Steering issues
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Steering issues
Hi all.
I have a 2009 IS-F. 49K miles. I've owned the car since June this year and I'm not happy with the steering.
Only a few weeks into ownership, whilst driving on the motorway (highway), I noticed that the car needed constant minor corrections to keep it nailed to the centre of road. At the time the weather was quite windy, so I put it down to crosswinds.
I'm now of the opinion that the crosswinds are not the route cause of the symptoms, but just act to exasperate the issue.
I'll try and talk you through what I am experiencing. Lets imagine I'm in one lane and I need to swap lanes. I steer to the left. Once I'm in the new lane, I straighten the car up. It is at this point I encounter the problem. The initial resistance (feeling of torque) in the steering momentarily lessens. Only happens for a fraction of a second, but it is unnerving. It makes the steering feel vague.
Any ideas? I apologise for the vagueness of my description
BTW Lexus say there is nothing wrong.
I have a 2009 IS-F. 49K miles. I've owned the car since June this year and I'm not happy with the steering.
Only a few weeks into ownership, whilst driving on the motorway (highway), I noticed that the car needed constant minor corrections to keep it nailed to the centre of road. At the time the weather was quite windy, so I put it down to crosswinds.
I'm now of the opinion that the crosswinds are not the route cause of the symptoms, but just act to exasperate the issue.
I'll try and talk you through what I am experiencing. Lets imagine I'm in one lane and I need to swap lanes. I steer to the left. Once I'm in the new lane, I straighten the car up. It is at this point I encounter the problem. The initial resistance (feeling of torque) in the steering momentarily lessens. Only happens for a fraction of a second, but it is unnerving. It makes the steering feel vague.
Any ideas? I apologise for the vagueness of my description
BTW Lexus say there is nothing wrong.
#4
Driver
Thread Starter
The steering doesn't feel at loose. It is almost as if the steering is disconnected for a fraction of a second and then reconnects. Hard to explain. Almost like the power steering is over powering for a fraction of a second and then corrects itself.
#7
Racer
iTrader: (4)
This is a long shot but I had very similar issues immmediately after installing new tires. Turned out one of the tires suffered from radial pull. It was especially noticible on the highway and under acceleration - car would wander and needed constant adjustment. Just as if getting hit with a strong crosswind.
If not the tires, I would look at LCA bushings and (obviously) the alignment.
If not the tires, I would look at LCA bushings and (obviously) the alignment.
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#8
Mine had this issue after hitting a large bump, they reset the power steering ecu for free at Lexus and that fixed it. The tech told me that these PS computers are very sensitive and frequently will throw odd symptoms if you hit potholes and such.
#9
To me this sounds like a power steering issue. Like a couple others have said, perhaps an ecu reset will alleviate the issue.
Did Lexus find nothing wrong as they couldn't replicate the problem during the test drive?
Did Lexus find nothing wrong as they couldn't replicate the problem during the test drive?
#10
Driver
Thread Starter
Thanks all for the replies. I really appreciate it.
The car is under warranty and is for another 2 years. Lexus have looked at it and couldn't find a fault. I think I'll need to take one of their mechanics out to show them - but problems like these are never easy to reproduce
Driving home in the wet today, the problem did seem worse - just thought I'd add that.
The car is under warranty and is for another 2 years. Lexus have looked at it and couldn't find a fault. I think I'll need to take one of their mechanics out to show them - but problems like these are never easy to reproduce
Driving home in the wet today, the problem did seem worse - just thought I'd add that.
#11
I think I have the same thing going on.. like a dead-feel (momentary disconnect) when the wheel returns or passes zero... It happens more when i'm making transition turns (left to right or right to left). Dealer can't replicate so have been living with it.
I also remember seeing this: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-steering.html. Wonder if its the same
I also remember seeing this: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-steering.html. Wonder if its the same
#12
Driver
Thread Starter
I think I have the same thing going on.. like a dead-feel (momentary disconnect) when the wheel returns or passes zero... It happens more when i'm making transition turns (left to right or right to left). Dealer can't replicate so have been living with it.
I also remember seeing this: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-steering.html. Wonder if its the same
I also remember seeing this: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-steering.html. Wonder if its the same
Don't know about you, but I find it unnerving, especially in the wet!
#14
Thanks for that link jum3, mine has exactly that issue where it doesn't return to center on its own, like tracking with a groove. Probably a bit too late to get Lexus to help out with it though.
#15
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Yea my 08 does the same thing. I just got used to it. Although it's kinda scary when I do spirited highway runs. First thing I did when I got the car was align it because I thought it was misaligned. Alignment turn out to be spot on. I upsized to 245 PSS in the front and 275 in the rear. It felt much more planted and less of that weird cross wind feeling but it's still there especially on rough roads or roads with many track marks.