I will be taking the RAV to the tire shop for alignment.

Once this is done I MIGHT recalibrate the sensor using a jumper as mentioned in the document "Brake Control (VSC) BC 1-220.pdf" under the "2006 Repair manual" on JuneBug's profile. Am I right to assume that, if there is no warning light when the car is started, that means that no resetting of sensors is required? Will the warning light disappear if the car is RE-started e.g. mechanic drives the car out of the bay and when I come to check the lights (hours later) the indicator lights might not be there anymore :shrug: Is this what is meant by "Indication of the steering sensor zero point malfunction is canceled by turning the ignition switch OFF"???

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On Page BC-120
DTC C1290/66 Steering Angle Sensor Zero Point Malfunction
DESCRIPTION
The skid control ECU learns the steering sensor zero point every time the ignition switch is turned ON andthe vehicle is driven at 35 km/h (22 mph) or more for approximately 5 seconds. The ECU also stores theprevious zero point.If front wheel alignment or the steering wheel position is adjusted without disconnecting the negativebattery terminal, or if the yaw rate and deceleration sensor zero point is not set after the adjustments havebeen completed, the skid control ECU detects the difference between the previously stored zero point andthe newly learned zero point and outputs this DTC to indicate a poor adjustment.Indication of the steering sensor zero point malfunction is canceled by turning the ignition switch OFF.

DTC No.
C1290/66
DTC Detection Condition
Steering sensor zero point calibration position differs
significantly from recorded value
Trouble Area
• Yaw rate and deceleration sensor zero point calibration incomplete
• Poor adjustment of centered position of steering wheel
• Poor adjustment of front wheel alignment

The tireshop told me that resetting sensors was a dealer service! Glad that we have a manual way to reset those sensors!

 

See http://www.rav4world.com/forums/99-4-3-mechanical/78895-centering-steering-wheel.html and
http://www.rav4world.com/forums/96-4-3-general/77002-steering-wheel-question-new-rav4.html

 

Thanks, like I said, I am getting the alignment done.

I am pretty sure that I will do the sensor zero calibration. It does not seem complicated. But I was wonderning if I should do it if there is no warning light on.

 

In the more recently formatted manual, see "Steering Column\Steering Column SR 1-21.pdf" which is the SR chapter. If the dealer is not the one doing the alignment, you might want to print that out for the people doing the alignment.

Since the misalignment was introduced when you changed the steering wheel, the sensor zero calibration sounds like a good idea to me. I see page SR-1 says

When the steering column assembly or other
steering-related parts have been removed and
either reinstalled or replaced, perform steering
center point adjustment (zero point calibration).

 

Are the factory settings the best settings for alignment? On my Mazda 6, forum members found that factory settings were not ideal and had found better settings.

 

Should I ask to have the steering wheel centered first, according to (1) "Steering Column SR 1-21.pdf" followed by regular alignment as mentioned on (2) "Suspension SP 1-53.pdf"?

I am thinking that (2) should automatically make the steering wheel centered or am I making a wrong assumption?