Help - landcruiser steering drifting left
 

Following a mild head-on collision with a ford escort whos driver was changing a CD as he came around a bend, the Landcruiser Colorado VX I'm hoping to take across asia starting next week is now pulling to the left.

When you raise the front (wheels off the ground), and centre the steering the wheels drift off to the left of their own accord, and once they've reached full lock it's impossible to move the steering back.

The toyota dealership I've put it into are completely useless. They've had it a week and havent even managed to correct the tracking yet. They have no idea what's causing the steering to pull left and I'm getting concerned about the time. So I'm turning to the expertise here assembled :) Ay idea what's broken and how to fix it?

TIA

steve

good luck
 

hi there,

well sorry to hear aout your accident, i am not familiar with the exact steering mechanisem of your model, however what you describe is an hydraulic fault, your stearing valve sense a comanned to steer one direction and sends oil pressure in order to help, however the comanad is a faulse comande that why it steer itself and that why it is impossiable to turn thr wheels back after it is locked to one side, proabably due to the impact of the accident the valve has an internal leak which cause him to try and turn all the time... that only a general opinion without knowing the exact car mechanism.

hope it would be of any help

guy

Thanks a lot Guy :)

steve

Get yourself on the http://www.landcruisers.info/ email list - plenty of advice on there if you ask nicely...

Sorry for your misfortune, mate. I hope you told that dope what you think of him!


Is this with or without the ignition on? Is the power steering working? I'm assuming that your Landcruiser has power steering? Are there any strange noises? Any drops of oil where they shouldn't be? How do you get the wheels back to the centre once they reached full lock? Does the PS system give a permanent "turn left" command? Can you turn the wheels to the right at all (with and without ignition on/engine running)? There should be sensors (or some other mechanism) to determin the position of the steering wheel - are they in the correct position and good working order?

I assume there is no obvious mechanical damage to the steering system and the geometry has been checked?

As a gut feeling it does sound like a hydraulic problem with the power steering system. Could be a leaky valve, or faulty sensors. However, it's a bit difficult to tell with the information given...

Try to be as detailed as possible when describing faults like this and what tests you have carried out and their results. It makes it a lot easier trying to come up with a remote diagnosis...

Bets of luck

Jens

Yes, this is with the ignition on. The power steering is working however there is marked resistance to turning right compared with turning left. There are no strange noises and no oil leaks I can see. The wheels can be turned back to centre with the steering wheel, but not from the wheels themselves (with the front raised).

I'm not sure I know what you mean by the question " Does the PS system give a permanent "turn left" command?".

There may be sensors to detect the position of the steering wheel but I have no idea where they are or whether they are working. The geometry has been checked by two mechanics who both say that nothing is bent.

Thanks for your time, I hope this makes a guess as to what is wrong (or confirmation that it may be the steering valve) easier.

steve

Hi. I think you need a new steering box.
Cheers,
Matt Savage (dot com)