Horn and MFSW buttons not working

[realstig]

Wondering if there is anybody out there that can understand this weird problem on my 2007 Audi S3...

My horn and buttons on the steering wheel do not work at all, nor do they light up. It seems there is no power to them.
I had it in at Audi today for a service and mentioned it to them, they took it apart and made sure everything was connected properly which it was. Now they want 2 hours labour just to investigate the problem!

On VCDS I remember them saying something like no operating power to the steering control unit.

Background info...
I replaced the MFSW with a FBMFSW about 2 months ago. Everything was plug and play and worked fine. Around 2 weeks ago, my horn stopped working but everything else still functioned. Now, everything has completely packed up.

Any ideas?

 

[@udi A3]

checked fuses? have you scanned with vcds since the failure?

 

[realstig]

I dont have VCDS, however when Audi scanned it they said the errors were not helpful!

Not checked fuses, I dont think there is a particular one for horn and steering controls....

 

[realstig]

Ok I have the error codes...

01426 Control Unit in Steering Wheel - E221
No Signal/No Communication

00588 Airbag Igniter Driver Side - N95
Upper Limit Reached

Any ideas??

 

[realstig]

Any thoughts guys? Audi are charging me £220 just to look at the issue on Friday!

 

[@udi A3]

where did you get the codes from? what module were they in? vcds would tell you a fair bit, audi dont get to see the reason things went bad, they just generally hook u up to the computer and charge you to fix it...

worth plugging vcds in before going there, who plugged you in before?

 

[@udi A3]

a quick read suggests likely a wiring issue to the steering module, the airbag light could be from the faulty slip ring. wiring or blown fuses, retrace your work, check connectors to steering wheel. is there any module in the wheel itself?

 

[@udi A3]

[h=3]01426 - Controls in Steering Wheel (E221): No Signal/Communication[/h] [h=4]Possible Symptoms[/h]

• Multi-Function-Display (MFD) can not be operated

[h=4]Possible Causes[/h]

• Steering Column Control Module Supply Voltage insufficient
• Fuse(s) faulty
• Wiring/Connectors from/to Steering Wheel Controls faulty

[h=4]Possible Solutions[/h]

• Check Steering Column Control Module Supply Voltage
• Check Fuse(s)
• Check Wiring/Connectors from/to Steering Wheel Controls

[h=4]Special Notes[/h]

• When found in VW Golf/Jetta (1K): Steering Column Control Module
  • Check Fuse(s) SB2 (E-Box Low) or SB16 (E-Box High) in the Engine Compartment Fuse Box.
  • Check Connector T5k on the Steering Wheel Controls

[h=2]00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N95)[/h] [h=3]00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N95): Resistance too Low[/h] [h=3]00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N95): Resistance too High[/h] [h=3]00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N95): Upper Limit Exceeded[/h] [h=3]00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N95): Lower Limit Exceeded[/h] [h=3]00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver side (N95): Short to positive[/h] [h=3]00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver side (N95): Short to ground[/h] [h=4]Possible Symptoms[/h]

• Airbag Warning Light active

[h=4]Possible Causes[/h]

• Wiring from/to Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N95) faulty
• Coil Spring with Slip Ring (F138) faulty
• Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N95) faulty

[h=4]Possible Solutions[/h]

• Check Wiring from/to Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N95)
• Check Coil Spring with Slip Ring (F138)
• Check Airbag Igniter Driver Side (N95)

[h=4]Special Notes[/h]

• When "Short to positive" or "Short to ground" is found, DO NOT CLEAR THE DTC. This can cause the airbag to deploy. See repair manual for more information.

 

[@udi A3]

As its now clear the FBMFSW was working for a while before failing, im going to say steering wheel module failure or blown fuse. VCDS will narrow down to this if its the case.

 

[NHN]

I would say either you have damaged the slip ring, damaged the wiring inside wheel or not connected it as well as you possibly think as the logs seem to suggest its getting comms with the steering module, just nothing after the slip ring.

£220 seems steep just to look at it, but I suspect parts maybe needed if airbag looms ok.

If not sorted, give us a shout.

 

[realstig]

Thanks for the info...

Audi are saying they 'think' its the slip ring and want permission from me to change it. It's quite an expensive job...

Not sure what to do, don't really want to do it myself because it probably needs calibrating and coding!

 

[@udi A3]

its not that expensive to find a part on ebay, and coding it is easy as is calibration if it needs it.

 

[NHN]

Thanks for the info...

Audi are saying they 'think' its the slip ring and want permission from me to change it. It's quite an expensive job...

Not sure what to do, don't really want to do it myself because it probably needs calibrating and coding!

Well we have stock & we can fix in Manchester if interested & more than likely for less than audi