B6 Passat - Yellow STEERING WHEEL Light!

JHet

Hi Folks,

I have a 2005 B6 passat 68k and noticed a yellow steering wheel light has come on in the dash in the last few days. Bloody thing is only a month and a half out of warranty aswell.

Looked up on the the net and am seeing all sorts of horror stories, from steering rack to steering controls modules all in the region of 1k - 1.5k to fix which is scaring the bejaysus out of me!!! The car is still driving and I haven't noticed any issues with it. The general consenus from what i've read so far is that it is a VW manufacturers fault that they never bothered their arse to recall!

I found another similar thread here from a couple of years ago.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63099641

and then another from a american forum that seems to suggest there was a VW software update in Ireland to fix.

http://www.cars-guide.com/volkswagen-forum/steering-wheel-lock-and-ignition-switch-problem-t4673-15.html

What you reckon I should do?
1. Bring it to local VW garage, they'll likely charge me an arm and a leg just to put it on their diagnostic machine
2. Bring it in for its service and get the mazda lads to have a look and hook it up to their machine.

At this point I just want to see if the machine spits out a fault code. I'll be really p1ssed off if i have to shell out big dough for this as there are thousands and thousands of people out there who have documented the same problem. It sounds very dangerous in some causes where the car has actually shut itself down on busy motorways in high speed traffice.

Any thoughts on how i should proceed would be much appreciated!

Cheer Lads,

Jhet

Nissan doctor

It may be as simple as resetting the steering angle sensor. The correct diagnostics are still needed for this though.

Where are you based?

mickdw

I think alot of these steering faults used to result in a 1500 fix but If I remember correctly, vw now offer components seperately so instead of needing a steering column, you might only need a sensor etc.

You need diagnostic first obviously

JHet

Nissan doctor wrote: »

It may be as simple as resetting the steering angle sensor. The correct diagnostics are still needed for this though.

Where are you based?

Really? Would be a god send if it was. I'm based in Drogheda mate.

mickdw wrote: »

I think alot of these steering faults used to result in a 1500 fix but If I remember correctly, vw now offer components seperately so instead of needing a steering column, you might only need a sensor etc.

You need diagnostic first obviously

I heard something about that alright, that they introduced components that are interchangable with the old one.

Cheers lads

Do-more

I say you should at least ring the service dept. of your local VW dealers and talk to them about it.

I have a 2006 Passat which I bought this time last year, two months after getting it I had an airbag light come on. I had my local VW dealer have a look at it and they ended up replacing the passenger side airbag free of charge think it would have been 300 odd Euro. The car was obviously well out of warranty but did have a full VW service history. It's probably down to how good the service manager is in your local dealership in arguing the case with the importers but they appear not to be entirely callous.

Nissan doctor

JHet wrote: »

Really? Would be a god send if it was. I'm based in Drogheda mate.

It can be that simple, sometimes even if the wheel alignment was badly off at any stage it can cause a fault to be registered with the EPC unit.

Its unlikely that a Mazda garage would have specific vag software unless they have a high end multi brand diagnostic computer.

-Corkie-

Nissan doctor wrote: »

It can be that simple, sometimes even if the wheel alignment was badly off at any stage it can cause a fault to be registered with the EPC unit.

Its unlikely that a Mazda garage would have specific vag software unless they have a high end multi brand diagnostic computer.

Might need a software update either. It sorts a lot of them.

+1 for getting it scanned asap.

Dilbert75

Hope its not like the electro hydraulic power steering on my mother's Skoda Fabia - turn angle sensor has been replaced a few times, still the light is on. They think it might be a wiring loom problem or a rack problem, either of which will be expensive (more than the value of the car possibly). Only effect is low power assistance if you try turn the steering quickly. Not a big deal - has passed NCT with it on the last few times.

lomb

Had this a few times on an 06 golf, yah its the rack probably , been through 2 or 3 of them now I think. 1.5K problem at dealer. The assistance will possibly completely fail in the next week and it go red in which case the car is very very difficult to drive, the wheel being unturnable while stationary.
Ive a new rack waiting in my living room ready to go into the Golf, was 350stg on ebay, looking at 200 labour inc tracking to have it stuck in.
New cars are a complete disaster unless one has the finances to support them, mpg savings and low road tax are basically a con. Any VAG car pre 03 is good, after not so good...
As an aside Audis multitronic is called the multitragic , some owners been through 3 gearboxes within a year, out of warranty the cars are basically worthless, whod want one? Why would VAG release an untested item on the public like that, shows their attitude and trading off their past reputation.

JHet

Do-more wrote: »

I say you should at least ring the service dept. of your local VW dealers and talk to them about it.

I have a 2006 Passat which I bought this time last year, two months after getting it I had an airbag light come on. I had my local VW dealer have a look at it and they ended up replacing the passenger side airbag free of charge think it would have been 300 odd Euro. The car was obviously well out of warranty but did have a full VW service history. It's probably down to how good the service manager is in your local dealership in arguing the case with the importers but they appear not to be entirely callous.

That would be great if they did but unfornunately its 2005 and doesn't have a full VW service history.

Nissan doctor wrote: »

It can be that simple, sometimes even if the wheel alignment was badly off at any stage it can cause a fault to be registered with the EPC unit.

Its unlikely that a Mazda garage would have specific vag software unless they have a high end multi brand diagnostic computer.

That's interesting I did hit a rather large pothole the other day on a twisty backroad. Tracking is still fine though. I wonder if that could cause it to mis align.
I usually bring my car to the local mazda garage (only across road from work) to get it serviced and its due one so I was just going to get them to put it on their machine. Do you reckon I'd be wasting my time bringing it to them?

JHet

-Corkie- wrote: »

Might need a software update either. It sorts a lot of them.

+1 for getting it scanned asap.

It would be fantastic if it was just a software update. Does anyone know what kind of money would charge to put the car on their machine for a diagnostic?


Update:

Western Motors in Drogheda. €86 euro just to put it on their machine to get it diagnosed.
Well I can tell you something there is not a chance in hell I'm giving them that kind of money. Nice to see rip off Ireland is alive and well!!

Moanin

JHet wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I have a 2005 B6 passat 68k and noticed a yellow steering wheel light has come on in the dash in the last few days. Bloody thing is only a month and a half out of warranty aswell.

Looked up on the the net and am seeing all sorts of horror stories, from steering rack to steering controls modules all in the region of 1k - 1.5k to fix which is scaring the bejaysus out of me!!! The car is still driving and I haven't noticed any issues with it. The general consenus from what i've read so far is that it is a VW manufacturers fault that they never bothered their arse to recall!

I found another similar thread here from a couple of years ago.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63099641

and then another from a american forum that seems to suggest there was a VW software update in Ireland to fix.

http://www.cars-guide.com/volkswagen-forum/steering-wheel-lock-and-ignition-switch-problem-t4673-15.html

What you reckon I should do?
1. Bring it to local VW garage, they'll likely charge me an arm and a leg just to put it on their diagnostic machine
2. Bring it in for its service and get the mazda lads to have a look and hook it up to their machine.

At this point I just want to see if the machine spits out a fault code. I'll be really p1ssed off if i have to shell out big dough for this as there are thousands and thousands of people out there who have documented the same problem. It sounds very dangerous in some causes where the car has actually shut itself down on busy motorways in high speed traffice.

Any thoughts on how i should proceed would be much appreciated!

Cheer Lads,

Jhet

Mine was the original post in boards above and I brought it to Commons Road cars here in Navan. They scanned if for free but I had to have the electronic steering column replaced.It was around €480 all in.

Nissan doctor

JHet wrote: »

It would be fantastic if it was just a software update. Does anyone know what kind of money would charge to put the car on their machine for a diagnostic?


Update:

Western Motors in Drogheda. €86 euro just to put it on their machine to get it diagnosed.
Well I can tell you something there is not a chance in hell I'm giving them that kind of money. Nice to see rip off Ireland is alive and well!!

You may be lucky so. Is the light only on since the pothole?

Id be happy to read the fault for about €86 less then western are charging!:P

JHet

Thanks mate

I may well take you up on that offer. I'm bringing it down to a mate tonight who has a machine but he's not sure if it will diagnose my model. He said he'll only know when he plugs it in if it'll read the car. If not may well take a spin down to you. Sounds like you have more knowledge of than VW do!...lol

JHet

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double post

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R.O.R

JHet wrote: »

Thanks mate

I may well take you up on that offer. I'm bringing it down to a mate tonight who has a machine but he's not sure if it will diagnose my model. He said he'll only know when he plugs it in if it'll read the car. If not may well take a spin down to you. Sounds like you have more knowledge of than VW do!...lol

Have you tried Kieran's on the North Road? Authorised VW/Audi/Skoda maintenance and should be cheaper than Western.

JHet

Ok guys,

So quick update. Got my car scanned by my mates dad. Here's the fault codes that came up.

1)
00018 P0012 'A' Camshaft Position (Bank 1) : Timing Over-Retarded

Completely unrelated!

and

2)
00573 Steering torque sender G269

He turned the fault off and said if it comes back on in a few days get it seen to, if it comes on in 6mths just get it turned off again! Inevitably it came back on about a mile into my journey home.

So what do you reckon? Could it still be that the sensor is just misaligned or do you reckon it will need replacing?

Thanks Guys

tossy

Got this from the Ross tech wiki page (the gods of VW group diagnostics)

00573 - Steering Torque Sensor (G269)

00573 - Steering Torque Sensor (G269): Implausible Signal
Possible Symptoms
Steering Assist not working
Possible Causes
Steering Assist Power Supply (Terminal 15) faulty
Wiring/Connectors from/to Steering Torque Sensor (G269) faulty
Steering Torque Sensor (G269) faulty
Possible Solutions
Check Steering Assist Power Supply (Terminal 15)
Check Fuse(s)
Check Wiring/Connectors from/to Steering Torque Sensor (G269)
Check Steering Torque Sensor (G269)

JHet

Cheers.

I also found this document which explains how the steering system works. Quite an impressive piece of engineering, although one does wonder why the hell they made the sensor part of the rack!!! Seems ridiculous!

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_317.pdf

Anyway do you reckon any of those checks would be doable by myself? I reckon the first two might. Dunno bout the rest.

Any advice of how to go about doing this would be much appreciated

Thanks

FrontDoor

JHet wrote: »

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_317.pdf

There really is some great stuff on the net. All sorts of engine guides on that site too.

JHet

So another update. Hopped in the car this morning. Switched it on. Light is off again. ARggghhh!!!!
Drive to work, short journey about 10mins light remains off. So I decide to do a few spins in the office carpark, hard locking it left and right. Light remains off!!!
What the hell is going on? I hate these intermittant faults. Really head wrecking.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00573#Possible_Solutions

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/VW_Golf_(1K)_Steering_Assist#Checking_Steering_Torque_Sensor_.28G269.29

For the craic I also did step 3.1 from the above solutions. I know its from VW Golf but the logic should be transferrable.

Next step is testing the torque sensor but I'd probably need some specialised equipment for that.

Checking Steering Torque Sensor (G269)
Prerequisites:

Ignition ON 
Engine ON (Idle) 
System voltage at least 11.0 V.


[Select]
[44 - Steering Assist]
[Meas. Blocks - 08]
Group 001
[Go!]
Field 2: Steering Torque Sensor (G269)


Turn the Steering Wheel multiple times completely to the left and right. The Torque Values should change.
If the Torque Values do change, it's most likely an intermittent Fault in the Wiring/Connectors.
If the Torque Values do NOT change, the Sensor itself or the Power Supply (Terminal 15) might be faulty.


Group 004
[Go!]
Field 2: Power Supply (Terminal 15), Specification: "Term. 15 ON"
[Done, Go Back]
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

They mention Select [Select] [44 - Steering Assist]. That sounds like a diagnostic machine to me?

To be honest I'm not sure if the car satifies all the prerequisites. i.e the battery may be a little weak. I've been noticing over the last couple of months its been a little harder to start. Alway starts first go but seems to take a couple of extra turns some mornings, maybe 4-5 but no more. Hmm, I wonder if a weak battery could be the cause of the problems. I would have never in my wildest dreams linked the two.

Thoughts?

Moanin

You say the car takes a few extra turns to start. Is that because there's a yellow coil type warning light flashing on the dash. This was the symtom before I had to get the steering column replaced. The car would start but after a few attempts. It eventually got worse and worse.....

JHet

Hey mate. No there is no yellow coil light on. I think it could be that the battery is just weakening and will need replacing soon potentially. I also do very short runs to work and back so there is chance the a battery isn't getting charged enough by the alternator (about 20k in total - 5km to work 5km back home and then I go home for lunch aswell). But in all probability I would say that the battery in the car is the original one and that its getting old and starting to fade. I'll try and get a loan of a multi meter to test it and see what kind of voltage it is giving me. It would seem crazy if that was the problem but hey I've heard of stranger things and it is one of the prerecs of the ross-tech test!

Thanks

Nissan doctor

JHet wrote: »

Hey mate. No there is no yellow coil light on. I think it could be that the battery is just weakening and will need replacing soon potentially. I also do very short runs to work and back so there is chance the a battery isn't getting charged enough by the alternator (about 20k in total - 5km to work 5km back home and then I go home for lunch aswell). But in all probability I would say that the battery in the car is the original one and that its getting old and starting to fade. I'll try and get a loan of a multi meter to test it and see what kind of voltage it is giving me. It would seem crazy if that was the problem but hey I've heard of stranger things and it is one of the prerecs of the ross-tech test!

Thanks

The slow starting could also be down the timing issue that the diagnostics showed up. Is it diesel and have you had the timing done at all?

JHet

Hey mate. Its a petrol. No haven't had it done at all since I bought it in Joe Duffy (Finglas) end of June 2010. As I say she is due a service so I will defo get the timing looked at when I book her in. I don't think that would be too expensive to get done though.....right?

I'm intrigued to find out what you think about the other problem though? What do you reckon about the G269 sensor?

Thanks

everyday taxi

JHet wrote: »

Hey mate. Its a petrol. No haven't had it done at all since I bought it in Joe Duffy (Finglas) end of June 2010. As I say she is due a service so I will defo get the timing looked at when I book her in. I don't think that would be too expensive to get done though.....right?

I'm intrigued to find out what you think about the other problem though? What do you reckon about the G269 sensor?

Thanks

i started a very similar thread just today, only seen this now. my problem slightly different, but try what i tried, only take a minute or two. A vw dealer said this can sometimes reset the steering sensor. worth a shot.

JHet

Hey thanks mate. The light is actually off at the moment. It seems to be an intermittant fault. I don't fancy disconnecting the battery if it means I have to get the key recoded though. Glad to hear you got your car starting anyway! Hopefully the recode is a quick fix.

Cheers

everyday taxi

JHet wrote: »

Hey thanks mate. The light is actually off at the moment. It seems to be an intermittant fault. I don't fancy disconnecting the battery if it means I have to get the key recoded though. Glad to hear you got your car starting anyway! Hopefully the recode is a quick fix.

Cheers

disconnecting battery wont mean a recoding of the key.

JHet

Might give it a go.......light is back on. Arghhh!!!!! Its a really annoying problem. The car is driving spot on.

moonbeam2011

If you hit a large pothole you might have blown your seatbelts - as they are part of the airbag system the airbag light (or steering wheel) light will come on. should only cost you about €40 to get a diagnostic at a VW family garage (skoda, audi etc) - ring them first to get a price - if you are not happy there is a VW garage in Newry (PM me for details) who will do it for about £30 including a free cup of coffee.

If it turns out you need to replace the belts, the module may also need to be reprogrammed but you won't know till you put the belts back in - PM me about this as I know someone in Dundalk who can source belts for you.

JHet

Hey mate, I had a diagnostic. The fault is read as:

00573 - Steering Torque Sensor (G269)

However the light comes on and goes off again intermittantly. I'm currently trying to figure out what to do next to solve the problem.

Nissan doctor

moonbeam2011 wrote: »

If you hit a large pothole you might have blown your seatbelts - as they are part of the airbag system the airbag light (or steering wheel) light will come on. should only cost you about €40 to get a diagnostic at a VW family garage (skoda, audi etc) - ring them first to get a price - if you are not happy there is a VW garage in Newry (PM me for details) who will do it for about £30 including a free cup of coffee.

If it turns out you need to replace the belts, the module may also need to be reprogrammed but you won't know till you put the belts back in - PM me about this as I know someone in Dundalk who can source belts for you.

The steering wheel light has nothing to do with the SRS system.

JHet

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The steering wheel light has nothing to do with the SRS system.

Hey mate, what do you reckon I should do next to try and solve the problem?

Thanks

Nissan doctor

JHet wrote: »

Hey mate, what do you reckon I should do next to try and solve the problem?

Thanks

I think trying the reset/reprograming is next. If that doesn't work or won't complete then at least you'll know that the actual sensor is at fault.

benj

JHet wrote: »

Cheers.

I also found this document which explains how the steering system works. Quite an impressive piece of engineering, although one does wonder why the hell they made the sensor part of the rack!!! Seems ridiculous!

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_317.pdf

Anyway do you reckon any of those checks would be doable by myself? I reckon the first two might. Dunno bout the rest.

Any advice of how to go about doing this would be much appreciated

Thanks

Electric steering is great but it cost me €90 today on a new tyre because
i drove 30 miles last night with a flat and the car seemed stable

conordeman

Hi. I have a 2006 Passat with the same symptoms that everyone else mentioned, i.e. steering column lock faulty and car won't start. I contacted VW Ireland and pointed out this appeared to be a well documented issue. They say there is no recall or upgrade in relation to it here. VW of America stated to me that they have carried out "upgrades" that sorted the issue for free!!!
Has anyone in Ireland or even Europe had this matter successfully addressed? An email from VW Customer Care stated the following:

"As you are aware each Volkswagen vehicle comes with a two-year Manufacturer Warranty. Correctly, after this period expires there is no right for further coverage. Volkswagen do operate a goodwill policy whereby an authorized retailer can make representation to ourselves to determine if there is any sort of goodwill coverage available. These are considered on a case-by-case basis. I can only recommend that the vehicle is diagnosed by a Volkswagen retailer whereby this goodwill application can be submitted"
The dealer in Carlow says they will diagnose it for free IF I get the work done there. It will cost€350 + VAT to change the steering column.

George Dalton

There is an aftermarket diagnostic tool called Autologic that can do the steering column coding on these Passats so if you can find an independent with the VW Autologic package they should be able to sort it for you. The problem is that Autologic is very expensive. I only know of one guy in Ireland who has it. He is in Offaly. PM me if you want his details.

bbability

All joking aside bring it to Kiernans in Drogheda. They are very helpful as I've dealt with them before. They diagnosed an electronic failure I couldn't put my finger on a few years back and didn't charge me a cent. They ran it through on a warranty issue with the wiper motor cover which needed repalcing also did a software upgrade.

Can't praise them enough. Miles ahead of the other agent in that area.