Steering Issues - 2013

[moose_head]

Anyone know if Audi's official fix is disabling the DSR or are they fixing the DSR feature to make it work properly?

Because, even though I don't completely understand what value this DSR adds, I feel like I want all the features the car comes with!

[audibmi]

Background:

I was one of the first batch of 2013 S4's (05/12 build date). Never had any issues with steering until I got this error message on the DIS and even then it drove fine:



They replaced the steering rack with 8K1-423-055-AC steering module along with 18 various nuts and bolts. I'm probably one of few first batch *Canadian* spec cars to have the updated rack as Audi Canada did not automatically authorize steering rack replacement to correct the notichiness issue.

After the steering rack was replaced, I noticed the steering became lighter and the dreaded slipping kicked in.
I unchecked the DSR as per dollardoctor recommended fix, and the steering firmed up a bit but at the expense of the ABS fault code.

Well today, I got the software update and I am happy to report the steering has firmed up, no slipping, and best of all no ABS fault code. Note that fix keeps the DSR checked and activated.





My VCDS scans also show differences in the Part No SW revisions:

When car was new with the old rack, software version was D
With the new rack installed, software version was E
With today's latest software revision, it changed to F

Old Rack:
Address 44: Steering Assist (J500) Labels: None
Part No SW: 8K0 909 144 D HW: 8K0 909 144 B
Component: RCEPS H36 0505
Revision: 00001000 Serial number: 0022530856
Coding: 100000010001
Shop #: WSC 06324 000 00000
ASAM Dataset: EV_RCEPSAU48X 005010
ROD: EV_RCEPSAU48X.rod
VCID: 32600A326534409

New rack:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 44: Steering Assist (J500) Labels: 8K0-909-144.clb
Part No SW: 8K0 909 144 E HW: 8K0 909 144 B
Component: RCEPS H37 0506
Revision: 00001000 Serial number: 0011133344
Coding: 100000010001
Shop #: WSC 91445 999 100729
ASAM Dataset: EV_RCEPSAU48X 006012
ROD: EV_RCEPSAU48X.rod
VCID: 336E0F369A89C880ECE

No fault code found.


New rack with new software:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 44: Steering Assist (J500) Labels: 8K0-909-144.clb
Part No SW: 8K0 909 144 F HW: 8K0 909 144 B
Component: RCEPS H37 0507
Revision: 00001000 Serial number: 0011133344
Coding: 100000010001
Shop #: WSC 91445 999 10072
ASAM Dataset: EV_RCEPSAU48X 008014
ROD: EV_RCEPSAU48X.rod
VCID: 346C0C2A9F87CFB8F43

[rs4dreams]

Background:

They replaced the steering rack with 8K1-423-055-AC steering module along with 18 various nuts and bolts. I'm probably one of few first batch *Canadian* spec cars to have the updated rack as Audi Canada did not automatically authorize steering rack replacement to correct the notichiness issue.

After the steering rack was replaced, I noticed the steering became lighter and the dreaded slipping kicked in.
I unchecked the DSR as per dollardoctor recommended fix, and the steering firmed up a bit but at the expense of the ABS fault code.

Well today, I got the software update and I am happy to report the steering has firmed up, no slipping, and best of all no ABS fault code. Note that fix keeps the DSR checked and activated.

Just want to clarify: are you saying that you were experiencing slipping even with the DSR fix and now it's firmed up? How would you describe the difference between DSR off pre-update and post-update?

[audibmi]

Just want to clarify: are you saying that you were experiencing slipping even with the DSR fix and now it's firmed up? How would you describe the difference between DSR off pre-update and post-update?

to clarify:
1. old rack, steering was fine, no slipping, no notchines.
2. got error message in driver info display that steering was defective.
3. due to error message, audi replaced a new rack, in my experience, steering felt lighter than before, and slipping gradually got more noticeable and worsened.
4. to correct for slipping, I unchecked DSR using vagcom (VCDS), slipping not as noticeable, but steering still felt lighter than the first day I got the car. Got the ABS fault code with DSR checked off which I wasn't happy about.
5. got the official audi steering software update (RVU 48K8) on august 24. noticeable increase in the weight of the steering both in comfort and dynamic mode. DSR is left checked on with this update, which eliminates the ABS fault code.

the new software update from audi appears to have eliminated the slipping while adding a bit of weight in both comfort and dynamic mode. I have tested on both city and highways the last few days for extended drives and confirm it's not just the placebo effect from the first day I got the software update.

[rs4dreams]

to clarify:
1. old rack, steering was fine, no slipping, no notchines.
2. got error message in driver info display that steering was defective.
3. due to error message, audi replaced a new rack, in my experience, steering felt lighter than before, and slipping gradually got more noticeable and worsened.
4. to correct for slipping, I unchecked DSR using vagcom (VCDS), slipping not as noticeable, but steering still felt lighter than the first day I got the car. Got the ABS fault code with DSR checked off which I wasn't happy about.
5. got the official audi steering software update (RVU 48K8) on august 24. noticeable increase in the weight of the steering both in comfort and dynamic mode. DSR is left checked on with this update, which eliminates the ABS fault code.

the new software update from audi appears to have eliminated the slipping while adding a bit of weight in both comfort and dynamic mode. I have tested on both city and highways the last few days for extended drives and confirm it's not just the placebo effect from the first day I got the software update.

Great, thanks for the detailed response. I don't have a new rack yet so my experience may be slightly different.

[Bronx Cheer]

Background:

I was one of the first batch of 2013 S4's (05/12 build date). Never had any issues with steering until I got this error message on the DIS and even then it drove fine:

...SNIP...

Well today, I got the software update and I am happy to report the steering has firmed up, no slipping, and best of all no ABS fault code. Note that fix keeps the DSR checked and activated.

Excellent news, Audibmi. US cannot be that far behind Canada.

Here is some update on my 2013 S4, build date Oct 2012, delivery in April 2013 (I bought it as a dealer transfer).

I had the slip at purchase, and noticed occasionally some dead feeling at center. This really ticked me off, as I was coming from an M3 with pristine steering and the cars I test drove seemed to have much better steering. At about 3k miles I started getting a notchiness at 12 o'clock, which came and went. In short, I was starting to get a bit of buyer's remorse about the car.

At 5k service in July, I complained about the steering and mentioned both the notchiness (presumably steering rack) and floaty/slip (presumably software) issues. The tech was understanding about it and handed me my car back saying that they indeed could reproduce the problem, that the problem was not a safety issue (yeah, right!), and that they were waiting for an official fix from AOA. I also got told by the lead tech that he had seen a bunch of cars with the problem and that my car had it as bad as any he had come across. This made me feel OK as I feared that I would get the dreaded "tech could not reproduce" diagnosis and be stuck with the cycle of having to try and get somebody to ride with me on a day when it was really acting up. I left generally happy with my level of service since I was told they would get back to me as soon as they heard from AOA.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago, I got a call from my tech to bring my car in for a rack replacement. I dropped it off that day, got my loaner, and was back in my car within 48 hours. I asked expressly about whether they applied a software fix and the tech stated no, and stated that according to his understanding one was not necessary (this concerned me a bit). My ticket lists only a warranty rack replacement with no mention of software flash or recoding.

I can report that the notchiness is completely gone, and that the steering feedback seems less floaty. All told, the car is much improved and now feels like a sporty sedan instead of my grandad's old Caddy. The steering is still not nearly as confidence inspiring as the M3, but I don't know if that is because I still have not applied the software fix or if, simply, that is because of the inherent nature of the cars I am comparing. I also have not had any noticable instances of slip, but I also have not been driving much since the fix (summer travels, etc.) and that problem always was something that appeared maybe once a month.

If anyone has VAG com in the Washington DC (NOVA) areas let me know and I would be happy to let you run a scan and see if they upgraded my software, disabled DSR, or if I am still running an older version with DSR enabled.

Thanks to all for this mega-thread - it has been helpful.

[Celiot29]

Excellent news, Audibmi. US cannot be that far behind Canada.

Here is some update on my 2013 S4, build date Oct 2012, delivery in April 2013 (I bought it as a dealer transfer).

I had the slip at purchase, and noticed occasionally some dead feeling at center. This really ticked me off, as I was coming from an M3 with pristine steering and the cars I test drove seemed to have much better steering. At about 3k miles I started getting a notchiness at 12 o'clock, which came and went. In short, I was starting to get a bit of buyer's remorse about the car.

At 5k service in July, I complained about the steering and mentioned both the notchiness (presumably steering rack) and floaty/slip (presumably software) issues. The tech was understanding about it and handed me my car back saying that they indeed could reproduce the problem, that the problem was not a safety issue (yeah, right!), and that they were waiting for an official fix from AOA. I also got told by the lead tech that he had seen a bunch of cars with the problem and that my car had it as bad as any he had come across. This made me feel OK as I feared that I would get the dreaded "tech could not reproduce" diagnosis and be stuck with the cycle of having to try and get somebody to ride with me on a day when it was really acting up. I left generally happy with my level of service since I was told they would get back to me as soon as they heard from AOA.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago, I got a call from my tech to bring my car in for a rack replacement. I dropped it off that day, got my loaner, and was back in my car within 48 hours. I asked expressly about whether they applied a software fix and the tech stated no, and stated that according to his understanding one was not necessary (this concerned me a bit). My ticket lists only a warranty rack replacement with no mention of software flash or recoding.

I can report that the notchiness is completely gone, and that the steering feedback seems less floaty. All told, the car is much improved and now feels like a sporty sedan instead of my grandad's old Caddy. The steering is still not nearly as confidence inspiring as the M3, but I don't know if that is because I still have not applied the software fix or if, simply, that is because of the inherent nature of the cars I am comparing. I also have not had any noticable instances of slip, but I also have not been driving much since the fix (summer travels, etc.) and that problem always was something that appeared maybe once a month.

If anyone has VAG com in the Washington DC (NOVA) areas let me know and I would be happy to let you run a scan and see if they upgraded my software, disabled DSR, or if I am still running an older version with DSR enabled.

Thanks to all for this mega-thread - it has been helpful.

The software update resulted in more weight to the steering and of course no more notchy slipping, get it done for sure