Keep going back? Auto shop.

[BuzzStPoint]

I sent he car into the shop to get tires and an alignment.
It's kind of a different situation. The car has been in a rear end collision last year. You can't tell cosmetically, but underneath you can tell it's been hit. I sent it into the shop for an alignment check.

They called back saying the tierods and one ball joint is bad. But before I replace those I wanted to know if the rear end is alignable. So they check and tell me all the alignment angles are there. I replace the parts and send the car back, They put tires and aligned it.

I drove the car not more then 4 miles before returning it. Tell them it's still pulling. They bring it in and the tech said the alignment is still a bit off, so he readjusted and flipped the front tires. Said it could be "Tire Pull"

Now it's much better, but there's a ever so slight pull the opposite way. Sometimes it's not noticeable. But i want my car like my wifes car.. Take hands off wheel and it goes straight down the road. Mine will slowly creep to the center.

Should I send it back and say I think the "Tire Pull" might actually be happening?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

Tire pull is common and since they are new tires....... I would fight it. The next step if it can not be cured is new tires based on tire warranty. Some cars just do not get along with some tires.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

Why don't you fix the collision damage properly? That would probably make all the difference in the world. After all you are asking someone to make your DAMAGED car drive perfectly. Do you really think that's fair?

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

The car isn't worth fixing the damage. It's kind of a crap shoot with the car.. Take the money I have and buy a different vehicle for 1500 and hope it's good. But then I may have to shove more money I don't have into the new vehicle. Or, fix the tires, alignment and rebuild the transmission.
The damage or look of a car shouldn't really matter from my understanding from talking to the garage, if the "alignment angles" are there, the car should drive normally without pull. The car could have been rolled down a hill and flipped 17 times. If the steering components are good and the angles are there, it should go straight. The damage to my car is rear bumper and laterals. From the garage's explanation (and body shop for insurance estimates) it doesn't affect the structural of the car.

If I knew the tire pull wouldn't burn up the tires, I'd let it go. I drove that car for 3 years with the bad alignment before getting into the accident. So the pull doesn't really bother me driving. But I don't want 450 worth of tires wearing down because of an issue that can be fixed with a little time and care form a shop.

 

[642mx]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

I'm going through a similiar situation right now.... but its with a $40K Lexus with 9000 miles on it.

Its the second time I've complained about the car pulling when cruising or stopping. All 4 tires are cupped and are noisey going down the road (sounds like its got mud tires on it). The dealer called yesterday and said they couldn't find anything wrong with it and the cupped tires are normal! I told him it was unacceptable and I wasn't picking the car up until I'm satisfied with the repair. I hung up the phone and called corporate lexus and explained the situation.... now I'm just waiting for them to figure it all out.

So anyways... (didn't mean to burden you with that, but misery loves company...lol). I would stick to your guns and take it back. Make them adjust on it until YOU are happy.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

Buzz, listen to yourself, please. I think you are asking too much:

You drove it for THREE YEARS with it not aligned properly.
It is not worth fixing the accident damage (that you got PAID for)
It's got an "ever so slight pull".

What's the problem here? It sounds like it drives like it always has. And in the meantime, you have gotten brand new tires on it, paid for with the settlement money from the at fault carrier. Just drive the car and put the remaining insurance payment in your pocket. Or in the gas tank for you boat and go boating when it warms up.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

While I did drive it three years with a bad alignment and bald tires through most of this winter, It comes down to taking chances on a used (new to me) vehicle. The money we got from the accident went to pay for a different car for my wife. I've been driving this car since last summer. Now with "my money" not insurance money, It's either fix a car that I know what's wrong with it or take chances on a different vehicle. With what little money I have, it makes more sense to fix my car. Thats why it went to the shop.

Now I'm not trying to blind side the shop or get anything for free. I told them it was in an accident, and check it out. And if it can't be aligned I was going to part the car out. No sense shoving 1200 into a car I can't get aligned and have to put new tires on every year. If it can be aligned, align and put tires on it.. They came back to me and said needs tie rods and a ball joint, Get those fixed and you'll be good.

The ever so slight pull I can live with. To be honest I don't care if it pulls like that. I just don't want the tires to burn up when the shop says the car can be aligned.
Just because it has always been like that doesn't mean it has to be like that.. If I go with that logic, Overdrive (4th gear) has been out in the same car for over a year. Probably more like 2 years. Don't know exactly when it went out.. Now it drives and shifts fine. Probably could be driven the rest of it's life like that. Doesn't mean it can't and shouldn't be fixed if it can be. Now I know that with some bands, clutches and a 4th gear clutch hub. Overdrive will work once again.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

I hear what you're saying, Buzz. It would be different if you were engaging in flim flam, but you've been straight with the shop and it sounds like you're on the same page. Just tell them what you've told us; it's still pulling a little. It's not a big deal if that's how it's going to be, you just don't want to wear the tires out prematurely if it can be helped. They'll either tell you that's how the cookie crumbles or they'll warranty out the tires. I don't see how that conversation would constitue asking too much. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

I had something similar happen years ago, new tires and an alignment, yet the truck still pulled to the side. I took it back a couple times and they said everything looked good, though there was no change in the pull. A couple weeks later I get a call from the shop,,, they discovered their alignment machine/rack went out of alignment so there was no way they could get my vehicle right.

After they had their equipment fixed they realigned my truck and it drove perfect...

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

Consider a second opinion at anohter shop- one that specializes in alignments if there is one handy. You grind off the tires and the warranty won't cover if they're worn due to alignment issues. Maybe this tire shop you're using isn't the best at these type of problems. Some shops are more talented than others.

 

[DJ]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

Buzz, listen to yourself, please. I think you are asking too much:

You drove it for THREE YEARS with it not aligned properly.
It is not worth fixing the accident damage (that you got PAID for)
It's got an "ever so slight pull".

What's the problem here? It sounds like it drives like it always has. And in the meantime, you have gotten brand new tires on it, paid for with the settlement money from the at fault carrier. Just drive the car and put the remaining insurance payment in your pocket. Or in the gas tank for you boat and go boating when it warms up.

TilliamWe is right. You know/knew it's messed up. It's not a shop's fault that they can't make it drive right.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

TilliamWe is right. You know/knew it's messed up. It's not a shop's fault that they can't make it drive right.

It's a different story if the shop said, "Hey this car is bent and we can't align it properly"
Instead they knew right from the beginning, Before they even had the car in the garage it was in an accident. They looked and told me it can be aligned.

If it couldn't be aligned they would have told me, or said it many not be aligned properly. Even after the pull when I brought it right back, they didn't say a word about it. The tech comments the alignment is off a bit and re adjusts, Then tells me to drive it a bit. Thinking it's "tirePull".

Answer me this. If the car isn't alignable, why are they thinking it's tire pull?
This isn't just a run of the mill garage. They are a tire shop and garage. Tires are their business.

I called them yesterday and to update the shop. They are still thinking it may be the tire pull because it's pulling the other way but seems to be lessening. I am to drive it till Friday. If it's still there, then bring it back in and they'll swap out the tire they marked.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Keep going back? Auto shop.

Driving it until Friday and them changing out the tire or whatever it takes to make it run smooth and straight sounds reasonable to me.
I also think that you are totally being reasonable to expect it to be aligned right. That's what you paid for. As you said, they were told up front about the collision and were most likely correct in saying it could be aligned right. If they couldn't handle fixing it, they should have and would have said so. I hope it works out for you and the car runs down the road like it should with brand new tires and alignment.
You're not expecting too much.
JMO,
JBJ