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Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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MynamesMike
User
May 29, 2012, 6:58 PM
Post #1 of 20
(4177 views)
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Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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I posted here about a week ago because I was having alignment issues, front end, with my 1998 Pontiac Sunfire.
I replaced broken struts, and had a front end alignment. All was well for a month, after a month the front wheels were out of alignment already again ( severely, they would squeal while driving) I brought it back this morning, to get it checked out / re aligned. They said they found nothing broken, and were not sure why it went out of alignment so fast.
I drove it to work this morning, right after having it aligned. When leaving work tonight, I noticed the squealing is back, and the car is pulling to the right. The wheels are out of alignment already ( just had it realigned this morning, 2nd time in 2 months)
They saw nothing broke / wrong.
Any ideas what could be causing this?!
other info: My brake light recently came on, when braking, the car pulls right.
When the wheel is turned either direction more than 90 degrees, it starts turning itself harder in that direction. ( instead of the wheel returning to position when let go during a turn, it continues to turn in the direction that I was turning it, by itself)
I appreciate any and all advice / help. Thank you!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 29, 2012, 7:09 PM
Post #2 of 20
(4159 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Look, this isn't rocket science. They are not tightening something sufficiently or there are worn parts they are not finding, probably the strut bolts. It sounds like you just need a better alignment shop.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on May 29, 2012, 7:10 PM)
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MynamesMike
User
May 29, 2012, 7:21 PM
Post #3 of 20
(4141 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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I will try bringing it somewhere else for a 3rd alignment I suppose. Neither I nor the shop could locate any broken parts, But I am no mechanic. Unfortunately, this shop wasn't willing to refund / discount me anything on their work, and they even tried blaming it on " poor driving."
Thanks again, Hammertime.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 29, 2012, 7:25 PM
Post #4 of 20
(4131 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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They aren't as stupid as they are playing. The tech knows what he had to adjust to bring it back into spec so he knows what moved. If those strut bolts aren't real tight, the bolts will slip in the slots and throw it out by a mile.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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MynamesMike
User
May 29, 2012, 7:28 PM
Post #5 of 20
(4126 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Do you think it would be best to confront them about the issue, ( coming out of alignment again) or just flat out go to a whole new shop?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 29, 2012, 7:30 PM
Post #6 of 20
(4121 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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I can't advise you on that. All I can tell you is he is not doing a good job.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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MynamesMike
User
May 29, 2012, 7:32 PM
Post #7 of 20
(4116 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Well since they already refused to discount / refund me for the first time. I'll just go elsewhere and see if the alignment lasts this time. I'll update the results.
Thanks!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 30, 2012, 1:19 AM
Post #8 of 20
(4089 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Do tend to and out what is up with a brake light on! If a frozen caliper I suggest go nuts and do calipers, rotors, new pads and the flex hoses + do both sides w quality parts.
Also - are tires messed up now? That will matter,
T
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MynamesMike
User
Jun 7, 2012, 9:21 AM
Post #10 of 20
(4034 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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The tires are worn yes. I got my car back from the shop today, it's been there for 3 days.
After 3 days of " inspecting" they changed the strut bolts, as they told me this was initially the reason why the tires kept going out of alignment. ( said I had the wrong size bolts..)
After changing those, he took it for a short drive where the tires came out of alignment immediately again. They finally told me it's because the " subframe" is shot, rusted through, which is causing my tires to go out of alignment.
All 4 tires are worn heavily because of this issue, the brakes seem to be shot. They estimate a new subframe to be between $150-300 and he estimated me at a $350 labor price to install the subframe.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 7, 2012, 9:33 AM
Post #11 of 20
(4030 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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RUST is about the worst 4 letter word to motor vehicles known! If this could rust out a sub frame how do other critical things look under there? I'm shocked a bit anyway that the rust situation if extensive wasn't brought up by any real tech. With all it needs now that's known I'd be thinking hard about bailing out, cut losses if rust in general is extensive. It doesn't heal,
T
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MynamesMike
User
Jun 7, 2012, 9:50 AM
Post #12 of 20
(4026 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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I am thinking about scrapping the car and getting another. The rust is pretty bad, he brought me under and showed me. Parts of the sub frame are hollow. I am also shocked that It took them 2 days to notice this problem, as the subframe is clear in the open ( especially seeing how they did 2 alignments and didn't notice either time)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 7, 2012, 10:17 AM
Post #13 of 20
(4021 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Mike - I've owned a zillion cars and some trucks. Short of two collisions it was RUST that sent them to the salvage yard. Repaired a real chassis frame three times on one and just quit Shame as it ran like new but was too much and was old which was not the point but would really have needed an entire new frame to be right and safe again and wouldn't go thru that expense.
I want a bumper sticker that says "Rust Suks." How the ever loving hell car makers can get away with metals and designs that get this bad is beyond me.
Road salts are heavily used here and many places are the killer. If this car was some one of a kind super classic expense would be no object.
Consider that there are lots of brake line, fuel line, gas tank on the list and know this is a real safety issue and I'm not a safety nut but when a gas tank can suddenly lose all its fuel or total loss of brakes by surprise it isn't the least bit funny.
If somehow this is isolated to an area you have to decide. If you love this exact car buy another from some place where cars don't rust and use it for parts if your situation allows.
You've tried. Others along the way had seen this or working blind. Good luck with what you decide to do,
Tom
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MynamesMike
User
Jun 7, 2012, 10:36 AM
Post #14 of 20
(4015 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Thanks Tom.
Yes, rust is always an issue, especially living where I do ( heavy snow long winters)
It's a shame that I had to pay for 2 alignments before they noticed this issue on a main structural component. You'd think they'd have noticed this during the first alignment.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 7, 2012, 10:49 AM
Post #15 of 20
(4012 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Done with biz but when someone's car came for something else even if I even noticed the general situation I would show the person/customer the trouble and inform them of the likely insane costs before doing a thing to it. One, happened to be a Subaru but any could have a problem floors were so rusted the only thing holding your feet inside was the carpet! Not one spot but the whole underside looked like it was pulled up from the ocean after decades of rot.
Some others that exact points where you jack them up by were near gone - that a Mercedes no less!
The car makers (any) know what grades of steel they are using yet still use some low grade metals. I've seen about all of it including seat belt anchors pull right out of floors! How special
Tom - Massachusetts, land of the rusted automobile.........
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 7, 2012, 11:36 AM
Post #16 of 20
(4007 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Both of those issues are things they should have known about the first time they tried to align it.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jun 7, 2012, 4:46 PM
Post #17 of 20
(4000 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Amen to that. They do this for a living and as you said, it was pretty obvious to look at. Anyone who works in the rustbelt on cars knows to look for rust first. I went to do a clutch on a Chev pickup once and the frame snapped in two as I was lifting it up on the hoist! Customer had no idea it was that bad and wanted to haul wood with it. So these guys don't really have a good excuse and I honestly wouldn't bring your car back to them. Maybe advertise your car as a mechanics special and get a little over scrap price for it. Plenty of people who would change out the subframe in the backyard themselves just to have something good on gas.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 8, 2012, 6:14 AM
Post #18 of 20
(3988 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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Just to add to great suggestions here. Please if you sell car as whole make a bill of sale clearly stating that it has known dangerous rust so it can't bite you.
Just a call to a local salvage yard will tell you what they will pay over the phone or do here. Metals alone are fetching decent $$ so it's worth something. Scrapped two within a year and shocked at what I got from cars I had stripped of anything I might need for another and they didn't care - even came and got them despite still running I wouldn't dare with either,
T
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MynamesMike
User
Jun 9, 2012, 8:02 AM
Post #19 of 20
(3965 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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I'm going to attempt to sell it as a fixer first, try to get the most out of it that I can.
Thanks for the tip, I will make clear on the bill of sale the danger issues.
Thanks again to all you guys for the help, I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 9, 2012, 8:52 AM
Post #20 of 20
(3956 views)
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Re: Alignment issues. 98 Pontiac Sunfire.
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You would get more to sell as a fixer - just state the issues to save the phone calls or emails. Shocking, but someone out there may be a cracker jack welder or have another that needs things off of this one. State options and colors too if maybe someone has the same and might not have to paint??
Good luck. Let me lock this so it doesn't get spammed. Can be unlocked (any moderator) or just start a new thread outlining where you are at,
Tom
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