Stiff steering

S

sbchilton

Member
For the past couple of months the steering on my 1.4 TDI SE has been intermittently stiff.
It occasionally feels like there is no power steering when turning sharp corners almost like the car wants to keep going straight on. It is more prominent after breaking sharply so I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the ABS.

Has anyone else experienced this? Or could advise on what might be the cause?

Cheers :)
 
Do you ever get a warning on the dashboard? I've suffered intermittant loss of power steering for ages: first happened after 6 months of ownership (I've had this A2 from new) and it took Audi Stockport about 2 months to fix. The problem returned a few months ago and I finally sorted the issue by replacing an earth in the headlamp wiring loom, as the existing one was not a good earth!.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Hi Mike

There is currently an amber break warning light on the dashboard but I believe that is because the sensor wire has come loose on my recently changed break pads. I couldn't find where to check fluid level for the power steering but I have just read how, I'll check that later today. What else could I check?

Cheers Scott
 
fluid checking

I had the same and found that it was actually the level low on the reservoir (this would account for the cornering and braking making it worse as the fluid sloshes around) Just undo the 2 30torx screws that keep the n/s headlight in and you will see the green filler cap under there. The pump is in it. Check under the car for any leaks from the rack. Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
Skipton01 said:
Do you ever get a warning on the dashboard? I've suffered intermittant loss of power steering for ages: first happened after 6 months of ownership (I've had this A2 from new) and it took Audi Stockport about 2 months to fix. The problem returned a few months ago and I finally sorted the issue by replacing an earth in the headlamp wiring loom, as the existing one was not a good earth!.

Cheers,

Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,
I think to have the same problem, today I got fault codes by VAG but I don't understand if it's a problem of low voltage or a fault pump
Sometimes when the engine is running idle the light comes down and up they seems intermittent end the engine don't run regoular.


4 Faults Found:
01314 - Engine Control Module
49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent
01288 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
07-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
00816 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
36-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
00566 - Steering Assistance Operation
27-10 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent


3 Faults Found:
01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)
49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent
01331 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
49-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
01332 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
49-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent
 
I doubt that the pump is faulty - I've yet to hear of one that is U/S.

As most of the codes relate to wiring, I'd suggest that faulty earths would be your first port of call - check the lower A pillar earths (behind the trim) and then if possible, provide an auxillary earth, as I did, which solved the problem.

The other fault with the J285 is related to a faulty door module and is unrelated.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Skipton01 said:
I doubt that the pump is faulty - I've yet to hear of one that is U/S.

As most of the codes relate to wiring, I'd suggest that faulty earths would be your first port of call - check the lower A pillar earths (behind the trim) and then if possible, provide an auxillary earth, as I did, which solved the problem.

The other fault with the J285 is related to a faulty door module and is unrelated.

Cheers,

Mike
Click to expand...

Thank you Mike!
I have a little problem with my English I am from Rome :eek:

I don't really understrand what component have I to check:
the lower A pillar earths (behind the trim)

Could you explain me what is "A pillar earths"
and "trim"
"earths" is like ground?

Sorry for my poor English
 
"A-Pillar Earth"

By "earth" Mike means the electrical earth wire (terra elletrica?)

The vertical parts of a car Side Frame (lato struttura?) is described A -Pillar, B-pllar, C-pillar etc. from front to back

"A-pillar" is the windscreen side frame from roof down to the bottom of the door opening.

B-pillar is the vertical bar from roof to floor beteen the front and rear side doors door.

C-pillar is the vertical bar behind the rear door.

"Trim" describes the plastic panels of the car interior.

So the A-pillar Earth (wire) is fastened to the aluminium bodywork behind the plastic trim low down in the footwell in front of the drivers or front passengers door. Mike will tell you exactly where to look. I hope this helps.

Sorry for poor Italian translation. I just used an online dictionary to find the words.

Brian
 
Last edited:
A2-BC said:
"A-Pillar Earth"

By "earth" Mike means the electrical earth wire (terra elletrica?)

The vertical parts of a car Side Frame (lato struttura?) is described A -Pillar, B-pllar, C-pillar etc. from front to back

"A-pillar" is the windscreen side frame from roof down to the bottom of the door opening.

B-pillar is the vertical bar from roof to floor beteen the front and rear side doors door.

C-pillar is the vertical bar behind the rear door.

"Trim" describes the plastic panels of the car interior.

So the A-pillar Earth (wire) is fastened to the aluminium bodywork behind the plastic trim low down in the footwell in front of the drivers or front passengers door. Mike will tell you exactly where to look. I hope this helps.

Sorry for poor Italian translation. I just used an online dictionary to find the words.

Brian
Click to expand...

Your italian translation was really good!
I used online dictionary but as you know in English you can use a signle word to say a lot of different things.
So I want to be sure. :eek:

Thank you very much
 
Hi STEP
I had a quick check of the 01314 and 01317 fault codes on the Ross Tech web site - http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Category:Fault_Codes and they are both linked to can bus faults. As the electric power steering pump is activated via road speed and steering angle signals transmitted through the can bus wiring then then its possible the steering pump is not receiving these signals. If the pump is not being told to run at the correct speed then the steering will be heavy.
In addition to checking the earth points as Mike suggested, also check the connector and clean the contacts on this and the steering pump unit. If this does not improve things then its worth checking the can bus wiring.
I've attached some photos of the front A pillar areas with the trim removed which may help identify the (brown) earth connections

Cheers Spike
 
spike said:
Hi STEP
I had a quick check of the 01314 and 01317 fault codes on the Ross Tech web site - http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Category:Fault_Codes and they are both linked to can bus faults. As the electric power steering pump is activated via road speed and steering angle signals transmitted through the can bus wiring then then its possible the steering pump is not receiving these signals. If the pump is not being told to run at the correct speed then the steering will be heavy.
In addition to checking the earth points as Mike suggested, also check the connector and clean the contacts on this and the steering pump unit. If this does not improve things then its worth checking the can bus wiring.
I've attached some photos of the front A pillar areas with the trim removed which may help identify the (brown) earth connections

Cheers Spike
Click to expand...


Thank you Spike!

I don't know If my car has CAN BUS because I bought an AUDI concert II and had some problems.
So as we supposed it can not have CAN BUS:

http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9042

What do you think?
 
All A2s have CAN bus - the early ones just don't have it implemented as infortainment CAN (for the Italian speakers, and others who don't understand, infotainment simply means any CAN signal that is related to the information and entertainment systems, such as showing the radio station in the dashboard). Drive signals, such as turn sensor information and yaw and speed sensors are all transmitted by CAN too.

It's a pain to get to, but remove the connectors on the steerning fluid pump/reservoir (below the headlight and behind the bumper) and check that all the pins are clean and making good contact.

Cheers

Mike
 
Skipton01 said:
All A2s have CAN bus - the early ones just don't have it implemented as infortainment CAN (for the Italian speakers, and others who don't understand, infotainment simply means any CAN signal that is related to the information and entertainment systems, such as showing the radio station in the dashboard). Drive signals, such as turn sensor information and yaw and speed sensors are all transmitted by CAN too.

It's a pain to get to, but remove the connectors on the steerning fluid pump/reservoir (below the headlight and behind the bumper) and check that all the pins are clean and making good contact.

Cheers

Mike
Click to expand...

Thank you Mike!

This week end I'll try to do this little work.
 
There is another bad new!
Often the EPC light turns on!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

If I turn off engine and start again the EPC light turns off.

I will try another scan with VAG.

Will be a serious problem?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top