Steering Issues

CaesarBob

CaesarBob

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Howdo, not been around here much since I took delivery of the A3. But now after 5k anything but trouble free miles, another new fault that the dealer can't find is driving me spare.

The latest gripe is that after a couple of hours motorway driving, the steering becomes very stiff around the dead ahead. Almost like it is overly weighted to the centre of the rack. It becomes evident as a resistance to the very small steering inputs used to maintain a steady lane position on the motorway. As soon as you move on to slower town driving or country roads where steering inputs are more positive it becomes unnoticeable.

I have tried all three Steering settings in the Individual car setup and all display the same behaviour. Tyre pressures are good, the limited tread wear looks even and this is noticeable whether I'm in the inside, middle or outside lanes so it's not just the rutted tarmac from HGVs.

Anyone had similar symptoms and hopefully got a remedy?
 
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Not noticed this, but then again, I do very few motorway journeys over 2 hours.

The 8P steering rack went through several revisions to cure problems :(
 
Not had any such behaviour and this is from seriously long motorway/A road runs (6+ hours), sorry.
 
I had this problem with the electric power steering on my previous Civic Type-R. It was a stock fault and apparently could be cured by having the rack changed. I think I've read similar accounts on here. Worth talking to Audi about it.
 
I have this on mine, minor steering adjustments are jerky on the motorway. I agree very annoying, only last night I was checking the tyre pressures. Not sure what the solution would be, I think my stealer would laugh at me if I booked it in for that.
 
steverobertsbbc said:
I had this problem with the electric power steering on my previous Civic Type-R. It was a stock fault and apparently could be cured by having the rack changed. I think I've read similar accounts on here. Worth talking to Audi about it.
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+1 on this, I have a 2004 Civic and it is an issue on these with the torque sensor sticking and not registering small movements. Have heard that on the Civic the only fix is a new rack and also read some posts on here about it also, think someone had a new rack which cured it.

I hope to god it doesn't happen on my S3 when it comes as that is one of the main reasons I have decided to get rid of the Civic!!
 
I drive my S3 on the motorway for long distances very often, I have also noticed this issue from the day after I picked the car up and drove it from Aberdeen to London for the first time last year. Initially I thought it was me, but after letting my dad have a shot driving up a few weeks back he says he feels the same. I mentioned this to Audi when my car went in for it's first service a couple weeks back, but they said they couldn't find anything wrong at all (I wouldn't expect them to as it only happens after driving for a long while on motorways) As you mentioned though, I do find it weird that the problem only occurs after roughly 2hrs + of driving... I really hope there is a fix, as it drives me crazy! :audibash:
 
Add me to list as well please!

There's a thread on it here, but nothing particularly helpful or hopeful unfortunately :rolleyes:
 
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Well, I'm glad it's not just me!

Mines due for it's fifth dealer trip in 3mths on the 8th Jan when they're looking at this, faulty sat nav that doesn't know where the car is and the B Pillar trim which rattles incessantly In my ear.
 
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I take it this problem only affects a few cars? as I had a 1.4 A3 8v before my S3 and it never had this problem on the long drives that I do... The dealer also said that I was the first person to report this problem into that branch with the 8v model, might try another dealership here down south to see if they might have had any feedback from HQ
 
Thanks veeeight.

Will definitely be pushing Audi to get this satisfactorily resolved given there is quite a lot of evidence out there.
 
I think I'll get it booked in after Christmas. As annoying as it is I don't do mega motorway miles, if I was a sales rep I would of traded it in a long time ago.
 
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Dtwm1 said:
I think I'll get it booked in after Christmas. As annoying as it is I don't do mega motorway miles, if I was a sales rep I would of traded it in a long time ago.
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Sadly, I do a lot of motorway miles and I'm only 2mths into a 48mth contract.
 
Common fault on MQB platform cars, ive had it, so has many others I know. Fixed by replacing the steering rack.
 
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Sadly Audi are not alone and it maybe related to cars that have EPAS. The Ford Focus in America had the exact same issue...
 
I thought I was going mad with this! Somewhat relieved to see others have also noticed. I can assure you that as someone who does a lot of motorway around the country it's annoying as hell! For me it feels as though there's a bit of resistance then when you tweak the steering it almost "slips" past that resistance for a short way, usually meaning it slightly over-compensates. In my previous cars the steering was very heavy on the motorway and the resistance was there all the time. As per the thread title linked above it feels "notchy".

I've tried all the settings for drive select, checked tyre pressures etc. Car has been in for a health check (for something separate) and nothing came back out of there so I can only assume it's something to do with the steeering mechanism.

Do you think if I raise the issue under warranty then even if they can't fix it now, if they do get a fix outside of warranty then it'll still be honoured?
 
Yes, raise it so it is in their records as a fault in your car. Then it'll be recorded as a fault that occurred within the warranty period if the car is outside of it when they find a 'fix'.
 
Been into Cheltehnham Audi today to get it booked it. Firstly they were sure it was tyre pressures but after telling over and over again I'd checked them they have agreed to look at it in the new year. Not really impressed them at all but will update this post once it's been in.

I was also told I can only have a base a1 model due to my age? I'm 22, seems odd that they will happily sell me anything but once it has an issue in the smallest cheapest.
 
Dtwm1 said:
Been into Cheltehnham Audi today to get it booked it. Firstly they were sure it was tyre pressures but after telling over and over again I'd checked them they have agreed to look at it in the new year. Not really impressed them at all but will update this post once it's been in.

I was also told I can only have a base A1 model due to my age? I'm 22, seems odd that they will happily sell me anything but once it has an issue in the smallest cheapest.
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yep sounds like most dealerships I had a massive problem just getting a test drive on an S3 quite a few rude sales managers aswell I just smirk in the knowledge they lost out on sale! so a loan car I guess is going to be more difficult bet the excess they put on you is excessive!!!! you'd think at 22 with 5 years of claim/point free they would start to treat you with a little bit of respect but nope I wounder how many sales Audi loose to potential young adults because of their inability to lend cars/test drives - bet Vauxhall and Ford etc are laughing when they come in! I walked in to one dealership and the sales rep said straight after saying I was looking at A3's that the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol would be right for me .....
 
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rikia93 said:
yep sounds like most dealerships I had a massive problem just getting a test drive on an S3 quite a few rude sales managers aswell I just smirk in the knowledge they lost out on sale! so a loan car I guess is going to be more difficult bet the excess they put on you is excessive!!!! you'd think at 22 with 5 years of claim/point free they would start to treat you with a little bit of respect but nope I wounder how many sales Audi loose to potential young adults because of their inability to lend cars/test drives - bet Vauxhall and Ford etc are laughing when they come in! I walked in to one dealership and the sales rep said straight after saying I was looking at A3's that the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol would be right for me .....
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I couldny agree more, they'd happily bite you're hand off to sell the car but couldnt give a monkeys afterwards or going above and beyond.

It's about time premium brands as a whole took 'young money' more seriously. I imagine a lot of the staff judging you couldnt afford the products you're looking at, particularly true in Harvey Nicks, Selfridges etc.

The guy that booked me in suggested 4 times I should go away and check my tyre pressures and that it could be caused my following 'tram lines' created by a HGV as though you regularly see Eddy Stobart in the outside lane of the m6.
 
Dtwm1 said:
Been into Cheltehnham Audi today to get it booked it. Firstly they were sure it was tyre pressures but after telling over and over again I'd checked them they have agreed to look at it in the new year. Not really impressed them at all but will update this post once it's been in.

I was also told I can only have a base a1 model due to my age? I'm 22, seems odd that they will happily sell me anything but once it has an issue in the smallest cheapest.
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It's their insurance policy that usually stipulates this. When I had my SEAT I was friends with some of the people who worked in service and they said it was simply because their insurance rocketed if they had under 25's driving certain vehicles. I used to have to take an old ibiza diesel until I was old enough to drive something better! :)
 
I think I posted in the other related thread. I had mine booked in around 2 weeks ago. They took it in for two days. They said the tyre pressure was low and that the steering software needed updating. To be fair I haven't noticed it at high speed since, however I have at around 40mph and its not as consistent. It's an annoying issue because it's not always there, and therefore not always there for you to prove it when they test it. I actually noticed after sitting in the car being stationary for around 30 mins (waiting outside for someone shopping) that when I turned the wheel from centre it would make a slight clunk sound as if it was the same problem but when stationary. I didn't like the notes they made on the form they gave me. It said something like tyre pressure low, no fault found. No mention of software update.
 
Just an update, mines been in today. I went out with a technician a couple of junctions up the motorway but it was fine but explained and demonstrated what it was like. He said he hadn't come across that particular but mentioned the 8p was notorious for steering issues but would speak with Audi. I told him what others have had done eg software upgrading anyway I've just had a phone call saying Audi has requested the steering rack be replaced which is being done next week.

Also for those that are interested I was given an a6 saloon ultra auto 190ps SE not a base a1 due to my age as I had been misinformed. I thought it was way underpowered and can't wait to have mine back.
 
Thanks for the update. It's good to know how other people are getting on with this. I haven't really been on the motorway (which is when it would usually happen) but I'll be trying it again soon and I've still noticed it vaguely at lower speed. What dealer is yours with?
 
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stee800 said:
Thanks for the update. It's good to know how other people are getting on with this. I haven't really been on the motorway (which is when it would usually happen) but I'll be trying it again soon and I've still noticed it vaguely at lower speed. What dealer is yours with?
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No problem. It's in with Cheltenham Audi, they were pretty off with me when I booked it in and was sure it was tyre pressures but when I went out I was armed with my research. The service manager said that it was also a known issue with Audi.

Recently I have also noticed it round town, it became even more evident when driving the a6 today and I was compensating for the initial resistance and serving all over the place.

I'll update again once it's been done but it's worth booking in if you have the time.
 
Well when it went in they said they've heard it loads, they basically said the tyre pressure was low on the two front tires and they said they did a software update. I've been meaning to try it properly - only really used it for short drives - so I will do soon and I'll book it in again if necessary. Thanks for the reply.

Dtwm1 said:
No problem. It's in with Cheltenham Audi, they were pretty off with me when I booked it in and was sure it was tyre pressures but when I went out I was armed with my research. The service manager said that it was also a known issue with Audi.

Recently I have also noticed it round town, it became even more evident when driving the a6 today and I was compensating for the initial resistance and serving all over the place.

I'll update again once it's been done but it's worth booking in if you have the time.
Click to expand...
 
Any update of this as I have had mine in for two days now and I am hearing the usual "never heard of this before" response from the dealership who have now been in touch with Audi UK and pretty much the same never heard of it attitude, I don't understand how some of us are getting remedial action and some are not, all I know is the A3 S line loan car I have had for the last few days definitely does not have the issue??
 
@Snowybear mines going in this week for a new steering rack so I can't report whether this is a fix but I'm hopeful.

When I first went in I got a similar responce and were sure it was tyre pressure however I insisted that they had it in to look. On the day I went on a test drive but couldn't replicate the fault as it only happens after 45/60 mins of motorway driving but I did show what it was like when there car veres off but the technician hadn't seen the fault before. When it was in they said it looked okay but after speaking to audi they're replacing the rack.

My car has been with Cheltenham Audi and have been dealing with Ross in service. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the reply Dtwm1 I will post a reply when I have an update!
 
Well just got the car back and apparently all is well, the reason my car does this over the loan car is because it has 19 inch wheels and tyres!!
 
This is really annoying me that they are just happy to fob people off, and it's always the same excuses... I've only ever googled A3 steering issues, however if you Google A4 or A5 etc its a well known problem in a lot of Audis. They are well aware of it judging by what many people have said, and in some cases people don't get fobbed off and they actually try to fix the problem. I'm not sure whether they even actually know what the problem is... Most forums note this steering issue on the A4 or A3 from around March 2013 and it makes you think if Audi actually don't know what the problem is or whether it would be too expensive for them to sort out from production? Either way, the way they're happy to fob people off blaming tyre pressure etc makes me think twice about getting another Audi, because if my next Audi was to have problems, are they going to deal with it like they should? Probably not. And also, I have the same problem as you'll know reading previously and my wheels are 17"
 
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Snowybear said:
Well just got the car back and apparently all is well, the reason my car does this over the loan car is because it has 19 inch wheels and tyres!!
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I'm assuming that these are 19s you fitted rather than OE 19s? If so, seems like a lazy excuse, and an easy way to avoid the problem. Do you still have the original wheels & tyres? If so, I'd refit them and if the problem persists I'd take it back in
 
No these are the OEM ones it came with !! (forgot to mention it is a saloon version)
 
Just an update for you all. I picked mine up today after being in for a few days and it feels better. I have only driven 20 miles back from the dealer but even at low speeds and town driving it felt really good. I'll report back when I've done some motorway driving
 
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