Left Drift/Pull Final Resolution

[glenb]

On February 4, 2004 Toyota issued TSB ST002-04 to specifically address the left drift/pull problem with the 2004 model year Avalon, Camry and Solara vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below.

Solara

4 Cylinder 4T1CA3#P#4U016694
6 Cylinder 4T1CE3#P#4U836000

The major fix is to re-align both front coil springs.

I have only driven my car 60 miles but as far as I am concerned it is fixed. It now drives like it should.

After all my complaining about the service dept at the dealer where I bought my Solara, let me compliment Tempe Toyota and their Service Manager Glen Polich and Assistant Service Manager Lowell St. John along with Toyota Field Technical Specialist Scott Wright.

Scott ordered the fix with no hassle. Glen and Lowell kept me informed of the progress. Tempe Toyota gave me my choice of a rental car. I chose the Prius Hybrid gas/electric for fun. I was impressed with the Prius but it is no Solara.

Toyota says they have 100% success with correcting the left pull problem with this TSB.

I would recommend anyone with a Solara that qualifies for this fix to have it done. If in warranty there should be no charge.

Thanks to all that prvided information on the left pull problem.

Glen

[slingshot]

I have only driven my car 60 miles but as far as I am concerned it is fixed. It now drives like it should.

Great news that you're finally fixed! Can you define what you consider driving as it should? My car pulls slightly left in the left and middle lanes of three lane highways but has no noticeable drift on local roads. I'm wondering if I should get this fix done. Are you seeing what many mechanics say is normal? Slight left drift in left lane and slight right drift in right lane due to normal highway design for water runoff?

[glenb]

Good question.

A lot of factors contribute to the way a car will drive or steer. The crown or slope, surface conditions and wind are some. My statement "drive as it should" is subjective, based on experience. Before the fix, on any straight level road the car would always drift or pull to the left, never to the right. To keep a straight path required constant attention compared to other cars I have or have driven. We have a 1966 Chevy Cavalier and a 1998 Jeep Wrangler, both were easier to keep straight, and required less attention to steering.

Another way to put it is that the car was not fun to drive; now it is. It has a solid feel. Now I am in charge of where we are going not the car.

Does this make any sense?

[Kini]

I brought my car in for the 3000 mile service. Told them about the left drift/pull. Picked up the car and they told me there was something wrong with their alignment machine because they aligned the car 3 times and it still pulled to the left. They told me I needed to bring it back after they fixed their machine. I then directed the service advisor to this website and had him search for the left pull problem. He then saw the TSB, told the head mechanic, had me bring my car back. The TSB was applied and the car is a 100% better and fixed now. I should've asked for a credit for saving them money by them not having to "fix" their alignment machine.

Thanks to all of you on this forum, we can now educate our local Toyota service departments.

I will say that the the service department at my dealer was very receptive to my "advice" that I knew there was a mechanical problem with the car and to look here for the fix.

Kini

[slingshot]

I'm wondering if service departments are notified of all TSB's. Sure doesn't sound like automatic notifications take place. How are they supposed to apply any TSB's if they don't all know of them?

[Bbc84]

Is this on some official TSB listing website?

Last time i took the solara into the dealer to get this fixed, with copies of what some of you posted the remmedy was from your dealer. They wouldnt even look at them saying that they need to see it officially on some oficial website.

[jmack]

Unfortunately, my entire experience with the Toyota dealership was one where I knew more about the car than the dealer. What engine it had, that XM radio was available, and finally, the existence of the left pull problem and the service bulletin. I thought they would be a little more professional about their knowledge of their product, but I guess not. BTW, the fix did not work for my car. I will post more in the other thread relating to this, but thanks to all that helped, especially glenb.

[bigpow]

I called my local Toyota service manager and he told me my car had been fixed with this freaking TSB.

Well, guess what? It is still pulling to the left, DUH!




Two more years, I'll trade it in with a non-Toyota car.
And that is my final decision.

[glenb]

I found the TSB at

http://techinfo.toyota.com/

There is a fee - I think $10 a day, $50 a month or $350 a year.

IMO it is worth a few bucks to have the official document.

I would post the TSB ST002-04 but that would be a violation of copyright.

Bigpow - The TSB was published Feb 4th. Did they say they applied the TSB before that date? What does it say on the service order? One dealer applied the wrong one. Do you have more than one dealer in your area?

[fotodad]

I realize many have become frustrated over this drifting issue and the method dealerships have approached legitimate concerns, but I must take my hat off the Toyota for the speed, yes speed, in which they got a TSB issued. I owned a 2003 Nissan 350Z which had an issue with the front tires excessively wearing to the point of making a rumbling sound and showing obvious feathering wear. Myself along with hundreds of Z owners called Nissan, talked to our local dealerships, sent letters to car magazines and newspapers, and posted our concerns and frustrations on the Z discussion board. Nissan did nothing. After owning the car for about seven months I sold it. At the time I sold it Nissan still hadn't admitted there was a problem.

Thank you Toyota for listening to and believing your customers, recognizing there was a problem, and finding a fix as soon as was humanly possible. Another reason why I will buy Toyota products in the future.

And thank you to those members of this forum who put a lot of frustrating time into getting this problem resolved.

[bigpow]

Bigpow - The TSB was published Feb 4th. Did they say they applied the TSB before that date? What does it say on the service order? One dealer applied the wrong one. Do you have more than one dealer in your area?

THAT'S IT!!!
I'M SWITCHING TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP
(miles and miles away!)

All the lies and deceptions... I've tolerated enough!

[Buckeyegirl]

Well, I got my car back after my dealer performed the T.S.B. on the left drift issue and everything seems to be perfect now. The steering wheel is centered and no more drift. The paperwork states "rotate upper spring seats and perform front alingment".
OP-ST3007BCD, T1-37, T2-99, OFPN 48131-AA110.

Also got the dash rattle fixed. (Thank God)!
Removed L.F. speaker cover and added insulation.

[dan99solara]

hey i just read your name. GO BUCKS!!

[bigpow]

Also got the dash rattle fixed. (Thank God)!
Removed L.F. speaker cover and added insulation.

Congrats!

I guess everything work out fine for you.

[cydog3]