Steering problems, need advice.. - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Bumble-Bear · 05-16-2009, 09:46 AM

Hello everyone,
I need some advice and help. I have a 2009 Smart Cabrio with electronic steering. The car is great while in the city, driving under 45 mph, but when I get on the open road and am driving at 55 mph and above, the front end feels like I need an alignment. I have taken the car back to the dealer and they say they have realigned the car, but the problem is still there. The feeling the car has is similar to driving over a metal grate bridge, pulling from side to side while driving in a straight line. It is so bad that I am constantly moving the steering wheel 1" to 2" trying to correct the track while driving. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Would putting wider tires in the front help it to track better? I know this is a small car, but my old Geo Metro Convertible held the road great with no front end unstable feelings. I have to say this is the only thing I hate about this car. Everything else is just great and I love driving it otherwise. Thanks in advance for the advice...
Ryan

Padawan · 05-16-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumble-Bear

Hello everyone,
I need some advice and help. I have a 2009 Smart Cabrio with electronic steering. The car is great while in the city, driving under 45 mph, but when I get on the open road and am driving at 55 mph and above, the front end feels like I need an alignment. I have taken the car back to the dealer and they say they have realigned the car, but the problem is still there. The feeling the car has is similar to driving over a metal grate bridge, pulling from side to side while driving in a straight line. It is so bad that I am constantly moving the steering wheel 1" to 2" trying to correct the track while driving. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Would putting wider tires in the front help it to track better? I know this is a small car, but my old Geo Metro Convertible held the road great with no front end unstable feelings. I have to say this is the only thing I hate about this car. Everything else is just great and I love driving it otherwise. Thanks in advance for the advice...
Ryan

Assuming the alignment has been confirmed in-spec, and the tire pressures are correct, what you're describing sounds like normal Fortwo behaviour. The relatively narrow front tires, combined with the short wheelbase and the light weight of the car mean that it will tend to get pushed around by the wind and also follow any ruts on the freeway. Wider front tires (along with wider front wheel) can help with this, but I've just become accustomed to it.

John_H · 05-16-2009, 10:04 AM

I don't have problems with the wheels pulling from side to side as you describe. In Oregon we have "ruts" worn into our highways from too many nitwits using studded snow tires even though we only average 2 days a year they might be needed. The ruts tend to seriously pull the sports steering in the roadsters I've owned but never so much in the Smart. My Electric Power Steering does fine in these conditions. The drive to and from San Francisco gave no indication things might be odd.

I'd suggest driving another Smart on a section of road you know gives you problems to see if another car with EPS gives you the same trouble such as one might encounter with heavily grooved pavement.

While your Smart is in alignment, I'm wondering if camber is part of that alignment. The feel you've mentioned is reminiscent of the sports suspension in the ruts.

**jwight** · 05-16-2009, 10:09 AM

What Padawan says is correct, up to a point. The smart does need some wind correction and it will follow ruts in the road. Assuming you can find a flat, smooth road surface on a calm day, the smart should not require constant correction. Under those conditions our car tracks straight and can easily be held that way with one hand on the wheel. So, something may need attention - tire pressure as mentioned, loose wheel bolts, bent front suspension part, etc. Who knows?

With three smart centers in the Tampa area you should be able to get a 2nd and 3rd opinion. Or perhaps take it to a full time alignment shop?

NuBiker · 05-16-2009, 10:12 AM

The only thing I would suggest is you demand that the service mgr go for a ride with you and show them what's happening.
At high speeds the car will feel a little bit squirley, because of the short wheelbase, but I am talking about 85mph+.
Wifey's 2008 without the electronic steering is fine at 75mph.
That steering effect you are experiencing, in my opinion, might shorten the life of your front tires.
I don't know much about cars, but, I would think alignment, is only one part of the equation. Maybe it's the shock absorbers, steering knuckle, wheel balancing, etc.
Good luck !!!
I hope someone more knowlegeable than me posts up a solution.

**jwight** · 05-16-2009, 10:20 AM

Merged.

Bumble-Bear · 05-16-2009, 10:30 AM

Thank you all for the advice.. The problem happens even when there is no wind and on flat roads that have just been paved. The feeling is that the car can not stay in a straight line. It is as if it is pulling itself around, similar to what it does when it is a windy day. I did take it to another smart center, and they told me that the problem my be in the electronic steering. They said that the design of that feature is too much power for a small car of this size, and as a result any slight movement of the wheel, either intentional or unintentional, can cause the car to shift direction and feel out of control. I have not taken it to a allignment center outside of our local smart center. The car has been into them 3 times for this. The first time they did an alignment and said it was good. I took it out and it still acted the same. When I took it back, they said they forgot to adjust the rear tires. Me, being a bit trusting, accepted that. I did not know that the rear is not adjustable in the smart, which makes me wonder why they would lie to me. I took the car back out and it still did the same thing. I just took it back again a few weeks ago and they said there was nothing more they could do about it. I complained, so they sent a tech out with me who said it did not act completely normal and they sent in a request for tech info from Mercedes. It was a windy day when I went out with the tech, and the wind was coming steady from one side of the car. Even with the wind coming from one side, the car would pull to both sides. Still have not heard back from them about this. I had an 08 smart that did not have any steering problems like this, but it had manual steering and not the electronic. Maybe that is the difference? I am now trying to find out if putting wider tires on will help give me a more stable feel to the front end. Anyone else changed to wider tires and feel like it made the car more stable?

Bumble-Bear · 05-16-2009, 10:36 AM

Hey NuBiker,
I can't get my car past 74 mph without it starting to shudder and having a feeling like I am "hitting a wall" for speed.. Hard to explain it other than that.. It's like no matter how much gas I give it I can't get past that point easily.. The dealer told me this was normal, that they all shake above 70 mph. I am getting a little upset with my local dealer service...

a2jack · 05-16-2009, 10:38 AM

Double post...Sorry. A2J

a2jack · 05-16-2009, 10:42 AM

We constantly drive our 08 at Michigan freeway speeds of 80-85. It has the electric steering option. Most of the time it will run almost hands off and track well. However, we really never let go as it will DART from time to time due to road surface.

With no cross wind your car should track like it was on rails at 70 and under.

Keep pressing the dealer, as most Smart Centers do not have alignment skills or equipment, and must send the car out. That costs them money. Please keep us posted A2Jack.