varesecrazy said:

thanks for posting,

shame you didn't find anything definitive,

have you checked your V5 / a-like to see if the vehicle has been an insurance repair..??,
Charlie

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Tis an oirish car, twill not have a vee foive, stroke me clover, kiss me I'm oirish t'be shure t'be shure!

Apologies.....

Not to appear sycophantic, but I would also do what bgunn says and try and find somewhere that specialises in allignments. If I ever get B14's for the 500, I'm taking it to Demon Tweeks in Wrexham to get it properly set up.

306maxi said:

You know, you are the only person I've ever come across who uses the word ackermann! I remember it from my days of racing a R/C buggy!

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Or the expression for the layman: Toe out on turns..

hence why I suggested a lazy person doing the tracking before. Ackerman angles are exceedingly important, but in this case I'd be checking for a worn top mount too.

Cheers

D

alexGS said:

Strut top mounts floating around? Seems likely given the known failures/looseness in those mounts.

-Alex

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rallycinq said:

hence why I suggested a lazy person doing the tracking before. Ackerman angles are exceedingly important, but in this case I'd be checking for a worn top mount too.

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I had an issue with wobble on an RS Turbo (CVH model) many moons ago and it was only when I went to sell it that the problem dissappeared after rotating the wheels (Twins suggestion).:bang:

Question for the OP - have you eliminated the top mounts as mentioned above ? Is there an issue with them being put on backwards ?

bgunn said:

The 500 doesn't have a steering 'box' it has a steering rack. If the lock is unequal side to side, then it's a classic case of someone (who's not very good at their job) moving the steering wheel to centre it up because the length of each track rod is different as each track rod end hasn't been moved by an equal amount.

This will cause errors in the ackermann angles of the car and cause tyre scrub, as well as a quicker steering response in one direction, whilst being slower in the other.

Your front subframe could do with a bit of a shove (after loosening the bolts) over to the left (facing forward) to help even out the camber too. The caster will cause a power on pull to the right and a braking pull to the left. Might be due to a worn bottom arm (if it changes between readings), or something is bent.

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Bgunn, the steering wheel is on a 'wide center spline/slotted spline' so it will only go on in one position (I put an Abarth wheel on mine) per full rotation so it's unlikely to be the Ackermann issue.
Tyres, even ones that don't look worn can be a cause of excessive pulling. When I had the GY efficient grips on my TA wound pull left s the time with the camber of the road.
When I changed tyres this effect disappears right away. There was hardly any perceptible wear on the GY tyres at the time. I changed to winter rubber.
Agree that worn bushes could cause an issue too.

The Twins said:

Bgunn, the steering wheel is on a 'wide center spline/slotted spline' so it will only go on in one position (I put an Abarth wheel on mine) per full rotation so it's unlikely to be the Ackermann issue.

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Fair enough; not had the wheel off my car as I've had no need to.

The Twins said:

Tyres, even ones that don't look worn can be a cause of excessive pulling. When I had the GY efficient grips on my TA wound pull left s the time with the camber of the road.
When I changed tyres this effect disappears right away. There was hardly any perceptible wear on the GY tyres at the time. I changed to winter rubber.
Agree that worn bushes could cause an issue too.

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He's already exchanged tyres, though.

Following the suggestion by the guy in the tyre garage about steering issue, I've started to notice a small knocking noise when I turn the steering, especially at low speed/stationary. So I'm guessing there's an issue with steering rack or similar - it does it when turning wheel right or left.
Any further suggestions appreciated!

goffboy said:

Following the suggestion by the guy in the tyre garage about steering issue, I've started to notice a small knocking noise when I turn the steering, especially at low speed/stationary. So I'm guessing there's an issue with steering rack or similar - it does it when turning wheel right or left.
Any further suggestions appreciated!

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Possibly top mount bushes, I'd be surprised if its the rack.

306maxi said:

You know, you are the only person I've ever come across who uses the word ackermann! I remember it from my days of racing a R/C buggy!

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LOL, I might have raced against you

After all of that, just before the MOT my mechanic noticed the front left strut was weeping so changed both (just to be sure) and hey presto car now drives straight & true - no more pulling to the left. halle-bloody-lujah!

Interesting and thanks for posting the end result. I was about to say that I've had a similar experience and changing the wishbones and the steering track rod ends made it disappear.

I have this problem too!!
My car darts to the left. Its been into the local Fiat dealer three times now, twice they said nothing wrong, so I then took a salesman and mechanic out in it who both drove it and confirmed it is darting to the left. The third time apparently there was something wrong with the allignment and they "fixed it". It still does exactly the same thing.

I have contacted fiat customer services who then contacted the garage who said they have been out in and cant find anything wrong! Liars!

Been on the phone to them today and hopefully an independant fiat technician will come out to assess it. Failing that they can have it back. I bought it brand new on their finance and its not fit for purpose.

We are hoping to start a family soon and I definately dont feel safe driving a newborn about in a car that darts to the kerb!

QODK said:

I have this problem too!!
My car darts to the left. Its been into the local Fiat dealer three times now, twice they said nothing wrong, so I then took a salesman and mechanic out in it who both drove it and confirmed it is darting to the left. The third time apparently there was something wrong with the allignment and they "fixed it". It still does exactly the same thing.

I have contacted fiat customer services who then contacted the garage who said they have been out in and cant find anything wrong! Liars!

Been on the phone to them today and hopefully an independant fiat technician will come out to assess it. Failing that they can have it back. I bought it brand new on their finance and its not fit for purpose.

We are hoping to start a family soon and I definately dont feel safe driving a newborn about in a car that darts to the kerb!

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Main dealers are useless (on the whole) with geometry.
Most cars will pull left on a lot of roads as the camber and wear on the road usually means that it slopes down towards the kerb but if should not be drastic and not detectable on all roads.

Here are some suggestions...
1.Check suspension components for wear. Ball joints, track rod ends, strut top mounts.
2. Check Tyres for uneven wear. Even if no wear detectable put left wheel on right and vice versa. See if it still pulls.
3. Have a proper (hunter 4 wheel) alignment done. Even if the front tracking/camber is perfect, if something's odd at the rear it will 'steer' the car.


This is my car. Even tho it's showing red for camber, it's ok as it a TA with Abarth suspension so it can take 1 degree plus negative camber.

Look at the rear measurements if the rear toe is out on one of the rears it could steer the car left or right.

Find a suspension specialist (not ATS etc..) and insist that you take it there st their expense to get it properly diagnosed.

Where do you live?

Hi I live on the wirral. I don't know anything about cars but I have noticed that if I'm on a straight road driving in the middle of both lanes and I let go of the steering wheel it just drops to the left like its set at the wrong position. I've told them this each time it's been in but they just ignore me. This is my first brand new car (I'm 33) and I was so excited and really loved it but now all this hassle has taken that all away and I just resent it. I just want to give it back

How old is your car?

8 months. I noticed it after a few months but was in the middle of organising our wedding so didn't have time to take it in sooner. It's been in 3 times since June.

Ask for a Fiat technician to come out from head office and take a look

I have and they wouldn't as the garage couldn't see anything wrong but after losing my rag with the garage they have requested an independent inspection from fiat themselves.

And then?

Who knows but if it still does it they can take it back as its not fit for purpose under the sale of goods act.