car pulling, dealership puzzled
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c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
car pulling, dealership puzzled
Hi all!
Well my car has now been in the shop three times because it is pulling to the right. The car is perfectly aligned, and the dealership has no clue what is really going on. I know there was some talk a while back about drifting, but I could not find a thread with suggestions on how to solve this problem. Any ideas?
Thanks
Beth
Well my car has now been in the shop three times because it is pulling to the right. The car is perfectly aligned, and the dealership has no clue what is really going on. I know there was some talk a while back about drifting, but I could not find a thread with suggestions on how to solve this problem. Any ideas?
Thanks
Beth
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From: Earth
GLB 250 4matic
well, actually, you're right (no pun intended... 
) it has been talked about before.
mine pulls to the right and it is not uncommon; the c32s have the same issue.
3 things to consider:
the road has a curvature so cars tend to go to the sides; since we drive on the right, we go right.
larger tires tend to tramline more; that is it is more affected by the grooves in the road.
i've been told that it is a safety issue and that there is a bias towards drifting right. but as my bmw doesn't, i can only conclude that if that is true, only some manufacturers have this "feature". the problem is that i've been told this by others but i've never seen an official document or statement about this.
and the pull isn't strong or anything, but noticeable. also, yes, i know the alignment is warrantied the 1st year/12000 miles.
) it has been talked about before.mine pulls to the right and it is not uncommon; the c32s have the same issue.
3 things to consider:
the road has a curvature so cars tend to go to the sides; since we drive on the right, we go right.
larger tires tend to tramline more; that is it is more affected by the grooves in the road.
i've been told that it is a safety issue and that there is a bias towards drifting right. but as my bmw doesn't, i can only conclude that if that is true, only some manufacturers have this "feature". the problem is that i've been told this by others but i've never seen an official document or statement about this.
and the pull isn't strong or anything, but noticeable. also, yes, i know the alignment is warrantied the 1st year/12000 miles.
Last edited by young; Mar 7, 2002 at 08:44 PM.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
My C240 tracks straight ahead and doesn't pull to either side, and your car should not "pull" either. Yes, a crowned road can cause some drift, but if you drive on a wide straight stretch of highway, there should be no crowning, and hence no drifting. Also a smooth surface will not cause any tire, wide or otherwise, to "tramline". My suggestion would be to drive another C230 and compare. As I said, a wide multi-lane road would be best. Good luck.
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From: Orlando, FL
2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe
Originally posted by jlc320
My C320 does the same thing. When I called my dealer, they said the alignment is only covered for the first year and 12000 miles. Did anyone know anything about this ?
--Jeff
My C320 does the same thing. When I called my dealer, they said the alignment is only covered for the first year and 12000 miles. Did anyone know anything about this ?
--Jeff
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Thread Starter
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From: On a hill overlooking San Francisco Bay
c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
OK, it pulls pretty hard. This is not normal, the dealership does not think it is normal either, but the just can't fix it.
I think they need to take the whole steering system apart to fix this.
Oh, Young congrats at hitting 1000!
so cool!
Thx for your advice!
Cheers,
Beth
I think they need to take the whole steering system apart to fix this.
Oh, Young congrats at hitting 1000!
so cool!Thx for your advice!
Cheers,
Beth
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Why would they have to "take the whole steering system apart"? Some other things to consider:
Incompetent service department
They're paying you back for your purchase tactics
Before they do major dismantling, I'd contact M-B and have a rep look at your car. The more your dealership touches, the more potential problems you'll have. Just my $.02
Incompetent service department
They're paying you back for your purchase tactics
Before they do major dismantling, I'd contact M-B and have a rep look at your car. The more your dealership touches, the more potential problems you'll have. Just my $.02
Last edited by MarkL; Mar 8, 2002 at 09:40 AM.
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From: VA
14 ML350 4MATIC
Thanks,
Originally posted by Flashman
I go in 'complaining' of the existing alignment around 10K or 10 months...
I go in 'complaining' of the existing alignment around 10K or 10 months...
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Drastic pulling to the right needs to be diagnosed and fixed, period.
For those where it's slight and just annoying, would there be any value in slightly overinflating the right front tire (just 1-2 PSI over the left)?
I know this sounds like a hairbrained idea. But, the wife's minivan has a slow leak in her RF, causing the same right pull sympton. I can fix it easily by making sure the tires are equally inflated. But I wonder if slight overinflation would help, on a RWD car. (I would not advocate it on a FWD car, nor to compensate for an obvious problem that needs to be fixed, instead.) Only question is affect on handling in turns, braking, etc.
Trying to think outside the box.
For those where it's slight and just annoying, would there be any value in slightly overinflating the right front tire (just 1-2 PSI over the left)?
I know this sounds like a hairbrained idea. But, the wife's minivan has a slow leak in her RF, causing the same right pull sympton. I can fix it easily by making sure the tires are equally inflated. But I wonder if slight overinflation would help, on a RWD car. (I would not advocate it on a FWD car, nor to compensate for an obvious problem that needs to be fixed, instead.) Only question is affect on handling in turns, braking, etc.
Trying to think outside the box.
Last edited by MB-BOB; Mar 8, 2002 at 09:54 AM.
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From: Sri Lanka
well my car is pulling to the right as well..but the 2 dealers have not been able to figure it out... they blame it on my slightly dinged rim and want me to buy a new set of rims and then they will diagnose further.... so i'm basically screwed....
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Originally posted by Fuzzo
well my car is pulling to the right as well..but the 2 dealers have not been able to figure it out... they blame it on my slightly dinged rim and want me to buy a new set of rims and then they will diagnose further.... so i'm basically screwed....
well my car is pulling to the right as well..but the 2 dealers have not been able to figure it out... they blame it on my slightly dinged rim and want me to buy a new set of rims and then they will diagnose further.... so i'm basically screwed....
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From: Sri Lanka
actually after arguing back and forth.. they did a free wheel balancing for me but not alignment... so after that.. it should be balanced correctly.... but it still pulls to the right even after that
maybe i should just go back to driving a civic
maybe i should just go back to driving a civic
Last edited by Fuzzo; Mar 8, 2002 at 10:30 AM.
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From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
Have you checked the toe on the rear wheels? They will have an amplified effect on the tracking, like driving in reverse. If the dealer cant do a 4 wheel alignment find a place that can. This solved a problem on a friends C320.
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From: Columbia, MD
2002 C230K Sport Coupe M6 C5 desert silver
See if you can get them to rotate the tires diagonally. If the problem stays the same, then have them recheck alignment. Unlikely to be steering I think. If on tire rotation the problem reverses direction, good bet you have a bad tire.
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From: On a hill overlooking San Francisco Bay
c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Wow, guys, thanks! The depressing part is I've tried most of your solutions. Floping the tires, fooling around with the air in the tires, making sure there is a four wheel alignment. I'm apprehensive to have the dealership fool around with my steering too, but this problem needs to be fixed, and to be honest, I did not pay 27K for a car that does not drive straight.
I want the dealership to solve the problem, however, this would be time four at the dealership, so if they fix it great, if not, I just finished a lemon law case, and have a really good lawyer. I would definately give this car a second shot, but since taking a car instread of a refund saves MB a bunch of money, I think I'll take a run at getting a Capri blue car and revert to a stick (I miss it so much)
Maybe on the upside, I'll get a nice loaner next week.
Off to Yosemite for the weekend. We'll see how this car does in the snow!
Cheers,
Beth
I want the dealership to solve the problem, however, this would be time four at the dealership, so if they fix it great, if not, I just finished a lemon law case, and have a really good lawyer. I would definately give this car a second shot, but since taking a car instread of a refund saves MB a bunch of money, I think I'll take a run at getting a Capri blue car and revert to a stick (I miss it so much)
Maybe on the upside, I'll get a nice loaner next week.
Off to Yosemite for the weekend. We'll see how this car does in the snow!
Cheers,
Beth
Last edited by galaxygrrl; Mar 8, 2002 at 12:40 PM.
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From: South Florida
Fast Cars!
pulling
thats funny that the car was pulling to the right i had the same problom but after i had mine lowered and re alligned it now rides perfect so to me it sounds like it had something to do with the alligment and since u had mercedes try to fix the problom and they dont know maybe they just cant allign these cars right i dident have mine alligned at the dealer and now it rides perfectly straight. 
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From: Campbell, CA
[QUOTE]Originally posted by galaxygrrl
I want the dealership to solve the problem, however, this would be time four at the dealership, so if they fix it great, if not, I just finished a lemon law case, and have a really good lawyer. I would definately give this car a second shot, but since taking a car instread of a refund saves MB a bunch of money, I think I'll take a run at getting a Capri blue car and revert to a stick (I miss it so much)
Maybe on the upside, I'll get a nice loaner next week.
Any update galaxygrrl?
I want the dealership to solve the problem, however, this would be time four at the dealership, so if they fix it great, if not, I just finished a lemon law case, and have a really good lawyer. I would definately give this car a second shot, but since taking a car instread of a refund saves MB a bunch of money, I think I'll take a run at getting a Capri blue car and revert to a stick (I miss it so much)
Maybe on the upside, I'll get a nice loaner next week.
Any update galaxygrrl?
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From: On a hill overlooking San Francisco Bay
c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Thanks for asking. They finally fixed the pulling. But now we are on to a seatbelt issue. To early to file a law suit, we'll see what happens.
Beth
Beth
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From: Kentucky
2002 C230K
Originally posted by galaxygrrl
Thanks for asking. They finally fixed the pulling. But now we are on to a seatbelt issue. To early to file a law suit, we'll see what happens.
Beth
Thanks for asking. They finally fixed the pulling. But now we are on to a seatbelt issue. To early to file a law suit, we'll see what happens.
Beth
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From: On a hill overlooking San Francisco Bay
c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Ok, they took the steering apart and did something, I have no idea what it was, and the little black car goes straight. As for the seat belt, it locks up on me and causes the really horrible red welts around my collar bone area that hurt. The dealership says there is nothing wrong with it, and it does not lock up on them.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for asking.
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From: Nashua, NH
2008 VW GTI
Seat belt:
I found the seatbelt to be uncomfortable at first. A little too close to my neck. I guess I adjusted to it because I don't notice it bothering me anymore.
The tension is much less than on my wife's Accord- and that's good. It does lock up going over small bumps and accelarating around turns. Most cars do this, though the MB seems more sensitive.
I found the seatbelt to be uncomfortable at first. A little too close to my neck. I guess I adjusted to it because I don't notice it bothering me anymore.
The tension is much less than on my wife's Accord- and that's good. It does lock up going over small bumps and accelarating around turns. Most cars do this, though the MB seems more sensitive.
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From: On a hill overlooking San Francisco Bay
c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Nope that not it. I have be driving on a flat area going straight and wham, it locks up. This is not normal. Big red welts are not normal either. I'm just jinxed.
Beth
Beth
