Avensis Unstable At Speed

[Nitin]

wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction.

I have an Avensis T4 for about 4 months now and apart from the usual rattle noises which seem to have affected a lot of Avensis drivers, I have noticed that when I drive at speed 70 - 85 mph, the car gets unstable and the steering reacts to the slightest wind which requires me to under or over steer to keep the car in a straight line, more recenty I noticed a sudden kind of grinding noise and the car veers heavy to the right - this lasts for a split second but it is enough to cause me to stop the car and check if there was a problem with the tyres - this situation has now happened on 3 separate occasions and I got so worried that I've booked it in to the Toyota dealer.

Also because I have a 1.8 T4, the steering is electronic, I was wondering whether this may be causing the steering to be lighter than it should be, my understanding was that as the car slowed down it would be lighter and get heavier as the speed increased (active steering).

Any comments / help would be much appreciated

[Norbreck21a]

Hi,

I have a 2004 1.8 T3X also with the electric steering, and the same problem as you. The car can be very twitchy on the motorway.

Someone on this forum suggested increasing the tyre pressures to 38psi, which I did and it was a major improvement. Not perfect but a definate improvement.

To be honest, the steering is the only thing I can really complain about on my car. No rattles, no squeaks, no wind noise, no failing trim. It's been perfect in every way (except the steering) and has averaged 38mpg over the last year as well.

There's a lot of bull talked about the Avensis's "poor" quality build, but I can assure you, having driven most of the it's competitors at work (including the seemingly "perfect" Audi A4), the Avensis is about as good as it get's in my opinion, without going up to the next price bracket.

Just my two pennethworth.

Andrew

[Desmond22]

I can support that Nitin. This is my 2nd Avensis and the build quality is fine. The 03 version did have some nasty little niggles and rattles but they seem to have sorted them out.

The steering on both the 2.0 petrol and diesel is OK - no wandering at all either with the 17" wheels on the 03 model or the 16" wheels I had put on this car. So it sounds as though the answer lies in the 1.8 steering.

[KidKoala]

I'd get the tracking looked at to be safe

[aven_man]

I had this problem also but since increasing tyre pressure have not noticed it since. Did get tracking checked at the time to be safe but it was OK.

[warriorman]

You need to set your tyres to 29 at the most all round unless you carry alot of weight . higher pressures sharpen the steering to much and induce skittish behaviour . I work for toyota and we put 29 in all our avensis . Any higher ruins the ride , increases wet weather wheelspin when pulling off and make sthe car feel skittish and light on the steering .Give this a try before posting back .

Promise it works .

ps it will not make your tyres last any less.

[ben_e71]

You need to set your tyres to 29 at the most all round unless you carry alot  of weight . higher pressures sharpen the steering to much and induce skittish behaviour . I work for toyota and we put 29 in all our avensis . Any higher ruins the ride , increases wet weather wheelspin when pulling off and  make sthe car feel skittish and light on the steering .Give this a try before posting back .

Promise it works .

ps  it will not make your tyres last any less.

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warrior what is that in Bar - would this also be true of my 2001 models? I notice a definite vibe at 80-90mph?

[Matthew_McNally]

that tyre pressure seems too high.

I would suggest getting your wheels / balancing checked - a wobble at a specific speed is usually a out of balance, or buckled wheel.

if the wheels come back ok - get your trakcing and gemometery checked ;)

[Moffmo]

that tyre pressure seems too high.

I would suggest getting your wheels /  balancing checked - a wobble at a specific speed is usually a out of balance, or buckled wheel.

if the wheels come back ok - get your trakcing and gemometery checked ;)

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38 seems alot also, if not dangerous on long journeys

[Avensis wagon]

I've been concerned about this while test driving before buying. Without doubt, the Avensis is pushed around by surface irregularities and can also change direction a degree or two all by itself and when you least expect it -- if you use the tyre pressures recommended in the manual (2.2 bar, 2.4 for loads and very high speeds.)

The mechanics at my dealers are aware of this and use a higher pressure – it’s a well-known fact and a popular forum topic up my way. 2.5 bar +/- 0.2 bar seems recommendable (some use higher, even 2.7/8, but I want just enough, not overkill) and won't make the ride much harder. A digital tyre gauge is also a good idea as this and other cars (e.g. Primera) seem fussy. Certainly does the trick as the Avensis otherwise wanders all over, is unpredictable and demands too much input from the driver in terms of concentration. It really makes a world of difference, different car in terms of handling and such a simple thing. It’s worth remembering that tyre makers may have different recommendations than Toyota – in fact my main dealer had had a manufacture doing tests with the Avensis and they, too, recommended higher pressures for their own tyres with this car.

The electronic steering is great in town but for me too light on the motorway – lack of dead zone and lightness, like the performance with tyre pressures at 2.2 bar, requires a bit much from the driver who wants to sit back on a long ride rather than constantly correct. Only the 1.6 and 1.8 have the electronic PAS (theoretically to save engine power) so I went for a 2.0 litre partly due to the hydraulic PAS. I may have chosen differently if I drove mostly in town.

These were my findings during my rather drawn out purchase – I wanted the Avensis but wouldn’t buy unless I was sure it would drive nicely rather than irritate. My first test drive nearly stopped me there and then because I found it devastatingly bad, but a subsequent drive with higher pressures roped me back in. Four long test drives later, the 2.0 litre with slightly higher than recommended pressures was a reasonably pleasant drive. And so it should be for a brand new car in this class.

It may also help to have your wheel alignment checked/adjusted. Doesn't cost much so if it's fine as it is it doesn't matter.