Can the steering wheel be off center?

[bofa]

I brought in my 5th gen because of clicking when turning with the turn signal on. They found that the switch was deformed and replaced it. To do this, they supposedly had to disassemble the entire steering column and remove the steering wheel. When I got it back and we left, I immediately noticed the wheel now required a 15 degree left turn to stay straight (even in the left lane, so it wasn't a crown issue). I tried a few different flat roads and got the same thing. I brought it back and the service guy talked to me like I'm an idiot explaining that there's only one way to install the steering wheel and that the alignment must be bad. Maybe so, but I know this vehicle pretty well and immediately noticed the issue. Is this guy correct? If so I can't imagine how they could jack up the alignment replacing a turn signal switch.

 

[Canazes9]

Some reading on the subject you may find helpful:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/136987-straightening-steering-wheel-after-alignment.html

David

 

[harper7]

I brought in my 5th gen because of clicking when turning with the turn signal on. They found that the switch was deformed and replaced it. To do this, they supposedly had to disassemble the entire steering column and remove the steering wheel. When I got it back and we left, I immediately noticed the wheel now required a 15 degree left turn to stay straight (even in the left lane, so it wasn't a crown issue). I tried a few different flat roads and got the same thing. I brought it back and the service guy talked to me like I'm an idiot explaining that there's only one way to install the steering wheel and that the alignment must be bad. Maybe so, but I know this vehicle pretty well and immediately noticed the issue. Is this guy correct? If so I can't imagine how they could jack up the alignment replacing a turn signal switch.

It does have to be marked first so it goes back on the same.That's why they were supposed to put matchmarks per the repair manual before removing it so it goes back on in the same orientation.Service guy is the idiot.....


From the repair manual

1. INSTALL STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY
(a) Align the matchmarks on the steering wheel assembly and steering main shaft assembly.

 

[Falls]

They can do it during alignment. No need to take steering wheel apart.

 

[harper7]

They can do it during alignment. No need to take steering wheel apart.

That will sometimes throw the turn signal off return out that turns the turn signal off after you straighten the wheel out of a turn. At least it does on older GM's....ask me how I know?
They are probably one spline off on the steering wheel and should be fixed right.....not the bubba way.

 

[Falls]

I take that back , when I had alignments done after spacer lifts I just told them to make sure the wheel is straight because it would bug the hell out of me. To my knowledge they never pulled the steering wheel.

This was done this way on my 06 4R , 10 TE , 12 Tahoe and hopefully I wont run into issues when I put DS kit on my 13 TE .

 

[bofa]

Thanks guys - I was on my phone so searching was a bit difficult.

Some reading on the subject you may find helpful:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/136987-straightening-steering-wheel-after-alignment.html


David

Perfect, thank you.

It does have to be marked first so it goes back on the same.That's why they were supposed to put matchmarks per the repair manual before removing it so it goes back on in the same orientation.Service guy is the idiot.....


From the repair manual
View attachment 97870
1. INSTALL STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY
(a) Align the matchmarks on the steering wheel assembly and steering main shaft assembly.

Glad to know I'm not crazy. I figured it was just sloppy reassembly. Not sure why they didn't just own up to it instead of irritate me...

Amazingly it was fixed about 10 minutes later... no mention of doing an alignment and he was a bit nicer when he brought it back.

 

[2013Trail]

Glad you got it fixed but just so you know:

99% of the time: If it wasn't broke before you took it in for repairs and it's broke immediately after getting repairs the repairer likely broke it.

Alignment had nothing to do with what they needed to do unless they messed with your alignment, which they shouldn't have because there's nothing in the alignment that would cause clicking--especially only when your turn signal is on. Actually, in some vehicles it's normal to hear a clicking sound as your turn the steering wheel with the turn signal actuated.

Anyways, even an idiot could drive straight into a parking space, remove the steering wheel, then put it back on and align it fairly straight without having to mark it. So if it's that far off, they just screwed up. And BTW, you're lucky they didn't do an alignment because they would have charged you for it as it's not usually warranty work.