Newbie needs help

[bigbrother?]

Someone tried to steal my car and bent the steering column. I had the dealer replace it. When I picked up the car, the steering wheel was turned slightly and the steering was too tight. I took it back and they redid the spring. Now the wheel is turned more then the first time. I took it back to the dealer and was told that "the alignment must be off because the steering wheel can only go on one way". With my hands off the steering wheel the car tracks straight and I know that the alignment was perfect prior to the work being done. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

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[h22avid]

My car is alligned but the steering wheel is turned to the right. the wheel being turned does not affect the allignment but it has everything to do with the allignment if that makes sence....

When a car gets alligned they are supposed to set the wheel straight and prop it there with a rod which holds it straight while the car is being alligned.

You can still allign the car with the wheel turned and be perfectly fine... it's more of an appearance issue than a performance issue.... but to get your wheel straight again, you will have to have an allignment done while the wheel is in the straight position.

[hondatech]

Sounds fishy to me, was the insurance company paying for the repair? if so, complain, complain anyways, if it wasn't off center before the repair, they need to fix it. Tell them you will go to the BAR and complain if they do not fix it. Please post the name of the dealership so we can avoid them like the plague.