left drift Meeting with Toyota Engineers

[glenb]

Next Thursday 1-15-04 I have a meeting with the Toyota engineers to talk about the left drift problem.

If anyone has any input or questions for them I will see if I can add that to the talks. The more information we have the better.

The 2004 Solara is an outstanding car in all respects except the way it steers. Just my opinion.

Glen

[bigpow]

Next Thursday 1-15-04 I have a meeting with the Toyota engineers to talk about the left drift problem.

If anyone has any input or questions for them I will see if I can add that to the talks. The more information we have the better.

The 2004 Solara is an outstanding car in all respects except the way it steers. Just my opinion.

Glen

If one of the engineer's name is 'Q', just leave the room.
He was the one who "fixed" my left pull by re-centering the steering wheel to the right... DUH!!!

[glenb]

Q? Was he a factory engineer?

[royaloakranger]

Left drift now corrected and driving like a dream.

Direct quote from invoice:

"Customer complains that steering pulls left.

Right hand side camber adjustment incorrect.

Camber adjusted as per [u]Toyota Canada Incorperated recommendations[/u].

Vehicle road tested by field staff and verified that customer's complaint is resolved."

The Canucks found the correct remedy without violating the original specifications or messing with the strut assembly.

[LunarMistGray]

Ask the engineers if the struts, top mount supports and spacer plates are out of spec? This should be an easy question for them. If it is, then what is the solution and what should the specs be. My dealer said the left drift was because of this.

[glenb]

I went to the dealer's service dept to meet with the engineers on Thursday. I will have a lot to say about that after I get the allignment checked by an independent shop.

I can't beleive what that dealer is trying to pull.

[bigpow]

I went to the dealer's service dept to meet with the engineers on Thursday. I will have a lot to say about that after I get the allignment checked by an independent shop.

I can't beleive what that dealer is trying to pull.

Yo Glenb

Still hassling with the pulling?
Just get four failed fix attempts (from different dealers, if you have to), then you can go to independent shop for a statement that the car still pulls.
After that file the arbitration form - don't waste your time.

[glenb]

I received a call from the service dept at the dealer where I bought the car saying that the Toyota engineers wanted to talk about the problems with the 2004 (left drift).

I went to the service dept and was told they wanted to do a prelimanary allignment check.

I told the Asst. Service Manager THREE times I wanted to talk to the engineers BEFORE any work was done on my car.

When I stuck my head in the service shop their tech was under the car making adjustments.

THERE WERE NO ENGINEERS AT THAT SHOP THAT DAY. THE SHOP MADE ADJUSTMENTS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

The Asst. Service Manager LIED to me.

They changed the camber on the left front by rotating the cap. They said they were in commuication with the factory about that.

Bottom line; the car steers better at lower speeds but at highway speeds it now drifts to the right as often as to the left. I think there is something wrong in the design because the drifting is progressive IE It starts out slow but becomes progresivly a tighter turn.

I checked the allignment at an independent shop and the numbers are close to what the Toyota shop said they are.

Toyota and that dealer used my car as an experenment for trial and error.

[bigpow]

I received a call from the service dept at the dealer where I bought the car saying that the Toyota engineers wanted to talk about the problems with the 2004 (left drift).

I went to the service dept and was told they wanted to do a prelimanary allignment check.

I told the Asst. Service Manager THREE times I wanted to talk to the engineers BEFORE any work was done on my car.

When I stuck my head in the service shop their tech was under the car making adjustments.

THERE WERE NO ENGINEERS AT THAT SHOP THAT DAY. THE SHOP MADE ADJUSTMENTS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

The Asst. Service Manager LIED to me.

They changed the camber on the left front by rotating the cap. They said they were in commuication with the factory about that.

Bottom line; the car steers better at lower speeds but at highway speeds it now drifts to the right as often as to the left. I think there is something wrong in the design because the drifting is progressive IE It starts out slow but becomes progresivly a tighter turn.

I checked the allignment at an independent shop and the numbers are close to what the Toyota shop said they are.

Toyota and that dealer used my car as an experenment for trial and error.

Ouch... you just described my car! :<

Steering is never STR8... Will look forward for trade in two more years (if Toyota don't buy it back)
What a waste of my cash... all $30K of 'em!!!

[mik00725]

I still have no problems with the left drift on my car (bought it on 12-24, Santa's gift) but feel for your inconvenience. So I look around and wrote an e-mal to Toyota. Maybe if all the person with the prob. write an e-mail they will make something about it, because as of know it looks as if they have no clue of what is causing the problem. find the link below:

http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/toyo ... ZT0x&p_li=

[royaloakranger]

Left drift now corrected and driving like a dream.

Direct quote from invoice:

"Customer complains that steering pulls left.

Right hand side camber adjustment incorrect.

Camber adjusted as per Toyota Canada Incorperated recommendations.

Vehicle road tested by field staff and verified that customer's complaint is resolved."

The Canucks found the correct remedy without violating the original specifications or messing with the strut assembly.

These are newly revised specs and must be dead on to drive properly. I know this fix sounds deceptively simple but it works perfectly. Get the specs from Toyota Canada and nobody else.

Also, I believe the other suggestion that was posted earlier to verify that the strut assembly is correct as per original specifications is a great idea too. But first try the Toyota Canada specs on the right side camber and see if it does the trick.

Sorry you have to go through this. It's like being on your honeymoon with a beautiful woman, only to come down with Montezuma's revenge!

[SuperCharged]

I work at a Toyota Dealer, in Service. The problem is this: For the new Solara, Toyota redesigned the springs and got the numbering wrong. The head tech at our dealer said that all you have to do is turn the left spring an additional 5 degrees and the problem is completely corrected. We've had three solaras come through and get corrected for the problem, and none of them have been back.

-Michael-

[TW85]

glenb,

I assume you're in Phoenix? Is the dealer Camelback Toyota by chance?

[bigpow]

Yo Mike,

I've had the adjustment done to my car by a TMS specialist.
Can you explain why he adjusted the steering wheel to the right (other than he was trying to deceive me)?
Also, why the steering is always G-O-O-F-Y ?

[glenb]

I work at a Toyota Dealer, in Service. The problem is this: For the new Solara, Toyota redesigned the springs and got the numbering wrong. The head tech at our dealer said that all you have to do is turn the left spring an additional 5 degrees and the problem is completely corrected. We've had three solaras come through and get corrected for the problem, and none of them have been back.

-Michael-

Hell I would drive to Atlanta to get this fixed. Any excuse to drive.

Glen