New Toy-broke!!

[Neil Smith]

Well I've had some fun earlier. Following on from my last post that included an issue with a mis-aligned steering wheel I took her into a garage to have the tracking looked at. I left her with them and carried on to work. On contacting the garage later they outlined that they had struggled to sort the issue? They told me that they had to wind the track rod ends to the limit each side in an effort to re-align the steering wheel before tracking could be done . At this point it was said that they couldn't do anymore?

With this I collected her and drove out of the garage to find that the wheel was in fact relatively in-line compared to previous. So, with that I thought well that's not too bad until I reached approx 30mph when the slip indicator symbol came both on the dash and audible?? The vehicle started to shake and brake so I pull over were it then stopped beeping and the symbol went off the dash. I went back onto the road only for the same to happen each time I got to 30mph.

Any thoughts???

 

[goodoldboy]

Well I've had some fun earlier. Following on from my last post that included an issue with a mis-aligned steering wheel I took her into a garage to have the tracking looked at. I left her with them and carried on to work. On contacting the garage later they outlined that they had struggled to sort the issue? They told me that they had to wind the track rod ends to the limit each side in an effort to re-align the steering wheel before tracking could be done . At this point it was said that they couldn't do anymore?

With this I collected her and drove out of the garage to find that the wheel was in fact relatively in-line compared to previous. So, with that I thought well that's not too bad until I reached approx 30mph when the slip indicator symbol came both on the dash and audible?? The vehicle started to shake and brake so I pull over were it then stopped beeping and the symbol went off the dash. I went back onto the road only for the same to happen each time I got to 30mph.

Any thoughts???

Yeah find a new garage.whatever is the problem no reputable mechanic should hand over a vehicle that's had suspension , steering of brakes repaired without a road test.
This cruiser is clearly unsafe to be driven in it's present condition.Could be a bent track rod end??

 

[TonyP]

I had similar symptoms with my 120 when I broke the clock spring in the steering wheel when I changed the steering column, and inadvertently spun the steering wheel. Worth checking to see if that is damage.

Replacement was about £120

 

[uHu]

Sounds like it could be that the steering wheel has been moved on the shaft earlier, that there is a mis-alignment between steering angle sensor and steering wheel position. What is TechStream (or similar) saying about steering angle?

 

[StarCruiser]

I’m with Uhu on this. The Cursed Smart Car had this and the tell tale for me is the ‘slip indicator’. Either the steering wheel has been moved or the steering rack and steering wheel shaft have been separated at some point and misaligned. Bad they let you drive it though. I’d say to put the tracking back to centre, same turns each side to get roughly the same amount of thread showing, then, with the road wheels straight, separate the steering shaft from the rack and move it around a spline or two until the steering wheel is in the dead ahead position. Don’t move it too much, just enough.

I’m not familiar with your truck, this is generic info. Have a look and see if the rack has been changed, spanner marks, dirt disturbed, that sort of thing. If not, you may need to rotate the steering wheel. If it’s anything like the Smart, which it may well not be, it will be removable without disturbing the air bag. One for someone with more knowledge of these trucks.

 

[Neil Smith]

Its looking like getting the track rod ends back to were they started and back drivable then finding a garage/mechanic with knowledge of said truck. Anyone with any recommendations in NW England?

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

Its looking like getting the track rod ends back to were they started and back drivable then finding a garage/mechanic with knowledge of said truck. Anyone with any recommendations in NW England?

West Coast 4x4.

 

[jibberjabber]

Its looking like getting the track rod ends back to were they started and back drivable then finding a garage/mechanic with knowledge of said truck. Anyone with any recommendations in NW England?

Road Wheel Alignment and Steering Wheel Alignment are two different 'Alignments', but are interconnected.

What I did, just had the 'Road Wheel Alignment' checked/adjusted, BTW, I hate taking my LC to so called 'mechanics' especially at tyre fitting/wheel alignment places, they are all 'Wana be's', also, you will struggle to find a Toyota dealer that understands Land Cruisers. Anyway, after WA check/adjust, I centred the steering wheel my self, very, very easy to do, just follow the pic's I sent you.

Sounds like they were trying to centre the steering wheel first then adjust the Wheel Alignment.

Did you say yours was petrol? if so you will most likely have 'Variable Gear Ratio Steering' (I don't think any of the diesels had this) so it's even more important that the 'steering angle' is right, the only why to check/adjust this is with a TechStream, (available on eBay quite cheap) as the 'steering angle' is adjusted by a sensor so can only be done electronically not mechanically, and the info is then sent to an ECU. As uHu said, sounds like the steering ECU is getting the wrong info from the steering angle sensor, especially as there was no problem apart from the steering wheel not straight, with the 'slip indicator' until after the 'alignment monkeys' F*^!€D it up

I agree with 'Goodoldboy' never ever take you LC to that place again. Lesson Learnt .

If I were you, I would Google Land Cruiser specialists in NW England, or if your half handy with a spanner, all and I mean all the info you will ever need is on this LCC site (Just search), ih8mud is another good forum (not as good as this one, I may add) if not on the inter web, every question with regard to Land Cruisers has been asked, so there is an answer and solution.

Hope this helps.

 

[uHu]

For sensor zero setting, the key is whether you have vgrs or not. If yes, it's done through TechStream, if not, it's done by first putting wheels straight and then removing sensor power for a while.
If you do have vgrs, there are other issues that could come into play, and there was a recall on it.

Btw, later diesels also had it on select models in 2006/7, and poss 2005.

 

[jibberjabber]

For sensor zero setting, the key is whether you have vgrs or not. If yes, it's done through TechStream, if not, it's done by first putting wheels straight and then removing sensor power for a while.
If you do have vgrs, there are other issues that could come into play, and there was a recall on it.

Btw, later diesels also had it on select models in 2006/7, and poss 2005.

Thanks for the info, I stand corrected, and have noted for future reference.

 

[Neil Smith]

Well jibberjabber everything that you have outlined is 100% correct. Just had the track rod ends re-wound and the vehicle is back to were she was pre the "alignment monkeys" handy work. They even went as far as saying that there wasn't a charge as they couldn't get to re-track!! Lesson learnt.
Mine is petrol/LPG so TechStream would be needed.

 

[StarCruiser]

As with the Cursed Smart Car, everything has to be centred mechanically, wheels, alignment, steering wheel to centre dead ahead. Then if necessary, tell it it’s straight with Techstream (or disconnect power). It probably does need this if it is driving correctly and my guess is the battery was disconnected, steering wheel parted one way or another, refitted wrong then battery reconnected so it set itself in the wrong place. Just a theory but sounds like you’re on the right track to sort it yourself with the info received.
@jibberjabber how about posting those pics on here to help anyone in the future?

 

[jibberjabber]

Well jibberjabber everything that you have outlined is 100% correct. Just had the track rod ends re-wound and the vehicle is back to were she was pre the "alignment monkeys" handy work. They even went as far as saying that there wasn't a charge as they couldn't get to re-track!! Lesson learnt.
Mine is petrol/LPG so TechStream would be needed.

The TechStream is a very useful gizmo for petrol or deisel, and you can check,adjust and view alot of parameters, one of the most useful things is to see what you AHC pressures are.

Good Luck.

 

[jibberjabber]

As with the Cursed Smart Car, everything has to be centred mechanically, wheels, alignment, steering wheel to centre dead ahead. Then if necessary, tell it it’s straight with Techstream (or disconnect power). It probably does need this if it is driving correctly and my guess is the battery was disconnected, steering wheel parted one way or another, refitted wrong then battery reconnected so it set itself in the wrong place. Just a theory but sounds like you’re on the right track to sort it yourself with the info received.
@jibberjabber how about posting those pics on here to help anyone in the future?

Hi StarCruiser, the pictures I mentioned are in the post 'New Toy' they are only shots from the FSM on how to straighten you steering wheel, nothing spectacular I'm afraid.

But here they are again.

 

[jibberjabber]

As with the Cursed Smart Car, everything has to be centred mechanically, wheels, alignment, steering wheel to centre dead ahead. Then if necessary, tell it it’s straight with Techstream (or disconnect power). It probably does need this if it is driving correctly and my guess is the battery was disconnected, steering wheel parted one way or another, refitted wrong then battery reconnected so it set itself in the wrong place. Just a theory but sounds like you’re on the right track to sort it yourself with the info received.
@jibberjabber how about posting those pics on here to help anyone in the future?

Also I have found this card (green) very useful, think I got it from eBay a while ago now, also another shot from the FSM with regard to Wheel Alignment'

 

[jibberjabber]

A close up of the wheel alignment info on the Green card.

 

[Neil Smith]

Fellas,

Just to bring you up to date on the steering wheel re-alignment. I took andycruiserguy lomas advice re-West Coast 4x4 and got the guys over their to have a look at what the issues were? As hoped Paul and his mechanics knew just what was needed to put this right.

It was as outlined through the thread that it was more than re-tracking needed to re-align the steering wheel and it was quite a process as it was both mechanical and computer driven to realign. So, all good now with the steering back to where it should be. How it had become like this is still a mystery??

I also got them to fit a set of General Grabber tyres, track and balance them and it's running so much smoother and straighter than when I first took her in.
So, thank for the advice andycruiserguy. I also got them to do a front to back check over for a very reasonable fee and nothing too problematic was found so I drove away well happy on all fronts.

Thanks for all the help above.
All the best,
Neil.

 

[clivehorridge]

Fellas,

Just to bring you up to date on the steering wheel re-alignment. I took andycruiserguy lomas advice re-West Coast 4x4 and got the guys over their to have a look at what the issues were? As hoped Paul and his mechanics knew just what was needed to put this right.

It was as outlined through the thread that it was more than re-tracking needed to re-align the steering wheel and it was quite a process as it was both mechanical and computer driven to realign. So, all good now with the steering back to where it should be. How it had become like this is still a mystery??

I also got them to fit a set of General Grabber tyres, track and balance them and it's running so much smoother and straighter than when I first took her in.
So, thank for the advice andycruiserguy. I also got them to do a front to back check over for a very reasonable fee and nothing too problematic was found so I drove away well happy on all fronts.

Thanks for all the help above.
All the best,
Neil.

It’s great to get a happy “all-sorted” post such as this.

I couldn’t contribute myself, ECUs and techstream for bloody steering ffs, I prefer my old tractor-like 80

 

[jibberjabber]

It’s great to get a happy “all-sorted” post such as this.

I couldn’t contribute myself, ECUs and techstream for bloody steering ffs, I prefer my old tractor-like 80