My Solara never pulled to the right, it has always pulled to the left. What I find strange is that if my car was simply following the crown of the road, then why does it not pull equally to both sides depending on the crown of the road? I have to say, for that technician to claim that my Solara's problem is simply a result of road crown is a severe insult to my intelligence!!! Glad your problem has been resolved with your Solara. Can you tell me what was done to resolve the problem? Thanks- PNC
The pictures of the wood dash kit looks great but does it look as good up close or does it look like an add on. Is it easy to install. My fear is that I order the kit, install it and either have problems with the installation or it looks cheesy once its on. I suspect getting it off after, if I didn't like it, would be an even worse problem.
bweibe: The add-on wood dash parts from www.exoticwooddash.com do not look exactly like factory parts, since they are added on the top of the existing parts, but they also do NOT look cheesy, especially if you do not over do it. The match to the factory wood is really close, and no one has ever thought that my added trim was not factory. Us picky ones are the only ones that would know.
As far as I can tell, it is not possible to remove the parts without leaving a huge, unfixable mess. It is possible there are some solvents that would work, but they may damage the plastic as well. Hey - it looks good, and will be there when I sell the car.
You can always order the kit, and look at it for a while, as I did, before taking the plunge. Take a LONG time and be careful. The 3M adhesive sticks instantly and forever. It will look great for the life of your car.
The (stock) fogs are 9006's at 50W, and the (stock) headlights are H4's at 55W. I replaced my fogs with Hyper Industries 80W, and my headlights with 90/100W Nu-Lites. I got my headlights off of E-Bay for 18.99 (total). Just do a search for Solara. They look really nice. They only draw stock 55W so the harness is okay, but I am going to upgrade the harness at suvlights.com so that the bulbs can draw more power and get even brighter. I have before/afters if you are interested.
scsolara - There is no way a 90W bulb can only draw a "stock" 55W. The harness does not control the power to the bulbs. If they are 90W bulbs, than they are trying to draw 90W, up to the limit of your wiring system to supply it. If they are not bright because of wiring issues, the extra power is being dissipated in your wiring harness as HEAT, just like an overloaded extension cord in your home. 90W is nearly double the stock wattage, so you should feel the wiring with your hand after the lights have been on for a while. If the wires are warm or hot, you should hold off on the bulbs until you replace the harness. There may also be a relay that should be upgraded for higher capacity.
Also - just in case you are ever stopped - such bulbs may not be legal for street use in your state, and you might get ticketed for them.
The beauty (or lack thereof) of the wood dash is in the eye of the beholder. Some people like the looks of them and some people hate them. One thing is for sure, there is no real wood in the Solara, so if you want some real stuff, you will have to add it yourself. I bought the complete kit from www.exoticwooddash.com last year when I got my Solara. I installed all the pieces except for the cup holders and ignition switch pieces. I love the look and I think it makes the car look classy.
I took lots of pictures when I first got my Solara last year and I put them on a website. I went overboard with the pictures, but it was new and I was in love with it (still am). If anyone is considering adding the dash kit, please take a look and you decide if it's right for you.
If you do decide to add one of these kits, they are PERMANENT! Once you stick them on, that's it. You should test every single piece for fit and finish and make absolutely sure they are aligned before you stick them on. Don't whine about it looking cheesy a week later. It's up to you to decide if you can live with it. I think the match is almost perfect and it would take a real sharp person to tell the difference between the stock plastic wood trim and the real thing.
Mark, I would suggest that you take your car to a shop that specializes in custom wheels and suspensions and have them do an alignment for you. Dealerships are loathe to do anything other than by the numbers, and there's no reason you can't keep your car from drifting by simply adding a little more toe-in. many manufacturers dial in too little toe-in because it affects their mileage figures with the EPA.Fords are notorious for this.
Incidentally, I've never had any problem on-center with any of the Solaras I've driven, so it sounds like an anomoly.
The simplest and most common thing that causes a car to pull to one side is tire pressure. Try adding a little more pressure in the tire on the side that's pulling and see what happens. Try it in 2 psi increments.
Automophile....thanks for the info; that is what I suspected. I will bite the bullet and buy the complete kit.....As they said, you only go this way once... Jrays...thanks for the pic...Nice looking and great looking car!!!!!
Thanks for the compliments on my two-tone Solara. (I have to be a little different). As far as I know, this is still an option available only at Southeastern Toyota dealerships. The paint is applied at the port in Jacksonville before the customer receives their car. They did an excellent job and I haven't seen one like mine in the Pensacola area yet.
If anybody wants to see the choices, you can go to any of the Southeastern dealership websites. I believe you can "build" a Solara there and see the different color combinations. At the 2000 Atlanta car show, they had a Red Flame/Silver Fawn Solara right inside the door as you walk in. It was the first car everyone saw, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have that color combination. The two-tone paint job is not for everyone, but most people like it.
i had tried some bulbs before in my fog lights but my left fog blew two bulbs. the right one never had a problem. anybody know why? do you have to use the same wattage? brian
According to your calculator site, the 215 55/16 is the closest fit if you are going to go with anything besides the 205 60/16. And I don't think .19 of an inch is that big of a difference from stock (and neither is .23 of an inch from stock if you are going with the 215 60/16). One will throw off the speedometer a bit slow, the other a bit fast. But help me out, the 215 55/16 will have a bit smaller sidewall... so will that help the tire perform better (along with a bit rougher ride)???
will increase performance, indicated mileage, steering response, ultimate grip and ride stiffness. If you choose a wheel/tire combo that is lighter than stock, you also decrease unsprung weight, which further aids performance and handling. Just be sure to have an alignment done anytime you significantly change tire sizes or suspension components.
nobody likes my idea when your original set of tires wear out, and you've never got out the spare from the trunk?? which is: take advantage of toyota offering a full size spare by buying THREE of the same size/brand tire-- use your spare as the 4th tire-- and use the best of the original tires as your new spare?? seems to me this is quite cost effective...
Not a bad idea except for one thing. Most manufacturers use very cheap tires as original equipment. I have heard that even when you buy the same brand, model and size, they wont quite be the same because the manufacturers get bulk rate (and quality) versions of the same tire. If this is true, (and based on what I read here, I don't doubt it) you would end up with one inferior tire on the ground.
phelpsm - *I think* that the best size for the car is the 215/60 when using the stock wheel. Anything taller or wider will rub in one place or another, anything smaller just looks too small (even the 205/60 looks a little on the small side). For performance minded people, go read what denniswade wrote.
ral - asside from what cliffy wrote, the Bridgestone tires just plain suck and I would never pay actual green dollars for even one of them. Sure they were quiet, but wore 2x faster than any other tire I have ever owned - and - they runout in corners, spin under acceleration, and have absolutely NO snow/rain traction. Pay the $$ for 4 GOOD tires, your $25k car will thank you.
it's too late now-- i went and ordered three potenzas and will use my spare potenza (2 miles of tread wear) as the 4th-- they had to order the tires and won't be here for a week or so....
i'll report back when i get the tires and have driven on them a bit, and relate whether i'm a real smart fella, or an idiot like cliffy alleges i very well may be...i'll use the one current tire with the most tread left as my new spare....
Hi. How is the highway performance of the Solara SLE V6? Does it have strong acceleration? Also how many miles are you getting on a full tank? Thanks for any responses.
i have had my SLE for two and a half years... and i have 41,000 miles. highway travel is where this car excels!! so extremely smooth, quiet and quick.... and i have gotten up to 31 MPG on long highway trips.... in and around town, the solara is a blast, take off is good and sooo smooth from stop to start and quick if you need it to be
i have an SEV6, not an SLE--- same engine i think....i had opportunity to use a tank of gas for 90% highway travel recently -- I got 27 mpg---i think i filled up when the trip odometer was around 480 miles and the low fuel light was shining bright like a beacon.... performance is quite adequate, although i suppose "performance" is a subjective term.... when i wish to pass someone (particularly in an accord coupe-- I always like to pass those folks)-- i have no problems... i drive a 5 speed tho.... i've used 87 octane since i got the car (31000 miles ago)... hope this helps...
I hope you didn't think I would call anybody an idiot for making full use of your full spare. I just had some words of caution. From a money standpoint, you've got the right idea. Let us know how it all works out.
nah, i knew what you meant, cliffy-- no problem --- just trying to lighten the mood here on edmunds town hall--- i'll report back when i get the three new tires installed along with my spare-- and see how it rides... i think i will tell them to put the spare on one of the back wheels (not the front) to start out,,, then when i rotate after 10000 miles, hopefully not have any problems... i don't plan to put more than 30000 miles more on the car before trading it in....i'm one of those fellas who needs a new car smell every three or 4 years... so buying potenzas doesn't concern me as far as quality of tire... for $300 (3 tires/balancing/stems/disposal/TAX), that's not a bad price for all new treads -- just hope it rides quiet and smooth.
Your new car habit changes the whole dynamic. Since you aren't keeping it long term, you solution now makes complete sense.
As far as lightening the mood, thanks. I've been scolded lately by the moderators for a couple of posts that were taken without the needed grain of salt. Somehow, smiles don't seem to come through in writing and that can change the whole meaning of some posts.
My car has been pulling to the left since I got it in May (15K miles now). I had it aligned at the dealer and they gave me some mumbo jumbo about how the car's steering was set differently in this car, blah blah blah. It is rather annoying because you really have to hold onto the steering wheel!
elsewhere in this conference (it wasn't you, was it?).
Anyway -- make sure the tire pressures are exactly equal; if they are, try adding pressure to the front tire on the side the car pulls toward (if it pulls left, add air to the left front tire), in 2-psi increments. Make sure you go down to the local auto store and get yourself a GOOD tire gauge, too -- and never rely on the integral tire gauge in the service station air hose. if this doesn't work, take your car to an independant tire store and have them check the rims to make sure they aren't bent, the tires to make sure they're not wearing improperly, and if all else fails, have THEM check the alignment.
Thank you for the suggestions and advice for correcting the left pull. I am concerned about having a 3rd party alignment "expert" adjust the toe different to Toyota specs, especially if it could impact gas mileage. I also don't understand why the dealership, using a laser-guided aligment machine, cannot get it right. I also don't think it's fair for me to pay for a 3rd party to do an alignment, when 3 different dealerships have had a total 12+ times to try and fix it and can't. I am just not convinced it is an aligment issue, nor a tire-related issue. Something has got to be causing my Solara to pull to the left. I agree with Sungirl that it is very annoying, and frankly dangerous at times, to have to keep the steering wheel turned to the right to keep the car straight. I would really appreciate any suggestions or potential solutions that anyone else has. I want to be a satisfied Solara owner, but I am losing my patience. I promise not to become a big ranter about this in this forum. I am just looking for help. Thanks
1) when the dealer attempts to fix the car, can they duplicate the same pulling problem??? do they acknowledge the car pulls, but they can't fix it? or do they say, hey, the car doesn't pull at all-- we can't duplicate the problem?
2) have you test drove another solara on the dealer's lot, while yours is in the service area, to see whether that solara pulls?? (do this in case their answer is, heck, all solaras pull)
3) i would advise you contact the attorney general of the state if the following has occurred: a) the dealer can duplicate the same pulling problem that you describe. b) you can show that now all solaras have the pulling problem you have. c) the dealer has had three opportunities to fix the problem, but can't.
you might also look in a phone book, find an ad for an attorney that does not charge for initial consultation, and might specialize in the type of case this might be (product liability/lemon law-- not sure), and run the situation by him or her.
i may give my dealer a call and talk to the service guy who worked on my car-- when i had the tires rotated a few months ago, it pulled, so i took it in and it don't pull at all (they didn't re-rotate the tires as a fix, i know that), and steers straight as can be. maybe i can pass along some info as to what they did.
I went to Just Tires because I could not get my alloy caps off my tires. They corroded, and I will not be buying after market alloy caps again, for vanity! It cost $60 to cut them off and replace and rotate, and balance, only 1 tire needed balancing??? I asked about other tire sizes, and the dealer would not sell me any other size, saying its not safe and throws off the computers, handling etc! I am usually an easy victem of sales, but was impressed by his refuseal to replace my tires with a different size. Any comments??? Many of you are getting bigger tires!?!
He guys I finally got the solution for the Solara pulling to the left problem. I, just like the rest of the Solara owners, had problems with the car pulling to the left since I bought my car in September of 98. I had it aligned and tire balanced like you would never believed. Well I was sick and tired of wasting money on something they just couldn't fix. So one day at the dealership I was just curious how they actually trying to align the wheels. I noticed they had this "thingy" attached to the wheels then the computer reads the measurement and then the guy corrects it by a wrench (yes just a wrench) on a horizontal bar that attached to the suspension. He only made a minor adjustment by turning that bar either left or right direction with little increments. Well apparently that didn't work very well becuz the car still pulls. So I finally decided to do the experiment of my own. So I jacked up the car and tried to turn that bar just a bit to either left or right direction for a little bit just like the mech guy did. The bar can only be turned about half of an inch in total direction so there's nothing you can do to really mess it up (becuz the alignment was off since the beginning anyway). So after so many times adjusting myself within a month period I finally got it to a point where the steering wheel is pretty much straight and the car is ACTUALLY moving pretty much straight compared to the first time I got my car! So I know I did it right. So if you guys are tired of getting screwed by the dealer I suggest you try it yourself, I did and it works for me. (disclaimer: I'm not responsible of you damaging your car in anyway and it's not covered by the warranty, do it at your own risk!)
I will have some pics up on my web site so if you are interested please feel free to visit http://home.cfl.rr.com/poman
Good LUCK!
Poman
99 Black TRD Supercharger Solara with 35,000 fast miles
I wouldn't worry about paying for a third party to do the alignment -- Toyota's warranty program will pay for it in either case. I had a vibration problem with my wife's Celica (it turned out to be a broken motor mount), and after three tires with the local dealer, I took it to an independant. Toyota Extra Care paid the bill, no problem. Just be sure and document everything you have done. In fact, if you want, you can call Toyota Extra Care in advance -- you should find their number in your owner's manual. If not, let me know and I'll look it up for you.
What the heck are you thinking?!!...you just don't climb under your car and start turning things without knowing what you are doing.the toe adjustment is very sensitive and just a little turn of the inner tie rod makes a big difference.i suggest you take it have the alignment checked before you start chewing up front tires in a hurry.Toe and camber adjustments will usually not cause a pull,it's always a caster problem when pull is noticed.the caster can not be adjusted manually on the solara but there might some kind of kit made to do this.untill the caster can be changed,the pull will always be there provided it's not caused by the tires.
I took my Solara to an aligment specialist today. They rode with me in my car and it took them all of 2 minutes to recognize that my car DOES HAVE a pull to the left. They know this because the road we were on has an 8% crown to the right. If the car was just sensitive to road crown, then it should actually be pulling or drifting to the right. My car pulls against the crown. I inquired about adding tire pressure to the right tire to counter the left pull and was advised not to do so. This would not correct my car's problem and would actually result in premature tire wear. When inspecting the aligment on my Solara they found that the car is in Toyota's specs and based on my car's specs should favor the right slightly if at all. It is this companies professional opinion (as it is mine) that my car does have a problem in pulling to the left, but it is not an aligment problem. They could adjust the rear alignment some to attempt to counter the left pull, but they could not guarantee that this would solve my car's problem. It is also their professional opinion that my Solara's problem is likely related to a problem with the transaxle/drivetrain. They have even offered to speak with a Toyota rep on my behalf to share their independent evaluation. I am really saddened to think of all the time I have wasted trying to get someone at Toyota to fix this problem, and the only progress made by Toyota is that they agree my car pulls to the left, but it must be a road crown problem since the aligment is in specs. I highly suggest that anyone with a pull problem visit a 3rd party alignment specialist and take their documentation back to your dealership.
Since so many owners continue to have this problem, it would seem the problem needs to be escalated with Toyota. Since the service departments don't seem to have a solution that works, Toyota Regional and National support should get involved. The only way to make this happen is for everyone in this forum to contact Toyota on the same day or week and insist on speaking to a supervisor since this is a widespread problem. Contacting bbb.com, ecomplaints.com, etc. and filing on-line complaints will create a wave of complaints that Toyota will have to respond to. The power to resolve this problem lies in taking action as a group in a common manner. This will hopefully get Toyota's attention!
2k1trd, Hehe don't panic! Why do I want to take it to the dealer again for something they couldn't do a damn thing about it? The increment is small enough not to make a difference on the tire wear. If you don't believe that, then most of you here with the car pulling to the left would have tire wear problem. My tires are wearing just fine. The car drives straight on the straight roads for me and I'm happy about it for now. You guys can file the complain and I'll wait for the actual correction meanwhile.
I've been following this tread about the Solara pulling to the left regardless of the road surface. I have had my 2K SLE V6 for over 9 months and there has been no 'pulling/drifting' with my vehicle. I have the Michelin MXV4 Plus tires with about 16.7K miles. On several occasions I have let go of the wheel and the car remains reasonably straight for a few seconds, then begins to wander a bit to the left - no pulling is evident. I keep the tires inflated to about 34psi in front, and 32psi in the rear.
I am wondering if I'm the only Solara owner that doesn't have this problem. BTW - I also had a 1999 SLE V6 that did not pull/drift either. This car had the Bridgestone tires.
Maybe the roads here in Virgina are smoother/flatter than in other parts of the country.
For those of you who have replaced your em (205/60-16), how long would you say you had your bridge stone potenzas before you thought about replacing them? I'm thinking about replacing mine and getting better handling tires. A friend recommended the Michelin Pilot XGT H4's. If I get these at 215's, can I replace my bridge stone 205's without worrying about making any adjustments (speedometer etc) to my car....ie will it fit on my original 205 rims without any problems? I have a 2000 SEV6 5spd...thanks.
yesterday i replaced my 4 potenzas RE 92 205-60-16's with 3 potenzas RE 92 205-60-16's... i used my full size spare as the 4th "new" tire.... and used the best of my original tires as my "new" spare...
all told, the bill came to: $85 times 3 = $255 for the tires $7 times 3 = $21 for computer balance $2 times 3 = $6 for tire disposal 50 cents * 3 = $1.50 for ohio excise tax
sub total = $283.50 plus sales tax 6.5% total = $301.80
I couldn't see buying 4 new michelins of the same size for over $400... or change to a different size than 205-60-16..when i could just buy 3 new potenzas and put my never-used spare to work for me.... ; if i find that i screwed up somewhere down the road by going these cheapskate route, i'll let you know. if i can get another 30000 miles on these new set of tires, that'll put me up to 60,000 on the solara and i'll be ready for a new car by then anyway. i'll make sure i rotate this set every 10000 miles (instead of waiting until 20000+).
99 V6 5 speed Fairway Green SE (with Dwight Yoakam in the JBL in-dash CD)
I'm looking for information about the compatibility between the A541E auto tranny and the rest of the A540 series. Raybestos has one part they specifically list for the A541E but many other clutches for the A540. would they fit in my tranny?
i own a 2001 silver solara and its great but this car is lacking something very big....aftermarket parts! i've searched high and low and there is basically nothing out besides the TRD parts. while the trd [non-permissible content removed] is nice, i need a bigger vareity....has anyone installed and parts on their car yet??
also, would anyone know if an aftermarket air filter for a different car would fit in the solara??
If you are looking for aftermarket parts for Solara goto www.camryman.org and post a message in the forum. If you are looking for aftermarket filter there's the K&N filter charger for the Solara or if you prefer cold air intake there's a few out there for it. Besides that, Mufflers, carbon fiber hoods, interior modifications, and mostly, TRD superchargers and suspensions for starter.
One of the advantages of owning a Solar is that you don't meet yourself every time your drive down the street. I bought mine in Rochester NH this past November and I have yet to see another one in the area as compared to the Camry that are all over the place. as I have a 2000 and have no problem with steering deviation.
Comments
Glad your problem has been resolved with your Solara. Can you tell me what was done to resolve the problem?
Thanks- PNC
are you saying the dealer cannot duplicate the pulling to the left? OR
are you saying the dealer can duplicate it, but can't (or won't) fix it??
The add-on wood dash parts from www.exoticwooddash.com do not look exactly like factory parts, since they are added on the top of the existing parts, but they also do NOT look cheesy, especially if you do not over do it. The match to the factory wood is really close, and no one has ever thought that my added trim was not factory. Us picky ones are the only ones that would know.
As far as I can tell, it is not possible to remove the parts without leaving a huge, unfixable mess. It is possible there are some solvents that would work, but they may damage the plastic as well. Hey - it looks good, and will be there when I sell the car.
You can always order the kit, and look at it for a while, as I did, before taking the plunge. Take a LONG time and be careful. The 3M adhesive sticks instantly and forever. It will look great for the life of your car.
There is no way a 90W bulb can only draw a "stock" 55W. The harness does not control the power to the bulbs. If they are 90W bulbs, than they are trying to draw 90W, up to the limit of your wiring system to supply it. If they are not bright because of wiring issues, the extra power is being dissipated in your wiring harness as HEAT, just like an overloaded extension cord in your home. 90W is nearly double the stock wattage, so you should feel the wiring with your hand after the lights have been on for a while. If the wires are warm or hot, you should hold off on the bulbs until you replace the harness. There may also be a relay that should be upgraded for higher capacity.
Also - just in case you are ever stopped - such bulbs may not be legal for street use in your state, and you might get ticketed for them.
The beauty (or lack thereof) of the wood dash is in the eye of the beholder. Some people like the looks of them and some people hate them. One thing is for sure, there is no real wood in the Solara, so if you want some real stuff, you will have to add it yourself. I bought the complete kit from www.exoticwooddash.com last year when I got my Solara. I installed all the pieces except for the cup holders and ignition switch pieces. I love the look and I think it makes the car look classy.
I took lots of pictures when I first got my Solara last year and I put them on a website. I went overboard with the pictures, but it was new and I was in love with it (still am). If anyone is considering adding the dash kit, please take a look and you decide if it's right for you.
If you do decide to add one of these kits, they are PERMANENT! Once you stick them on, that's it. You should test every single piece for fit and finish and make absolutely sure they are aligned before you stick them on. Don't whine about it looking cheesy a week later. It's up to you to decide if you can live with it. I think the match is almost perfect and it would take a real sharp person to tell the difference between the stock plastic wood trim and the real thing.
Here's a link to my pictures:
Hope this helps you decide.
Incidentally, I've never had any problem on-center with any of the Solaras I've driven, so it sounds like an anomoly.
the bullet and buy the complete kit.....As they said, you only go this
way once...
Jrays...thanks for the pic...Nice looking and great looking car!!!!!
If anybody wants to see the choices, you can go to any of the Southeastern dealership websites. I believe you can "build" a Solara there and see the different color combinations. At the 2000 Atlanta car show, they had a Red Flame/Silver Fawn Solara right inside the door as you walk in. It was the first car everyone saw, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have that color combination. The two-tone paint job is not for everyone, but most people like it.
do you have to use the same wattage?
brian
Note: the higher the Revs/mile, the smaller the overall diameter of the tire.
205/60HR16 - 785 Revs/Mile -- original size
215/60HR16 - 771 Revs/Mile -- fit fine, you can't go any taller without rubbing the strut tower
225/60HR16 - 757 Revs/Mile -- rub on strut tower
205/55HR16 - 810 Revs/Mile -- can you say 'funny looking'??
215/55HR16 - 796 Revs/Mile -- still to short to look good
225/55HR16 - 783 Revs/Mile -- too wide for 16x6 wheels, rub on fender @ the local pothole(s)
Size Calculator
Enjoy...
Note: the higher the Revs/mile, the smaller the overall diameter of the tire.
205/60HR16 - 785 Revs/Mile -- original size
215/60HR16 - 771 Revs/Mile -- fit fine, you can't go any taller without rubbing the strut tower
225/60HR16 - 757 Revs/Mile -- rub on strut tower
205/55HR16 - 810 Revs/Mile -- can you say 'funny looking'??
215/55HR16 - 796 Revs/Mile -- still to short to look good
225/55HR16 - 783 Revs/Mile -- too wide for 16x6 wheels, rub on fender @ the local pothole(s)
Size Calculator
Enjoy...
ral - asside from what cliffy wrote, the Bridgestone tires just plain suck and I would never pay actual green dollars for even one of them. Sure they were quiet, but wore 2x faster than any other tire I have ever owned - and - they runout in corners, spin under acceleration, and have absolutely NO snow/rain traction. Pay the $$ for 4 GOOD tires, your $25k car will thank you.
i'll report back when i get the tires and have driven on them a bit, and relate whether i'm a real smart fella, or an idiot like cliffy alleges i very well may be...i'll use the one current tire with the most tread left as my new spare....
Thanks for any responses.
SOLARA1
As far as lightening the mood, thanks. I've been scolded lately by the moderators for a couple of posts that were taken without the needed grain of salt. Somehow, smiles don't seem to come through in writing and that can change the whole meaning of some posts.
Anyway -- make sure the tire pressures are exactly equal; if they are, try adding pressure to the front tire on the side the car pulls toward (if it pulls left, add air to the left front tire), in 2-psi increments. Make sure you go down to the local auto store and get yourself a GOOD tire gauge, too -- and never rely on the integral tire gauge in the service station air hose. if this doesn't work, take your car to an independant tire store and have them check the rims to make sure they aren't bent, the tires to make sure they're not wearing improperly, and if all else fails, have THEM check the alignment.
I agree with Sungirl that it is very annoying, and frankly dangerous at times, to have to keep the steering wheel turned to the right to keep the car straight.
I would really appreciate any suggestions or potential solutions that anyone else has. I want to be a satisfied Solara owner, but I am losing my patience. I promise not to become a big ranter about this in this forum. I am just looking for help.
Thanks
2) have you test drove another solara on the dealer's lot, while yours is in the service area, to see whether that solara pulls?? (do this in case their answer is, heck, all solaras pull)
3) i would advise you contact the attorney general of the state if the following has occurred:
a) the dealer can duplicate the same pulling problem that you describe.
b) you can show that now all solaras have the pulling problem you have.
c) the dealer has had three opportunities to fix the problem, but can't.
you might also look in a phone book, find an ad for an attorney that does not charge for initial consultation, and might specialize in the type of case this might be (product liability/lemon law-- not sure), and run the situation by him or her.
i may give my dealer a call and talk to the service guy who worked on my car-- when i had the tires rotated a few months ago, it pulled, so i took it in and it don't pull at all (they didn't re-rotate the tires as a fix, i know that), and steers straight as can be. maybe i can pass along some info as to what they did.
I will have some pics up on my web site so if you are interested please feel free to visit http://home.cfl.rr.com/poman
Good LUCK!
Poman
99 Black TRD Supercharger Solara with 35,000 fast miles
When inspecting the aligment on my Solara they found that the car is in Toyota's specs and based on my car's specs should favor the right slightly if at all.
It is this companies professional opinion (as it is mine) that my car does have a problem in pulling to the left, but it is not an aligment problem. They could adjust the rear alignment some to attempt to counter the left pull, but they could not guarantee that this would solve my car's problem.
It is also their professional opinion that my Solara's problem is likely related to a problem with the transaxle/drivetrain. They have even offered to speak with a Toyota rep on my behalf to share their independent evaluation.
I am really saddened to think of all the time I have wasted trying to get someone at Toyota to fix this problem, and the only progress made by Toyota is that they agree my car pulls to the left, but it must be a road crown problem since the aligment is in specs. I highly suggest that anyone with a pull problem visit a 3rd party alignment specialist and take their documentation back to your dealership.
Hehe don't panic! Why do I want to take it to the dealer again for something they couldn't do a damn thing about it? The increment is small enough not to make a difference on the tire wear. If you don't believe that, then most of you here with the car pulling to the left would have tire wear problem. My tires are wearing just fine. The car drives straight on the straight roads for me and I'm happy about it for now. You guys can file the complain and I'll wait for the actual correction meanwhile.
I've been following this tread about the Solara pulling to the left regardless of the road surface. I have had my 2K SLE V6 for over 9 months and there has been no 'pulling/drifting' with my vehicle. I have the Michelin MXV4 Plus tires with about 16.7K miles. On several occasions I have let go of the wheel and the car remains reasonably straight for a few seconds, then begins to wander a bit to the left - no pulling is evident. I keep the tires inflated to about 34psi in front, and 32psi in the rear.
I am wondering if I'm the only Solara owner that doesn't have this problem. BTW - I also had a 1999 SLE V6 that did not pull/drift either. This car had the Bridgestone tires.
Maybe the roads here in Virgina are smoother/flatter than in other parts of the country.
2K SLE V6 - Silverstream - still smooth & creamy!
all told, the bill came to:
$85 times 3 = $255 for the tires
$7 times 3 = $21 for computer balance
$2 times 3 = $6 for tire disposal
50 cents * 3 = $1.50 for ohio excise tax
sub total = $283.50
plus sales tax 6.5%
total = $301.80
I couldn't see buying 4 new michelins of the same size for over $400... or change to a different size than 205-60-16..when i could just buy 3 new potenzas and put my never-used spare to work for me.... ; if i find that i screwed up somewhere down the road by going these cheapskate route, i'll let you know. if i can get another 30000 miles on these new set of tires, that'll put me up to 60,000 on the solara and i'll be ready for a new car by then anyway. i'll make sure i rotate this set every 10000 miles (instead of waiting until 20000+).
99 V6 5 speed Fairway Green SE (with Dwight Yoakam in the JBL in-dash CD)
also, would anyone know if an aftermarket air filter for a different car would fit in the solara??
If you are looking for aftermarket parts for Solara goto www.camryman.org and post a message in the forum. If you are looking for aftermarket filter there's the K&N filter charger for the Solara or if you prefer cold air intake there's a few out there for it. Besides that, Mufflers, carbon fiber hoods, interior modifications, and mostly, TRD superchargers and suspensions for starter.
every time your drive down the street. I bought mine in Rochester NH
this past November and I have yet to see another one in the area as
compared to the Camry that are all over the place. as I have a 2000
and have no problem with steering deviation.