a brand new honda accord pulling to the right?

[archilles]

Hey Guys,

I recently bought a 2005 Honda Accord 4Dr EX-V6. I like this car pretty much. It is comfortable, strong and provides an enjoyable driving. However, I suspect this car has a problem. I am not sure if this is a problem or not. Let me first describe it, then maybe you can provide comments to me.

On a fairly flat road, when I leave my hands off the steering, the car gradually heads to the right. I am not sure but in terminology this is called "pulling to the right". While it heads to the right, I see that the steering off centers (a small clockwise turn) to the right as well. I don't feel very comfortable about this "pulling to the right" issue. Indeed, I brought the car back to the dealer and they aligned the wheels. But I still experience the same issue. I checked that the car slightly heads to the left if I use the left lane. I suppose this is due to the crown of the road. However, "pulling to the right" or "heading to the right" happens more frequently if I take my hands off the steering, even the road seems pretty flat. Today I went back to the dealer to check test-drive some other Accords. Guess what, all of them pretty much pulled to the right when my hands were off the steering. When I test-drove my own car on the same road, I felt like my car pulls to the right a little more than the others. The road did not have a significant crown. This still seems like weird to me. Why would brand new cars pull to the right on a pretty flat road? So, guys what do you think is the cause for this phenomenon? Did any of you experienced something like that? Did you feel any "pulling to the right" when you left your hands off the steering? Should I be concerned with this? Isn't there any Accord out there which runs on a straight line on the road like an arrow when the hands are off the steering?

thanks for your comments

[Deadhead]

Well, from the sounds of it, you are just paraniod about this pulling. It sounds to me that the road you are driving on is curved somewhat.

Try to confirm if your car is having problems by driving down the same stretch of road both directions. This should tell you if there is a problem.

Maybe it could be that your tires are way out of balance, but i would expect that you would feel that through your steering wheel around 55-65 mph (strong shaking)

[QK'SPD]

Wazzp - I owened Honda's & Accura's since I could drive (21 yrs). The pulling is a chararistic of the front wheel drive. The transmission is on the right side this will deliver torque on that side first due to the short drive shaft. You car is fine. Hope this helps?

[archilles]

Originally Posted by QK'SPD

Wazzp - I owened Honda's & Accura's since I could drive (21 yrs). The pulling is a chararistic of the front wheel drive. The transmission is on the right side this will deliver torque on that side first due to the short drive shaft. You car is fine. Hope this helps?

Thanks QK. Indeed, I am trying tro understand if I am paranoid or have a real problem here. Seeing other accords presenting similar/the same phenomenon made me feel little better together with your comment. However if somone comes up and says that his accord drives almost perfectly straight, then I would try to have the same with mine.

On the other hand, in another forum somebdy wrote to me that there is a TSB for 2003 and 2004 accords about "pulling to the right". I am quoting his information provided in TSB: "Basically if it pulls only a little they say it in spec, or they will swap the front two tire, or if its real bad there is a procedure in it to basically move the chassic a little on the frame." I wonder if 2005's would have the same issue. Anyway, I now expect from Accord owners to let us know if they have "pulling the right issue".

[Paul C.]

I work at a Honda dealership and this problem is solved 99% of the time by switching frt tires side to side. Have yet to see a new one pull because of alignment being out and I've been here two years. The fact that the steering wheel immediately turns when let go confirms a tire pull. To answer your other question, I drive 03-05 Accords everyday that drive straight as an arrow.

Paul

[jhuckaby]

I bought a 2005 Accord LX in February and have not experienced any pulling. I've never owned a Honda before and have enjoyed this one. Mileage was great on a recent trip to Florida. 34.2 MPG. Best A/C I've ever had in a car or truck.

[archilles]

Originally Posted by Paul C.

I work at a Honda dealership and this problem is solved 99% of the time by switching frt tires side to side. Have yet to see a new one pull because of alignment being out and I've been here two years. The fact that the steering wheel immediately turns when let go confirms a tire pull. To answer your other question, I drive 03-05 Accords everyday that drive straight as an arrow.

Paul

To my knowledge, my dealer aligned the wheels and swapped the tires upon my complaint about this "pulling to the right" issue. I can say that there is not much difference after the service compared to the initial case. Tomorrow morning I have another apointment with the dealer. They'll check the problem again. I hope this time they will come up with a solution. If no solution, probably they'll blame the Michelin tires. They always have a good story for unsolved problems (I call my case a problem given what Paul says above). Anyway, I'll give them another chance. Indeed, I don't know what to do if they cannot solve it again. What do you recommend?

BTW, on an empty road when I cruise on the left lane, car slightly pulls to the left. I belive this shows that road crown is an enough reason for pulling to somewhere when the hands are off the steering wheel. However, I can definitely say that it has a significant tendency to slightly head to the right even on a fairly flat parking area.

[Paul C.]

You might try moving the right side tires front to rear. I have had to do this before after moving the front tires did not solve the problem. Also ask for an alignment printout .

[archilles]

Originally Posted by Paul C.

You might try moving the right side tires front to rear. I have had to do this before after moving the front tires did not solve the problem. Also ask for an alignment printout .

well guys, I have been to the dealer today. They acknowledged the problem by the term "drifting to the right" not pulling. They followed a number of procedures to reduce or cancel drifting including moving the subframe. The result: "drift" is reduced significantly. I sometimes feel there is still some drift. But maybe I have become paranoid. Meanwhile I test-drove 2 other brand new Accords and experienced the same drift on the same road. I believe there is this drift in all accords. Anyway, I feel better now. But next time probably I'll go and buy an Audi or something which does not have such issues.