Why would a car's steering not return to center
 

I did not want to post this on the technical forum as it relates to my mother in law's mini SUV (Honda CR-V)....

She got into an accident, hit the front driver's side. Repaired and passed inspection from local dealer, but one nagging issue is that if she turns the steering wheel to the left (driver side) the car will just keep in that direction permanently and complete 360º turns without issues (car did not do that before the accident). If she turns the wheel to the right (passenger side), the car will automatically center itself (normal behavior).

Alignment has been checked in three places and all shops say that it is within range. So, what could be causing this erratic behavior? :eek:

I remember on the old Dodge steering gear box they would do that when they were worn out.

Maybe her gear box was damaged in the accident since it was hit on that side? Or the drop link / pitman arm is bent, the allignment may not show that.

I'd put my money on alignment. If the steering rack (or steering gear depending on which it has), isn't centered, the alignment at the wheels can be fine but not return to center. Centering the box/rack is part of a proper alignment.
I wouldn't trust a place that would check the alignment and not check the operation of the car to see if there are any issues.
My SO took her car in to have a thumping noise in the left front corrected. The shop repacked the wheel bearings and gave the car back to her. They never test drove it or they would have noticed that the noise was still there. Turned out to be a belt separating in the tire - a real safety hazard. The manager of the shop gave her a new tire. He didn't want to be responsible for an accident cause by a faulty diagnosis, especially when a "repair" had been made and paid for.

I was first thinking caster is off on one side.
Maybe there's a crushed line or junk in a power steering line, or the whole rack has shifted?. Maybe one shock isn't returning.

edit:Check on very flat ground that the wheel wells are at the same height, and measure bolts across the bottom of the frame in an "x" to see if it's square?

Is there a test, or multitude of them, that can be done to properly diagnose what is really going on? I too thought that alignment had to do with it, but based on your comments, it seems as if the steering rack is the culprit?

Just for fun, make sure the brake line on that side is not damaged, then check the steering gear.

There can only be three possible issues. First, establish the steering wheel does not return from both directions or just one. Next you need to have a competent shop perform an alignment check and then print out the live readings. 3rd have a technician remove the outer tie rod ends from the spindle/knuckle assy.
This will determine if there is binding or improperly installed suspension components

I would not listen to that ashpalt guy, what does he know, he does it work for the gubmnt. His advice is spot on. I would go as far as removing the outer tie rods from the knuckle and check for binding before I did an alignment. that way , if there is damaged/binding parts, you only have to align once. My guess is the the rack has probably been slightly bent, or the lower ball joint, strut mount, or strut itself has suffered some damage

.............how quickly they turn on one of their own

A static alignment check may not uncover the reason

asphaltgambler and others: 1- 100% guaranteed that the problem occurs only when the wheel is turned to the left; 2- competent shops? that is a wet dream where I live. I have had to even tell the local Porsche mechanics how to properly diagnose problems with my truck...; 3- thanks for the tierod end suggestion.

The purpose of the alignment check is to see where the camber/caster readings are. You can post here results. We'll go from there

Will do. Unfortunately, my mom in law had to do this all by herself as I was busy traveling when all of this happened. We are now waiting to hear back when another inspector from the insurance agency can make time to take the car into yet another shop and have a look to see if he can figure out what is going on. I am hoping that I can accompany them on that visit to make sure she does not get taken advantage of and the mechanics respond to my inquiries. As soon as I have any additional information, I will post it up here.

Thank you all for your help and advice!

If it's your MIL and she is having steering problems, I would file a report about this with whatever agency oversees this work. It's unconscionable and downright dangerous to send someone back out on the roads with a car that is not repaired correctly or completely repaired.

This may have something to do with the fact that she is a woman, but it damn well should not! But, if you have to play the gender card, play it.

A car that does not return the front wheels to center with no input is dangerous to drive. Think about it.

Zeke: I agree with you 10000%.

Unfortunately for us, there is no such thing as an agency that oversees this kind of issues. The transportation authority sucks at best and all they are concerned with is collecting money from infractions and license plates. We do have some other benefits down here, but proper protection to the consumer is not one of them. This could quickly be derailed into politics and what not, and I rather not go there.... Just want to get MIL's truck fixed so nothing happens to her or those around her.

Then pay off a cop! ;) :D

Frankly, I missed seeing your location. Hope this works out.

contact the BBB

Could be that you're lacking positive caster. Not something really discussed on a Porsche or car forum but definitely something that all truck/4wd owners have to deal with as they lift the front and rotate the axle forward for pinion angle. Eventually you will get to the point where the wheel won't return. Are these shops checking for caster? Its possible that its only off a little...doesn't take much to ruin the steering.

Wheel Caster

There are guys who do alignments......and there are guys who simply operate alignment machines. There is a difference. The guys who know how to align cars are mostly retired now.

I once watched a guy balance the rear wheels on my Datsun 620 pickup without removing the wheels from the vehicle. Smooth as butter when he was done.

When the truck has gone in (three times at three different shops) alignment has been checked for camber, caster, and toe. All three shops said that all three measurements were within factory spec range. Alignments are pretty common down here in Panama (not Panama City, Florida....) as they are part of the annual revisions required to get your license plates. That said, the mechanics working on the machines are not the sharpest tools in the shed (as Superman just pointed out.....) Example: just last week when I went to the near garage for the inspection, the mechanic doing the alignment on my Cayenne had to do it three times (on his dime...) as he kept choosing the wrong model on the computer. I always ask for a "before and after" printout to make sure they got it right. Keep in mind that a 4 wheel alignment on a Cayenne costs $30....

BBB?! Down here it means Better Be Born into some family/money if you want to have any kind of power to do/change anything....