Steering Wheel offset after indicator stalk change

Traction

Active Member
Nov 4, 2011
210
4
Hi,

I recently had the indicator stalk on my Leon changed.
After getting the car back I immediately noticed that the steering wheel was offset to the left.

I knew the tracking wasn't 100% but it was never this bad.

I'm guessing that the wheel needs to come off again and and go back on but moved a notch or 2.
Will the steering angle sensor need to be reset after this?

Getting some work done on rear suspension soon which will require a re-alignment.
Worried that if I get tracking done before the steering wheel position is changed that it might make it harder to correct. is that a valid worry?
 

Traction

Active Member
Nov 4, 2011
210
4
Re: Steering Angle Sensor
Does this measure angle based on position of the steering wheel itself or is it the position of the shaft/spline?
 

Muttley

Catch that diesel!
Mar 17, 2006
4,987
31
North Kent
The steering angle sensor is located at the top of the steering column, just under the steering wheel and on top of the steering column switch unit, where the stalks are attached. It is quite likely that it will have been removed at the time that your indicator stalk was changed, as I don't think it is possible to just change the stalk on its own.
So, it is more than likely, from what you say, that the steering wheel, and perhaps the angle sensor too, have been replaced out of alignment.
It is possible to reposition the wheel without disturbing the angle sensor, so you could try that first.
 

Traction

Active Member
Nov 4, 2011
210
4
The steering angle sensor is located at the top of the steering column, just under the steering wheel and on top of the steering column switch unit, where the stalks are attached. It is quite likely that it will have been removed at the time that your indicator stalk was changed, as I don't think it is possible to just change the stalk on its own.
So, it is more than likely, from what you say, that the steering wheel, and perhaps the angle sensor too, have been replaced out of alignment.
It is possible to reposition the wheel without disturbing the angle sensor, so you could try that first.

Great, thanks for the explanation.
It definitely was removed because I know the mechanic had to wait for some diagnostic unit to reset the angle sensor.

So it sounds like the Angle Sensor needs to be reset/calibrated any time it has been removed.
Hopefully changing the wheel position is enough to correct my issue, without moving the angle sensor.
Even if the Angle Sensor did need to be reset afterwards, i'm not sure If I would know of an issue once the steering was no longer offset.
 

joe-20vt-toledo

Active Member
Mar 7, 2012
405
1
don't know if it helps you out mate but iv just swopped over the steering wheel in mine to the cupra r one, on the top of the spline there's a small indented line showing center and a matching mark on the wheel. when I lined these two up I thought id got it perfect but upon a drive round noticed that the new wheels of to the left. perhaps your mechanic has done the same and not realised the marks are a starting point that need further adjustment?
 

Traction

Active Member
Nov 4, 2011
210
4
don't know if it helps you out mate but iv just swopped over the steering wheel in mine to the cupra r one, on the top of the spline there's a small indented line showing center and a matching mark on the wheel. when I lined these two up I thought id got it perfect but upon a drive round noticed that the new wheels of to the left. perhaps your mechanic has done the same and not realised the marks are a starting point that need further adjustment?
Thanks for the tip, definitely something to look out for.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

Traction

Active Member
Nov 4, 2011
210
4
ignoring direction the front wheels are pointing...
is it possible to determine the correct "centre" position of the wheel via diagnostics - by using angle sensor to measure full lock on both sides. And the centre is the middle of those 2 positions.
 

weasley

Active Member
May 19, 2017
137
4
South Oxfordshire
You don’t need sensors to do this. Turn the wheel full lock one way. Then turn it full lock the other and count the turns. Now turn it back exactly half of the lock-to-lock amount - now the steering rack is centred. Now get the tracking set and the steering wheel straightened. This assumes you want exactly the same amount of steering both ways.
 

Traction

Active Member
Nov 4, 2011
210
4
You don’t need sensors to do this. Turn the wheel full lock one way. Then turn it full lock the other and count the turns. Now turn it back exactly half of the lock-to-lock amount - now the steering rack is centred. Now get the tracking set and the steering wheel straightened. This assumes you want exactly the same amount of steering both ways.

great thanks.
I was definitly over-complicating it!
 
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