2003 Civic Veering to the Right - Possible Causes?

Hi there,

A mechanic recently looked at my car, and could find what the problem
was, so the following isn't due wheel alignment, balancing, whatever.

When I'm driving in a straight line and let go of the steering wheel,
the car starts to veer to the right. To drive in a straight line, I have
to actually use (a tiny, tiny bit of) force to push the steering wheel
to the left. When I'm on a long turn to the right, I can turn the
steering wheel, let go, and the steering wheel will stay where I left
it. If I do the same thing on a left turn, it will pull quickly to the
right.

Can anyone think of a reason for this?

 

My CR-V does the same. It is designed that way.

 

If the car doesn't go straight, the possible causes are alignment, bad
tire(s), air pressure difference between the front tires, or a high crown in
the road.

First make sure the air pressure is the same in both front tires. One PSI
difference is enough to make the car start favoring one side over the other.
Find a flat road and test it.

If that checks out, try swapping the front tires and see if it then starts
to pull to the left. If it still pulls right after swapping the tires (and
the road is flat), then find a different mechanic and get the alignment
checked again - something is out of spec in the suspension.

Have them check the rear as well as the front (you usually have to
specifically ask them to check the rear). Misalignment of the rear wheels
can also cause a drift to one side or the other. My last two Hondas both
had alignment issues in the right rear.

 

Brakes dragging can cause a pull to one side or another as well.

 

True. Unusual on a car this new though.

 

what a load of used buffalo food. - absolutely incorrect. take it to a
competent shop and get a 4 wheel alignment. and keep taking it back
till they get it right.

 

you need a new mechanic. your car needs a 4 wheel alignment.

 

Perhaps the car needs an alignment but it is probably within specs. One
cause could be that most roads have some kind of camber (crowned in the
middle) and your car is following the natural curvature of the road. This
can be compensated for in the alignment to some degree.

Just a thought

Larry B.

 

wishbone suspension like the 2000 civic & earlier is well known for
following camber. mcpherson, like the 2001 & later is not. indeed,
that's probably the /only/ excuse for using what is essentially a cheap
inferior suspension cludge.

keep taking it back until the alignment shop gets it right. a frequent
problem is that when the sensors just get slapped onto the rims, they
don't get positioned quite right. likewise, the wheels should be
rotated with sensors on so the machine can calibrate and allow for any
run-out in the rim. 2mm run-out is within spec. that's greater than
the tolerance on alignment, so you can see how to get false readings if
the job's not done right.

 

Did you bought it new?
It sounds like an accidented car...not sure .
I've heard stories about that that once a car has actual frame damage it
will mostly be impossible to brign it back to factory specs.But again i
might be wrong.
Good luck!

 

Nope - I brought it brand new, and it's still under warranty. The just
had it in the shop, did a wheel alignment and balancing yet it still
happens. They're saying that can't see what the problem is...

 

You might want to check the conditions for your state's lemon law...

JT

 

i test drove a brand new one like that. the sales lizard blandly told
me it was a design feature - lying ass.

keep taking it back - to a different dealer if necessary.

and then, as mentioned by grumpy, investigate lemon law. it should not
be happening. if it can't be fixed, the frame is bent, and that's
unacceptible for a brand new vehicle on which you've just paid full price.