Honda Car Forum

Hi,

I have a 2005 Civic LX 5 spd. I've found that the car tends to drift
from side ot side at highway speeds and has become very tedious to
drive. Its very sensitive to wind gusts and takes a lot of attention to
keep straight. I just can't settle into a line with it. I've also
noticed a high degree of torque steer under moderate acceleration
(which is all thats possible at 65mph anyway Dealer claims all is
'up to spec' but this is the 4th civic I've owned and by far the least
stable. I'd hate to drive it for more than a couple of hours. Does
this match anyone elses experience with their 2005 civic?

Jim

"Jim" (jim@jpkara.com) writes:
> Hi,
>
> I have a 2005 Civic LX 5 spd. I've found that the car tends to drift
> from side ot side at highway speeds and has become very tedious to
> drive. Its very sensitive to wind gusts and takes a lot of attention to
> keep straight. I just can't settle into a line with it. I've also
> noticed a high degree of torque steer under moderate acceleration
> (which is all thats possible at 65mph anyway Dealer claims all is
> 'up to spec' but this is the 4th civic I've owned and by far the least
> stable. I'd hate to drive it for more than a couple of hours. Does
> this match anyone elses experience with their 2005 civic?
>
> Jim
>


Jim,
Check your tire pressure and make sure it is set to the correct cold
pressure. If the dealer failed to bring the pressure down from the
high pressure used for shipping, the behavior you describe would be
the result.
Dan

(This account is not used for email.)

Dan,

Thanks. I assumed the dealership would have checked that during the 2
service appointments I had for this problem. The pressure was actually
3-5 lbs low so I brought it up to 30lb cold. It didn't solve the
problem but the ride is somewhat better.

Thanks...
Jim

The 05 Civics is not going to be as sure footed as the previous model,
simply because of the suspension design.

Lower profile tires on 7' inch rims will improve highway stability (but be
careful of those ultra performance tires that are sticky enough to pull the
car from it's line...).

Pars

> Dan,
>
> Thanks. I assumed the dealership would have checked that during the 2
> service appointments I had for this problem. The pressure was actually
> 3-5 lbs low so I brought it up to 30lb cold. It didn't solve the
> problem but the ride is somewhat better.
>
> Thanks...
> Jim
>

I investigated the same complaint ('02 Civic Si) in this newsgroup, and by
asking the dealer to do an alignment (not warranty work). The dealer
measured and said it wasn't needed. It has got a little better, or I have
become conditioned to it, or the tires have "worn-in". It could be an issue
caused by the "fly by wire" (electrical, believe it or not) steering of my
particular model, or Honda engineers need to learn more about front
suspension that doesn't use the double wishbone design. See below links for
info. Possibly a little toe-in or positive caster would solve the issue. I
seldom think of it anymore.

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/longtech.htm
http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/
http://www.advancedracing.com/grmart1.html



"Jim" <jim@jpkara.com> wrote in message
news:1113890840.295939.176510@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
| Hi,
|
| I have a 2005 Civic LX 5 spd. I've found that the car tends to drift
| from side ot side at highway speeds and has become very tedious to
| drive. Its very sensitive to wind gusts and takes a lot of attention to
| keep straight. I just can't settle into a line with it. I've also
| noticed a high degree of torque steer under moderate acceleration
| (which is all thats possible at 65mph anyway Dealer claims all is
| 'up to spec' but this is the 4th civic I've owned and by far the least
| stable. I'd hate to drive it for more than a couple of hours. Does
| this match anyone elses experience with their 2005 civic?
|
| Jim
|

Ditto....I had the same problem with my 2003 Civic Si. The electrical power
steering is quite tight and requires more effort to keep it straight. No
steering with one finger, that's for sure. I have gotten used to it though,
and I kind of enjoy the tightness of the steering compared to my daughter's
CRV.

"Lanning" <LanningREMOOVE@THIScox.net> wrote in message
news:MKcae.26101$gV.13342@lakeread02...
> I investigated the same complaint ('02 Civic Si) in this newsgroup, and by
> asking the dealer to do an alignment (not warranty work). The dealer
> measured and said it wasn't needed. It has got a little better, or I have
> become conditioned to it, or the tires have "worn-in". It could be an
issue
> caused by the "fly by wire" (electrical, believe it or not) steering of my
> particular model, or Honda engineers need to learn more about front
> suspension that doesn't use the double wishbone design. See below links
for
> info. Possibly a little toe-in or positive caster would solve the issue. I
> seldom think of it anymore.
>
> http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/longtech.htm
> http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/
> http://www.advancedracing.com/grmart1.html
>
>
>
> "Jim" <jim@jpkara.com> wrote in message
> news:1113890840.295939.176510@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> | Hi,
> |
> | I have a 2005 Civic LX 5 spd. I've found that the car tends to drift
> | from side ot side at highway speeds and has become very tedious to
> | drive. Its very sensitive to wind gusts and takes a lot of attention to
> | keep straight. I just can't settle into a line with it. I've also
> | noticed a high degree of torque steer under moderate acceleration
> | (which is all thats possible at 65mph anyway Dealer claims all is
> | 'up to spec' but this is the 4th civic I've owned and by far the least
> | stable. I'd hate to drive it for more than a couple of hours. Does
> | this match anyone elses experience with their 2005 civic?
> |
> | Jim
> |
>
>

Jim <jim@jpkara.com> wrote:
> Thanks. I assumed the dealership would have checked that during the 2
> service appointments I had for this problem. The pressure was actually
> 3-5 lbs low so I brought it up to 30lb cold. It didn't solve the
> problem but the ride is somewhat better.

Brought it up to 30?
What is the recommended pressure on the door sticker?

My 2003 Civic Hybrid has a recommendation of 30. I run 38. It handles
much better on the windy roads around here. I also have the electric
steering, but I don't think it is too difficult to use, and I can drive
with no hands on the wheel for several hundred yards at freeway speeds.

I think that tires at 25psi would be pretty mushy, and wander around due to
excessive sidewall flex.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

The Acura RSX (fundamentally the same as the Si) steering is of even higher
effort.

"art" <hiking.man@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:Bxzae.130$pc7.70@trndny05...
| Ditto....I had the same problem with my 2003 Civic Si. The electrical
power
| steering is quite tight and requires more effort to keep it straight. No
| steering with one finger, that's for sure. I have gotten used to it
though,
| and I kind of enjoy the tightness of the steering compared to my
daughter's
| CRV.
|
| "Lanning" <LanningREMOOVE@THIScox.net> wrote in message
| news:MKcae.26101$gV.13342@lakeread02...
| > I investigated the same complaint ('02 Civic Si) in this newsgroup, and
by
| > asking the dealer to do an alignment (not warranty work). The dealer
| > measured and said it wasn't needed. It has got a little better, or I
have
| > become conditioned to it, or the tires have "worn-in". It could be an
| issue
| > caused by the "fly by wire" (electrical, believe it or not) steering of
my
| > particular model, or Honda engineers need to learn more about front
| > suspension that doesn't use the double wishbone design. See below links
| for
| > info. Possibly a little toe-in or positive caster would solve the issue.
I
| > seldom think of it anymore.
| >
| > http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/longtech.htm
| > http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/
| > http://www.advancedracing.com/grmart1.html
| >
| >
| >
| > "Jim" <jim@jpkara.com> wrote in message
| > news:1113890840.295939.176510@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
| > | Hi,
| > |
| > | I have a 2005 Civic LX 5 spd. I've found that the car tends to drift
| > | from side ot side at highway speeds and has become very tedious to
| > | drive. Its very sensitive to wind gusts and takes a lot of attention
to
| > | keep straight. I just can't settle into a line with it. I've also
| > | noticed a high degree of torque steer under moderate acceleration
| > | (which is all thats possible at 65mph anyway Dealer claims all is
| > | 'up to spec' but this is the 4th civic I've owned and by far the least
| > | stable. I'd hate to drive it for more than a couple of hours. Does
| > | this match anyone elses experience with their 2005 civic?
| > |
| > | Jim
| > |
| >
| >
|
|