2013 Steering Issues VAG COM Fix?

[SwankPeRFection]

Does brittney work for Audi? I had to ask... lol

[thedollardoctor]

Does brittney work for Audi? I had to ask... lol

Kind of seems like it doesn't it?

[SwankPeRFection]

Kind of seems like it doesn't it?

Well, if she does and she's one of these people that look on the forums to see what concerns/problems people have and internally escalate them for Audi to resolve and implement to ALL clients in the field, more power to her. I actually like it if it was like that. Big companies probably need to work closer to the informed consumer community for the goods that they sell because we are the ones that will find/diagnose/fix issues for them before they even hear about it from the old lady with grandkids driving her A4 Avant 200 miles a year and never notices minuscule stuff. Ya know what I mean?

[Moose201]

I just spoke to my Service Mgr and he says the update was specifically for steering symptoms experienced in freezing temperatures.

[thedollardoctor]

Well, if she does and she's one of these people that look on the forums to see what concerns/problems people have and internally escalate them for Audi to resolve and implement to ALL clients in the field, more power to her. I actually like it if it was like that. Big companies probably need to work closer to the informed consumer community for the goods that they sell because we are the ones that will find/diagnose/fix issues for them before they even hear about it from the old lady with grandkids driving her A4 Avant 200 miles a year and never notices minuscule stuff. Ya know what I mean?

Agreed.

Case in point is THIS thread. Tomaz and I figured out how to fix "the slip" LONG before Audi did and shared that with the community. This frankly saved Audi a lot of headaches and saved a lot of Audi enthusiasts from selling their cars.

[visualguy]

I just spoke to my Service Mgr and he says the update was specifically for steering symptoms experienced in freezing temperatures.

Then this doesn't sound like what people are talking about here which is experienced even in warm temperatures...

By the way, my car which was made in 8/2012 still doesn't exhibit any steering problems. Never fixed, replaced, or updated anything. I put close to 4K miles on it so far. Never drove it in freezing temperatures - maybe that's the reason it's ok!

[brittney]

Does brittney work for Audi? I had to ask... lol

I do work for Audi as a service consultant.

[brittney]

I just spoke to my Service Mgr and he says the update was specifically for steering symptoms experienced in freezing temperatures.

The issue isn't just in cold weather cliamtes, it is happening everywhere.

[thedollardoctor]

I do work for Audi as a service consultant.

Nice of you to come on here and inform everyone that this has been released.

[tomaszp72]

@brittney Now I only wish I had my car serviced at your dealership :):):):)

[brittney]

I know that it has been a hot topic of conversation with the 13's, and everyone has patiently been waiting on the update. I'm also and enthusiast as well, and have experienced the issue in my personal 2013 A5.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to let me know or PM me.

[audibmi]

I know that it has been a hot topic of conversation with the 13's, and everyone has patiently been waiting on the update. I'm also and enthusiast as well, and have experienced the issue in my personal 2013 A5.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to let me know or PM me.

Is there a TSB number associated with this software update that we can reference in case our "local" dealership" staff are not as well informed? thx!

[rs4dreams]

I know that it has been a hot topic of conversation with the 13's, and everyone has patiently been waiting on the update. I'm also and enthusiast as well, and have experienced the issue in my personal 2013 A5.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to let me know or PM me.

Are you aware if Audi working on the fix for the vague/overboosted/inconsistent on-center feel that many of us here refer to as the "slip" issue? We have found that disabling DSR (Driver Steering Recommendation) in VCDS has mitigated the issue but it would be interesting to know about an official fix.

Also, do you know any more details about what exactly changes with this fix? I've had the "notchiness" problem several times that this is supposed to address but would like to know more before I get this update.

[Gromit]

The issue isn't just in cold weather cliamtes, it is happening everywhere.

Two things: First, kudos to brittney for not only monitoring these boards but speaking up and providing useful information. Also nice to see that you've done some mods to your S5.

Second, I have not experienced this issue, but I'm interested in ANYTHING that will give me tighter steering and more road feel. Based on that, what are opinions as to whether I should go in for the update? I know dollardoc will advise me to uncheck DSR and stay the hell away from a software update. But I'm curious what brittney and others think. I guess the best answer will be available once people report back on how their car feels after the software update.

I should add that I have only 2k miles on my '13 S4. Many work and personal things have severely limited my time and attention to my car.

[brittney]

Are you aware if Audi working on the fix for the vague/overboosted/inconsistent on-center feel that many of us here refer to as the "slip" issue? We have found that disabling DSR (Driver Steering Recommendation) in VCDS has mitigated the issue but it would be interesting to know about an official fix.

Also, do you know any more details about what exactly changes with this fix? I've had the "notchiness" problem several times that this is supposed to address but would like to know more before I get this update.

I'm not really sure of the overboost/incosistent feel that people are experiencing. The only issue that I can think of is that this is just how it is designed. If you can do the VCDS coding and it elimintates it, than I would suggest to leave it as is. IMHO, i think a lot of it is just due to electric instead of hydraulic steerng. I know that on a personal level with my A5, that I dislike the EPS, but it is what it is. It is all due to goverment regualtions/efficiency, etc......

[brittney]

Install the Alu Krez and it should help.... Or at least that is what the general consensus is. I'm going to order mine soon. I just want to get my coils/control arms first.

[brittney]

48K8 RVU.

[Roy34]

Here's something to try: "After starting car, turn steering wheel left and right all the way to the stops before driving off." Not sure if it calibrates steering or resets it, and yes, kind of a hassle to do each time, but I swear it improved mine.

[brittney]

Here's something to try: "After starting car, turn steering wheel left and right all the way to the stops before driving off." Not sure if it calibrates steering or resets it, and yes, kind of a hassle to do each time, but I swear it improved mine.

This does help for the when you get the wandering feel that the update is for. I've recommended that to a lot of my clients, and it does seem to help.
I'm going to get the update done on my car this afternoon and see if it helps the wandering issue. It is just so incosisntent that it will take a little while to see if it helps.

[gendry]

You might consider unchecking vagcom box first and seeing what you think of this before doing official update. It might be useful to compare. Also, this change tightens the steering (not more feedback, just tighter) and you might like it.

This does help for the when you get the wandering feel that the update is for. I've recommended that to a lot of my clients, and it does seem to help.
I'm going to get the update done on my car this afternoon and see if it helps the wandering issue. It is just so incosisntent that it will take a little while to see if it helps.

[brittney]

I've tried to do it with our scan tools and it won't let me.

I need to get a VAG com, to try this.

[Moose201]

The issue isn't just in cold weather cliamtes, it is happening everywhere.

I agree, I'm just passing on what he said. Have you read the bulletin and does it somehow reference cold climates?

****Never mind, just got my answer in the other post.****

[CharlieG]

Then this doesn't sound like what people are talking about here which is experienced even in warm temperatures...

By the way, my car which was made in 8/2012 still doesn't exhibit any steering problems. Never fixed, replaced, or updated anything. I put close to 4K miles on it so far. Never drove it in freezing temperatures - maybe that's the reason it's ok!

Mine was built 9/2012 and thus far has not exhibited anything more than a brief inconsistency in steering feel (4300 miles now). My car has experienced freezing temperatures though so that's not necessarily a factor here. I have not bothered to change any settings because I have yet to experience anything like what some people have reported here.

[Silica666]

This could be the same update I received in the UK 7-8 weeks ago, after this update the steering was a lot firmer, maybe too firm.

I returned from working away for a month and the steering felt better, then a week or so ago it had a bad day, 3 notchiness episodes and a bit of slippage and tram lining which I reported to my local tech, bizarrely since this the steering has felt the best it ever has???

My local tech called me today saying there was a further update, so I have no idea what this could be???

Anyway my BMW is on order, I have ran out of patience and I'm giving audi a break until this steering issue is put to bed, which is a shame as I was looking to order an S5 sportback.

[mattchat]

It's out in Canada as well, I just called in and scheduled mine.

[Fringe]

I'm so glad they release this the day after I pick my car up which sat at the Audi dealership for two weeks and which still has the problem. :/

[GC001]

Is the notcheness sensation the same as what I experience when turning the wheel on full lock doing slow speed driving or U turns?

Feels like the front wheels are dragging.

Did the Vag Com mod and unchecked steering recommendation and it feels much much better on a Sept '12 car.

[timmyinpajamas]

Guestlinger thank you!!!! I kept getting errors trying to deselect dsr and having engine off ignition on it accepted it right away !!! Thank you!!!

[Blacked_Out]

An explanation of the "Driver Steering Recommendation" from Wikipedia:

Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR) is a feature of the Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) system on several recent Volkswagen Group car models, including the SEAT León Mk2 (Typ 1P), Volkswagen Golf Plus, and Volkswagen Scirocco. The system is supplied by Continental Automotive Systems.
Sensors detect when the car is starting to skid and the steering's electronic control unit (ECU) provides a prompt to the driver to correct the problem by making the steering wheel move slightly. Since most drivers find the idea of a car steering itself troubling, VW Group stresses that the robotic nudge is merely a suggestion, which the driver is free to override.

Sounds like it could be the cause of the problem...

I have a 2014 A6, and it seems like when I hit uneven road the car forces the wheel away from the lean like it thinks it's slipping or something. I am going to try the VAG-COM fix and see if that stops it. Thanks.

[Bronx Cheer]

apparently there is even a newer, updated steering rack. I have been having it out with Audi of America and my car has been at the dealer for a week waiting for this "updated" steering rack to arrive. Given the prior experience expressed on the forums, I am not sure it will fix the issue as it doesn't seem to fix the drifting of the car left and right at random, which to me is the biggest safety concern. I am really surprised that Audi having known about this problem for more than a year has not fixed it and has not done a voluntary recall.

Is this confirmed?

I had my rack replacement done about 3 weeks ago and it definitely has better road feel and got rid of notchiness at 12:00. I posted about my experience in the other main steering issue thread. Not sure how to tell whether I got the "newest" v3.0 or the older, but still not original, v2.0 rack. Any insight?

[Pac]

Hello,
I have a 2013 A4 (built in Nov. 2012 - bought in Jan. 2013). I experienced the slip issue a few times during the cold months here in MA. Once the temperature warmed up, the slip problem went away, although the steering remained too "light" at highway speeds.
I went yesterday for my 15k service and they performed a steering software update with the code name 48402599 48K4. I knew that there was a previous 48K4 update not related to the "slip" issue and that the code of the new update was 48K8, so I contacted my service advisor once I noticed this discrepancy. He told me that even though my invoice did not show the 48K8 code, according to his computer both codes appeared in relation to the new update performed to my car and that this was the new steering fix, which had been released just a few days earlier.

I had the opportunity to drive in the highway and the steering felt great, a little bit firmer than before. But because of the code discrepancy I kept wondering if maybe it was just the placebo effect. Are all of you getting the code 48K8 in your invoice?
Thanks in advance!

[jg 4/c]

Just had mine done today. Some background: 2013 S4, build date August 2012.... picked up October 2012.
I had the slip issue, but mildly from day one. Alu Kreuz helped a lot from the beginning.
Many debunk the theory that AK can help the sloppy steering, but it does make a difference.

Never had the notchy issue until about 2 weeks ago at 4,400 miles. Only when starting the car in the morning and goes away within a few minutes.
Never disabled DSR and never had the rack replaced.
I expected more from the update. I'm sensing only a slight overall improvement. Better on center feel and slightly less correction needed
to keep the car straight. Slightly heavier feel at the wheel but was hoping for MUCH firmer resistance. No such luck.....

I'd guess that if you had the slip/notchy issue much more severely and your steering can get to the way mine feels, you'll be very pleased
with the update.

Why am I not convinced that this is the ultimate fix? I wonder now if disabling DSR would make more of a difference.
SA said this update should fix the slip and notchy issue..... not convinced they know the truth about that either.
Will see over the next few days if the notchy feeling at start up is gone.....

[Fringe]

I took mine in today for the update. they replaced the rack a week ago in mine with noticeable improvement. after the update today, the steering is much much improved especially at 12 o clock, the steering feels more substantial and the drifting randomly left and right does not occur. But, it still drifts right, just not left anymore. Not a lot of drift like it was because it will actually hold a straight line for a while now, but there are still times on perfectly flat surfaces where it seems to still slide right. I'm going to give it a few more days before I render a final verdict, but over all, it is a massive improvement, just not perfect. however, it feels safe now.

[Pac]

Hello Fringe,
Could you please tell me what update code shows in your invoice? Is it 48K4 or 48K8?
Thank you

[Fringe]

48k8

[drob23]

One thing we should all keep in mind is that they are flashing the PSM, not simply changing the coding. So while DSR might be "on" after the update, it doesn't mean that the functionality is the same or that this feature was the root cause of the problem. All we know is that disabling DSR alleviates the problem pre-update. I'll probably flash over when I get my 15k maintenance with audi care.

[Celiot29]

Just had mine done today. Some background: 2013 S4, build date August 2012.... picked up October 2012.
I had the slip issue, but mildly from day one. Alu Kreuz helped a lot from the beginning.
Many debunk the theory that AK can help the sloppy steering, but it does make a difference.

Never had the notchy issue until about 2 weeks ago at 4,400 miles. Only when starting the car in the morning and goes away within a few minutes.
Never disabled DSR and never had the rack replaced.
I expected more from the update. I'm sensing only a slight overall improvement. Better on center feel and slightly less correction needed
to keep the car straight. Slightly heavier feel at the wheel but was hoping for MUCH firmer resistance. No such luck.....

I'd guess that if you had the slip/notchy issue much more severely and your steering can get to the way mine feels, you'll be very pleased
with the update.

Why am I not convinced that this is the ultimate fix? I wonder now if disabling DSR would make more of a difference.
SA said this update should fix the slip and notchy issue..... not convinced they know the truth about that either.
Will see over the next few days if the notchy feeling at start up is gone.....

Are you saying you are actually still feeling the weird notchy steering or just that it's not s tight s you thought it would be. I think the lightness might never go away completely as this is beginning stages of the electric steering but it is encouraging to see the that with updates they can stiffen it up somewhat so maybe they can perfect it even more

[jg 4/c]

Are you saying you are actually still feeling the weird notchy steering or just that it's not s tight s you thought it would be. I think the lightness might never go away completely as this is beginning stages of the electric steering but it is encouraging to see the that with updates they can stiffen it up somewhat so maybe they can perfect it even more

Don't know yet about the notchy feeling. Only happens on start up in the morning. Will know tomorrow.
Hoped for much tighter steering. Still feels like too much boost. Fringe has me wondering if the real fix is rack replacement.
That may produce the greatest improvement over any software update.

It's gettiing harder to determine what creates the best overall improvement in steering. Is it pre update rack
replacement only, update rack replacement /disable DSR, or can things be improved post SW update with a
rack replacement and, or disable DSR? Frustrating.... If I had a Vag Com and knew how to use it, I'd try disable DSR....

[thedollardoctor]

Here has been MY experience:

New rack: stopped notchiness in all angles of steering. Vastly improved "road feel" in my hands on the wheel.

Disable DSR: eliminated "the slip" across 12 o'clock issue. Tightened steering in all modes significantly.

Along with my sways, end links, AK, and lowering springs, I feel my handling and steering are as good as they are going to get and I'm very happy with how this car drives now! I have no intentions of allowing Audi to touch my car for any steering issues going forward.

[BzzzBom]

Here has been MY experience:

New rack: stopped notchiness in all angles of steering. Vastly improved "road feel" in my hands on the wheel.

Disable DSR: eliminated "the slip" across 12 o'clock issue. Tightened steering in all modes significantly.

Along with my sways, end links, AK, and lowering springs, I feel my handling and steering are as good as they are going to get and I'm very happy with how this car drives now! I have no intentions of allowing Audi to touch my car for any steering issues going forward.

I have the same setup minus springs and I agree 100%