I have a 2019 Ranger LXT. I only acquired it recently. The truck was in a serious front end crash and the frame repair was less than perfect. When I took it for alignment, it wouldn't align but the steering wheel was straight. After a new Ford rack and pinion was installed, it aligned perfectly but when driving straight the steering wheel is oriented about 60 degrees right of center and the Steering Assist Fault Service Required warning shows on the dashboard. (It can be shut off by hitting the OK button.) My trusted independent mechanic indicated that no replacement or tinkering with the tie rods or the steering column would solve the problem, as it is due to the subframe being bent and its replacement is not economic, and that there is no way to reset the Steering Assist Fault Service Required warning. I read in an Internet blog that in a Ranger you can't just spin the wheel to straight on a flange and be good to do - there is only one way it can be oriented. My mechanic indicated that I will just have to live with the condition, which I'm prepared to do. I have attached a photo of the wheel.


Any thoughts on my problem? Perhaps a local Ford dealer could do something my independent guy couldn't. Thanks, Drek.

 

A crooked steering wheel after alignment is very common. It happens because the person doing the work forgot to lock the wheel straight before doing the work. Take it back and get them to fix it. They just have to back off on the toe adjustment on one side and advance the adjustment on the other side. It has nothing to do with the accident.

 

Yes, that leaves me a little confused as well

Picture of 2019 Ranger rack here: https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/...lMC/s-l640.jpg

Looks to me like there is plenty of adjustment at the tie rod ends to center the tires with steering wheel
Frame damage might make 4-wheel alignment hard, but have that done

 

Thank you nelbur and RonD for replying. I have been referred to a couple shops that can do more sophisticated alignment work than the shop where I had a four-wheel alignment done. Fingers crossed that they can resolve the steering wheel issue. I'll report back.

Drek

 

I took the truck to Simpson Frame & Alignment in Hollywood, which does sophisticated alignment work, which had been recommended by my mechanic. I am happy to report that Jim Simpson got the truck aligned and the steering wheel is perfectly straight. The cost was quite a bit more than the standard, retail alignment I had done that left the steering wheel crooked, but worth it. As to the Power Steering System fault light I have been experiencing, research indicates that the new rack & pinion part that was installed comes with a Power Steering Control Module that requires programming with truck specific data including the VIN. That data was not transferred from the module associated with the rack and pinion that was replaced, so I will need to go to a Ford dealer for the appropriate programming.

 

Glad to hear you got that straighten out (pun intended).
They did that to my 65 Pontiac Catalina years ago and I eneded up just pulling the steering wheel and recentering it, of course you can't do that
on your late model vehicle without a whole lot of trouble and besides right is right and I wasn't worried to much about my old car.