Got Hit now alignment way off
#1
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2001 Civic Sedan
Hello,I was parked and found my car was side swiped.The person that did it is unknown to me.The body has minor scratches and the side mirror was trashed. I must have parked it with the front tire turned to the right.The car hit the tire.The front driver side control arm was bent so I replaced it and the ball joint and got it back together.Everything else including the frame is good.Now the passenger side tire faces to the right while the driver side tire faces straight.I assume I need an alignment but what can I do to get them close so I can drive to a shop?I appreciate any help or direction.Thank you.
Hello,I was parked and found my car was side swiped.The person that did it is unknown to me.The body has minor scratches and the side mirror was trashed. I must have parked it with the front tire turned to the right.The car hit the tire.The front driver side control arm was bent so I replaced it and the ball joint and got it back together.Everything else including the frame is good.Now the passenger side tire faces to the right while the driver side tire faces straight.I assume I need an alignment but what can I do to get them close so I can drive to a shop?I appreciate any help or direction.Thank you.
#2
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
If it's got the tires pointing vastly different directions, there's a good chance there's more bent parts you did not see.
See if the tie rod got bent in the hit. If one was against a curb it could have suffered in the hit.
Place the steering wheel straight and level then look at the tires to see which is not pointing forward, that should help tell you which side is a problem.
If the knuckle or strut or subframe got damaged in the hit, it may be really hard to see it. Sometimes those come down to educated guesses.
Sometimes an alignment is needed in order to help determine what may be bent based on what readings are off the chart, and SAI/IA comparisons.
Worst case would be a bodyshop that has a GOOD frame person and frame equipment to make the call as to what needs fixed. (The person with the talent is the most important part of that equation.)
A local top-notch bodyshop was able to determine a subframe was bent on a particular car for me, I sure could not see the damage myself.
See if the tie rod got bent in the hit. If one was against a curb it could have suffered in the hit.
Place the steering wheel straight and level then look at the tires to see which is not pointing forward, that should help tell you which side is a problem.
If the knuckle or strut or subframe got damaged in the hit, it may be really hard to see it. Sometimes those come down to educated guesses.
Sometimes an alignment is needed in order to help determine what may be bent based on what readings are off the chart, and SAI/IA comparisons.
Worst case would be a bodyshop that has a GOOD frame person and frame equipment to make the call as to what needs fixed. (The person with the talent is the most important part of that equation.)
A local top-notch bodyshop was able to determine a subframe was bent on a particular car for me, I sure could not see the damage myself.
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If it's got the tires pointing vastly different directions, there's a good chance there's more bent parts you did not see.
See if the tie rod got bent in the hit. If one was against a curb it could have suffered in the hit.
Place the steering wheel straight and level then look at the tires to see which is not pointing forward, that should help tell you which side is a problem.
If the knuckle or strut or subframe got damaged in the hit, it may be really hard to see it. Sometimes those come down to educated guesses.
Sometimes an alignment is needed in order to help determine what may be bent based on what readings are off the chart, and SAI/IA comparisons.
Worst case would be a bodyshop that has a GOOD frame person and frame equipment to make the call as to what needs fixed. (The person with the talent is the most important part of that equation.)
A local top-notch bodyshop was able to determine a subframe was bent on a particular car for me, I sure could not see the damage myself.
See if the tie rod got bent in the hit. If one was against a curb it could have suffered in the hit.
Place the steering wheel straight and level then look at the tires to see which is not pointing forward, that should help tell you which side is a problem.
If the knuckle or strut or subframe got damaged in the hit, it may be really hard to see it. Sometimes those come down to educated guesses.
Sometimes an alignment is needed in order to help determine what may be bent based on what readings are off the chart, and SAI/IA comparisons.
Worst case would be a bodyshop that has a GOOD frame person and frame equipment to make the call as to what needs fixed. (The person with the talent is the most important part of that equation.)
A local top-notch bodyshop was able to determine a subframe was bent on a particular car for me, I sure could not see the damage myself.
#4
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
If the tie rod got bent what would be the solution,a new steering rack??
Or maybe try to pry it halfway straight so it can be driven to a shop without eating the tires?
It might not even be tie rods. It could be something else.
I know a trained eye will have more knowledge and possibly see something.
I've called it on a hunch before, then compare old vs new on the floor side by side or one on top of the other and still barely saw a discernible difference.
I can sure tell you, sometimes it doesn't take much bend in something to throw an alignment way out of whack.
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I finally got some time to check the other side and I found the control arm is bent to hell and the stabilizer link is in pieces.The frame truly was'nt affected as far as I can tell.I will replace both and hope I can get her back on the road.The steering parts look good as far as eyeballing them but I know that's not always accurate.I will post results.Thank you
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So I replaced the passenger side control arm and balljoint and end link. When I got it back together the wheels were still not straight. I ended up turning the wheel several times in each direction and the wheels were straight again and it drove perfect for about 10 miles. After that the drivers side wheel went back to not straight while the passenger side stayed ok. I dont know where to go from here.I dont have funds to take it to a shop. I have a pick a part nearby and can get parts very cheap and they have 40% off once a month. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.
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Steering rods and tie rods, check them.
Ah, OK, you eyeballed.
Check both sides?
Also, check bushings, if you used used parts
Ah, OK, you eyeballed.
Check both sides?
Also, check bushings, if you used used parts
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After I replaced the control arms and balljoints I turned the steering wheel both ways a few times and it was back to normal. After about 5-10 miles the wheel went back to the way it was before I turned the steering wheel both ways. I am thinking it has to be the steering rack. The steering rods and tie rods are straight as far as the eye can tell and I'm thinking it would'nt be 4-6 inches off if it was slightly bent but I've never dealt with alignment before. I dont really know how the steering rack works or is built.The control arm bushing were in excellent shape when I got them used and the other parts were new. Any input on this helps. Thank you.
#9
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
After about 5-10 miles the wheel went back to the way it was before I turned the steering wheel both ways.
Sounds more like something fell apart. Bolt fell out of a control arm? Tie rod end came apart?
Jack it up and shake the wheels, see if there's major looseness
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I finally had time to get back to this problem. I had a brainstorm and parked the car really close to the curb and turned the steering wheel to see if it would force the tires to align again and it did. This leads me to believe it's the steering rack. The wheel against the curb had no resistance when I turned the steering wheel. I would assume if the rack was good it would'nt allow this. If anyone has any input or advice, please reply. Your help is appreciated. Thank you.
#11
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
Have aomeone else steer the same way or sude to side....while you watch from outside (engine compartment?) See if the rack is shifting sideways in its mounting brackets
#12
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Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
Or it broke mounting hardware for the rack......or ripped out rusted subframe
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UPDATE: I replaced the steering rack and problem solved. The rack was damaged internally. Runs excellent again. Replacing the rack wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Now I need to figure out the P1456 check code which as I am finding out is difficult to figure out or pinpoint. Thanks all for your input.
#14
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Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
You have had the P1456 for over a year now. After replacing with a new OEM gas cap, you need to have the fuel pressure checked at a shop to find this leak in the fuel system.
#15
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Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
P1456 has nothing to do with fuel pump pressure, it's related to a fuel tank system that tests as though it isn't perfectly sealed when placed under a vacuum.
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Where would you start when diagnosing this code? Is there a "usual suspect" with this code? I know for sure the gas cap is good.
#17
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
Evap codes sometimes suck all the way around.
First I'd make sure the scanner forced self test fails and watch to see if there are any clues there.
I watch the time it takes to pull a vacuum on the tank, I watch vacuum decay time after sealing the valves, and more.
I know most don't have that scanner luxury though.
Wildass guess......if the tank really can hold a vacuum........You have an 01, you may just need a new purge solenoid....the unit gets restricted, can't pass enough volume to suck the tank down to specified FTP sensor voltage within the allowed time limit, test quits and flags a fail as a leak.
If the tank really can't hold a vacuum, then smoke check may be in order..
First I'd make sure the scanner forced self test fails and watch to see if there are any clues there.
I watch the time it takes to pull a vacuum on the tank, I watch vacuum decay time after sealing the valves, and more.
I know most don't have that scanner luxury though.
Wildass guess......if the tank really can hold a vacuum........You have an 01, you may just need a new purge solenoid....the unit gets restricted, can't pass enough volume to suck the tank down to specified FTP sensor voltage within the allowed time limit, test quits and flags a fail as a leak.
If the tank really can't hold a vacuum, then smoke check may be in order..
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UPDATE: I replaced the steering rack and problem solved. The rack was damaged internally. Runs excellent again. Replacing the rack wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Now I need to figure out the P1456 check code which as I am finding out is difficult to figure out or pinpoint. Thanks all for your input.
#19
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its an evap code, so check the evap system, could be that your gas cap isn't sealing properly, or you have a leak, or a failed evap solenoid. do some poking around
#20
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Got Hit now alignment way off
The same guy who tried to align it told me theres a part under the back seat that is usually the culprit for code 1456. Anyone know what that part is called?
Obligatory parts cannon pic:
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