View Full Version : Heated steering wheel not so hot
My S7 heated steering wheel is barely warm. I have to really feel for warmth to convince myself it's working. It's not warm. At best it's "not cold." I took it in for my 5000 MI service and they said it's working fine but I have a hard time believing them. I have another vehicle and two other prior vehicles with heated steering wheels that were really warm, almost hot. It feels great and warms your hands right up. The Audi heated steering wheel doesn't do much of anything for me.
What is everyone's experience with their heated steering wheel?
Can adjustments to the temp be made via vag-com?
Anything I can do to get Audi to look into this further?
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Silverarrow240
12-09-2014, 04:09 PM
Mine warms right up! No question at all if it's working
moosehead1
12-09-2014, 04:13 PM
+1, this vehicle'a heated steering wheel is at best warm vs. other vehicles. That said, I've grown to appreciate it for its long range comfort and ability to keep it turned on rather than use a hotter wheel to warm up and then need to shut it down due to sweaty paws.
My ram truck has better heated steering wheel than my audis (q7 or my last a7). Weird.
veeder
12-09-2014, 05:26 PM
I have noticed if the heated seats are on hi (3 bars) the steering wheel gets warmer. It seems as tho the heat level of the steering wheel matches that of the heated seats.
DNGRTOM
12-09-2014, 06:24 PM
I have noticed if the heated seats are on hi (3 bars) the steering wheel gets warmer. It seems as tho the heat level of the steering wheel matches that of the heated seats.
very interesting
i can't take the seats on 3 bars - but yeah, my steering wheel never gets 'hot' it gets comfortably warm
i don't know what's better; the longevity of a steering wheel that's not cold or HOT so you can use it to warm your hands...that's pretty much what its like - it heats it up just enough so that its not cold to the touch.
mel5151
12-09-2014, 06:42 PM
My ram truck has better heated steering wheel than my audis (q7 or my last a7). Weird.
Funny you say that. I have 4G Ram and that steering wheel gets toasty! The S7 Wheel? Not so much.
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It seems to be thermostatically controlled and dependent on ambient air temp.
I tried it out in the summer when I first got it cause I was curious and was disappointed but now with a few 25 degree days I love it.
It initially gets warm enough, not almost too hot to touch like an old A8 loaner I had once, then it trails off over time, but by then it is no longer a frozen block so it does not matter. It seems some may feel it should be a hand warmer...when I think it is simply to warm the steering wheel so it's less cold to touch.
veeder
12-09-2014, 07:36 PM
Also noticed the steering wheel is much warmer near the buttons for steering wheel controls
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DeerHunter
12-10-2014, 12:20 AM
Also noticed the steering wheel is much warmer near the buttons for steering wheel controls
Which makes sense, since that's where your hands should be.
redmondgold
12-10-2014, 10:02 AM
I have had the same concerns that the steering wheel warms significantly and then seems to just stay "luke-warm". I have taken it to the dealer and they say it is working properly. The tech measures the wheel temperature and it stays at 80 degrees until it is turned off.
The temperature defaults to 28 Celsius and according to several posts it can be changed with the vag-com software/cable. Others have increased it up to 32 Celsius.
Like many, I am very disappointed in the operation of this option.
MileMan402
12-10-2014, 10:35 AM
If you were an engineer would you want to design it so that some people suddenly take their hands off the steering wheel because it's too hot?
I personally think it's perfect. Like someone else mentioned, it seems to be noticeably warmer until the seats automatically drop to "2". I usually turn my steering wheel heating off at that point anyways because I feel like it's no longer necessary.
If it can be adjusted with vag-com does that mean my dealer has the capability to turn the temp up for me? Will dealerships make adjustments by request?
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BlueSVT
12-21-2015, 11:25 AM
Searched this thread because I just rented a Tahoe last week with a heated steering wheel... and it spoiled me.
The wheel was actually "WARM" like I would imagine it should be! Had me thinking my car's was messed up... but I guess not. :(
I really wish it would get a bit warmer. The wheel in the Tahoe would actually warm up your cold hands! The S6 is just warm enough where the wheel isn't cold, maybe slightly warmer. Did anybody ever figure out if the VAG-COM can actually change this?
kenny_l
12-22-2015, 01:05 AM
Mine at times seems borderline too warm. I'm pretty happy with it as is
RRF985
12-22-2015, 02:45 PM
Mine gets pretty hot and quickly. Perhaps yours has an issue, BlueSVT?
BlueSVT
12-22-2015, 04:38 PM
I'll ask regardless... because it just plain sucks. LOL
I have a ram as well and the wheel gets very warm. My s6 wheel only gets slightly warm like you described. Disappointed with it as well.
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Davor_
12-22-2015, 08:44 PM
Yeah mine sucks too, just gets mildly warm.
I don't get what's the problem because I've driven many cars with heated steering wheels and I've never experienced the wheel like ours!
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TheNuke
12-23-2015, 06:29 AM
Yeah mine sucks too, just gets mildly warm.
I don't get what's the problem because I've driven many cars with heated steering wheels and I've never experienced the wheel like ours!
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It sounds like mine is similar to yours. I find myself asking, "Is this thing on?" My other cars with heated steering wheels get nice and toasty. The seats on the other hand, whoa! 3 bars is HOT. Not complaining, it's actually quite nice.
BlueSVT
12-23-2015, 06:35 AM
The seats are another story...
3-bars is HOT, VERY hot.
2-bars is enough to maintain warmth, but you don't really feel like it's hot. This should be the 1-bar setting to me.
1-bar isn't really noticeable. 1-bar should be 2-bars, and 2 should be whats currently about halfway between 2 and 3, to me.
hubris
12-23-2015, 06:49 AM
I would suggest that everyone upset with the temperature does the VAGCOM mod to increase the temperature. It is measured in celsius. If memory serves me correctly, it's under the Steering Wheel main category, adaptations, channel 10, or something like that.
I believe the OEM setting is 29*C. I increased mine 2*, it is VERY noticeable and now the steering wheel is borderline 'too hot' as the wheel in my Cadillac is, so I find myself shutting off the heated steering wheel quicker. I would suggest only increasing 1*C.
BlueSVT
12-23-2015, 07:00 AM
I would suggest that everyone upset with the temperature does the VAGCOM mod to increase the temperature. It is measured in celsius. If memory serves me correctly, it's under the Steering Wheel main category, adaptations, channel 10, or something like that.
I believe the OEM setting is 29*C. I increased mine 2*, it is VERY noticeable and now the steering wheel is borderline 'too hot' as the wheel in my Cadillac is, so I find myself shutting off the heated steering wheel quicker. I would suggest only increasing 1*C.
Sweet... need to try!
ImpartialFocus
12-23-2015, 09:27 AM
Mine heats up, but it is at a lower, comfortable level. When in really cold days, it's noticeable. When in warmer days, obviously it doesn't feel as warm because everything around is nearly the same temp.
Packy
12-23-2015, 07:03 PM
My S6 gets warm in 3 minutes. By then the seat is hot and the heater is strarting to kick in so I turn seat and wheel heaters off. Wheel doesnt get "hot" but plenty warm for 30 degree nights.
I'm OP. Brought my S7 in for repairs. Mice chewed through coolant hose.....all of them have since paid with their lives. My loaner A6 has a wheel that is plenty warm, nothing like my S7. So while in for repairs had service check the steering wheel warmer. They determined the control board is not working properly so it is being replaced. Good news for my hands. Actually surprised after reading these posts as I thought vag-com adjustment would be all that is necessary.
I didn't ordered this steering wheel option on my '16 RS7 because it would have forced me to choose the round wheel,
rather than the flat bottom one. However the dealer told me that the optional heated steering wheel only 'warms-up'
at precise left & right portions (e.g. 9 0'Clock & 3 o'Clock), so its quite specific as to where the heating elements are
located in the steering wheel itself.
I had the heated wheel option previously on a BMW 650i Vert and a MB CL600. They worked quite nicely.
Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel