headlight and look for any creases on the edges of the roof.car repairers can always pull the car out straight and fix the damage but will virtually never touch the roof,they will only repair to the top of the door or pillar.and lastly.(NEVER TRUST A CAR SALESMAN-PERIOD)

Answer 3

well it can be a lot of things.

I'm dutch so i don't know the exact English terms. Tyre pressure could be the problem. Or they changed the steering wheel which the didn't put on straight. It can even be a simple balancing problem and the car then needs to be rebalanced.

But it could also mean that the shocks (springs) maybe worn out. But yeah it could also mean that the car had a crash. If you want to buy it and the guy is so sure abouth it only being a tyre pressure problem ask for some extra free warranty on the left front wheel. (in writing of course)

If he's got nothing to hide that should not be a problem.

Good luck from holland

Answer 4

the front end needs attention. could be costly to repair

Answer 5

it is possible that it could have been in a crash, get the vin and run it on carfax.com. It could be because the air is low in that tire, or that it  needs an alignment

Answer 6

tire pressure uneven

rims that are not true

bad alignment

Uneven tire wear

Bad suspension components

Answer 7

I Agree with blonderockchick714.

thats exactly what i was going to say when i read the question

Answer 8

I suppose that nobody has realised that it is quite normal for a car to steer into the camber of the road, especially if it doesn't have power steering.

Low air pressure in the left wheel will also make the car turn to the left due to increased drag on that tyre.

Its normal for most cars to run into the curb between 100 to 200 yards.

Answer 9

Yes that could happen it the front left is lower than the right.

it could also be the tyres are badly worn on one side, which could be the result of tracking/balance. It could be the joints on the left side, the drive shafts on the left side.

There's a few possibilities.

If the tyre was inflated to be the same as the right then drive it and it's ok, you've nothing to worry about...

Answer 10

it could be some external factor like wind/uneven road.  or the car fram could be misaligned, but that would only be the case if the car is used.  air pressure differences would have to be somewhat significant to have any kind of effect.   my car does the same thing, doesnt bother me a bit..i drive with my knees half the time anyways...so  you can still go hand free :)

Answer 11

The car dealer could be telling the truth.

However, the wheels might also not be properly aligned, which can be caused even by minor accidents.

Answer 12

What kind of dealer sends a potential customer out in a vehicle with air pressure unchecked ?  That is actually a big strike for him. He should have had you stop back at the dealership and had  them add pressure immediately. If you

really like the car, find out how they resolved the problem.

Tires don't just leak pressure out one morning. If they haven't satisfied you by repairing it properly, just think down the road

what else they may forget to check.   Strike two, just because

this makes me cringe.. Aw what the h**l, strike three...

find another dealer just for the fact that you didn't get to drive

it after he should have immediately filled the tire with air.

Find a new salesman who gives a dam.

( Sorry, salesman irk me sometimes  ) Especiallly when the

economy is like it is.

Good Luck on your next vehicle...

Answer 13

Prob a wheel alignment thing. Though i have heard an 'urban myth' if you like; In Aus, we drive on the left hand side of the road, so if you were to fall asleep at the wheel, the car would pull off to the left hand side and off the road, instead of to the right side and into oncoming traffic. I have no idea who told me that, but hey!

Answer 14

it means there is an uneven weight in your tyres. It's called getting a 'wheel balance'. if you like the car, take a registered mechanic to look it over, it costs about $50-$100(australian) or tell the dealer you want the wheels balanced and book in for another test drive and check it again.

A wheel balance costs like $40 so he shouldn't mind having it done for you. Or bargain on the price and have it serviced once you purchase it :)

good luck

Answer 15

How about uneven wear on the brake pads?

Answer 16

Yes, the tire being flat on one side would make it pull to that side, but it could also be the wheel alignment is off.  This could be from a few things and the car being in an accident is one cause, bent tie-rod end , worn bushings or control arms are bad, if you like this car ask the dealer about fixing the problems.  Make sure you have them fix it before you buy it this will save you on cost.  Try making the deal on the car first that way you know what you are going to pay, then ask them to fix the car and if they do it then you will take it.  Make the deal while talking about the problems they may incorporate it to the cost.

Good luck....cya....

Answer 17

yes, tyre pressure, wheel alignment

don't forget that most roads have a camber in them to drain the water, so it will have a slight slope towards the edge of the road anyway.

get a friend to follow you to see if it looks like your car is going slighlty sideways, would suggest that chassis is misaligned from crash if so

Answer 18

it could also mean your wheel alignment is a bit off , because that was what happened to my car - it was pulling to the right. sometimes it just does that over time (with wear of the car and wheels) and needs to be readjusted. it doesn't cost very much to get realigned - only cost me fifty bucks - but if you don't get it realigned it can wear out your tyres unevenly and then you;ll eventually need knew tyres. you can go to a repair place and get them to check it out, see what's causing it and get a quote.