2013 Steering Issues VAG COM Fix?

[thedollardoctor]

Thanks for the support, Very happy as well. Just keeping fingers crossed it doesn't suddenly fail and make the wheel spin a 360 when im going 90 haha

LOL, if THAT happens, I take NO responsibility for recommending this adjustment :-)

Haven't checked for any fault codes on my car since making the switch. Guess I'll check that out and report back. So far everything appears to be working perfectly overall.

[Animo]

I know that it could have been my mind playing tricks on me. But, today driving home from work I thought i felt the 12 o'clock slip for about 2 miles. I was going to lose my mind, if i hadn't already. Now- full disclosure, it was freezing out (literally) and i always noticed that it was worse when it was very cold. I'll report back with any more of these instances. Hoping it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

[VR2V8]

I know that it could have been my mind playing tricks on me. But, today driving home from work I thought i felt the 12 o'clock slip for about 2 miles. I was going to lose my mind, if i hadn't already. Now- full disclosure, it was freezing out (literally) and i always noticed that it was worse when it was very cold. I'll report back with any more of these instances. Hoping it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

And this is with or without the coding change?

[Animo]

And this is with or without the coding change?

With the Vagcom fix mentioned in this thread

[spl1011]

I know that it could have been my mind playing tricks on me. But, today driving home from work I thought i felt the 12 o'clock slip for about 2 miles. I was going to lose my mind, if i hadn't already. Now- full disclosure, it was freezing out (literally) and i always noticed that it was worse when it was very cold. I'll report back with any more of these instances. Hoping it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

Im with you there. There still seems to be a hint of notchiness/slip present, albeit I REALLY have to feel for it, but its there. I felt it right after making the change, and also today after work (parked outside, ~50 degrees out). Ive felt a very subtle on center resistance at times but coughed it up to alignment/road/chassis variations.
It seems the DSR amplified these sensations to a perceptible level but with DSR off its very, very muted.
These were both in neighborhood situations with one section being a newly paved section less than a year old.
I've put ~260 miles ever since the bit flip and have an allroad.

Also, I don't have any codes/faults as a result. I will do a scan tonight to see if there was intermittent fault that didn't light a light.

[Animo]

Im with you there. There still seems to be a hint of notchiness/slip present, albeit I REALLY have to feel for it, but its there. I felt it right after making the change, and also today after work (parked outside, ~50 degrees out). Ive felt a very subtle on center resistance at times but coughed it up to alignment/road/chassis variations.
It seems the DSR amplified these sensations to a perceptible level but with DSR off its very, very muted.
These were both in neighborhood situations with one section being a newly paved section less than a year old.
I've put ~260 miles ever since the bit flip and have an allroad.

Also, I don't have any codes/faults as a result. I will do a scan tonight to see if there was intermittent fault that didn't light a light.

Sometimes I can't feel it at all but I think I've noticed that on very slanted roads (perpendicular to the vehicle's direction) it does it. Maybe there is something that is trying to correct for the slant in the road that hasn't been turned off?

[thedollardoctor]

With the Vagcom fix mentioned in this thread

I'm gonna guess it was either your mind, or ACTUAL tram lining for to road conditions. I've now logged several hundred miles in all conditions with NO SLIP at all. Anything is possible, especially with an Audi, but so far for me, this has been THE fix!

[Nuccadoc]

I'm gonna guess it was either your mind, or ACTUAL tram lining for to road conditions. I've now logged several hundred miles in all conditions with NO SLIP at all. Anything is possible, especially with an Audi, but so far for me, this has been THE fix!

I agree, have felt true tram lining. The true test for me was the other day on a section of highway that is terrible. Before the vag mod, I could feel the steering pulling all over trying to correct the terrible ruts in the road. Although, never experienced the slip, but it was still very disconcerting. However, just went over the road again, and it felt so much better! What a difference!

[tomaszp72]

Did it today on my Q5. No fault codes. Seems better. I would like the steering to be tighter but at least the dead zone at 12 o'clock seems to be better if not gone. Have to do more driving but there seems to be difference. Thanks for finding this.

BTW: Dealer wanted 180$ for making this change and then 61$ every time they have to apply it back after they reprogrammed my ECU for whatever reason. Just got the cable .....

[zee007]

My ABS module:

Address 03: ABS Brakes (J104) Labels: 8K0-907-379.clb
Part No SW: 8K9 907 379 M HW: 8K9 907 379 M
Component: ESP8 quattro H09 0100
Revision: -------- Serial number: --------------
Coding: 0E1D18
Shop #: WSC 06334 000 00000
VCID: 4C9C6006EFD0369

No fault code found.

[[email protected]]

My ABS module:

Address 03: ABS Brakes (J104) Labels: 8K0-907-379.clb
Part No SW: 8K9 907 379 M HW: 8K9 907 379 M
Component: ESP8 quattro H09 0100
Revision: -------- Serial number: --------------
Coding: 0E1D18
Shop #: WSC 06334 000 00000
VCID: 4C9C6006EFD0369

No fault code found.

Odd, exactly the same module and coding I have. No idea why I would get the ABS code and you wouldn't with steering recommendation off. Do you have dynamic steering with ADS?

Cheers,

[zee007]

Odd, exactly the same module and coding I have. No idea why I would get the ABS code and you wouldn't with steering recommendation off. Do you have dynamic steering with ADS?

Cheers,

I have enabled ADS via VAGCOM Alex, so yes, I have the Dynamic steering enabled.

[[email protected]]

I have enabled ADS via VAGCOM Alex, so yes, I have the Dynamic steering enabled.

Interesting, so your car did not come with ADS but you added the ADS "Lite" functions. Did you install the physical buttons or do you just use the MMI to control?

So it may be possible to turn of DSR and get rid of the ABS code by implementing ADS Lite functions. Man it's like 3 letter acronym soup...

Thanks,

[zee007]

Interesting, so your car did not come with ADS but you added the ADS "Lite" functions. Did you install the physical buttons or do you just use the MMI to control?

So it may be possible to turn of DSR and get rid of the ABS code by implementing ADS Lite functions. Man it's like 3 letter acronym soup...

Thanks,

Correct. No buttons (yet). ADS lite via MMI (enabled engine and steering).

[dpreston]

just did this fix to my S4. Drove it 6 hours from Pittsburgh to Philly yesterday and the steering is definitely better. Never had a slip in the 300+ mile trip. Car is now at AWE getting sways/endlinks/alu kruez/Giac stage 2. So pumped for the ride home

[boss2k]

I am sorry if i am asking this question again but can you please define slip issue ?

Is it with the hands on steering or without it

By doing this setup change can the car throw any error , i read somewhere above that it threw ABS error

Just want to understand whether i have this issue and decide if i need to do this setup for better steering feel. As of now i dont see any issues with my steering.

[[email protected]]

I took some time to run out and code the ADS Lite and get that all set. It worked, supposedly I now have control of the engine and steering.

However I still get the ABS incorrect coding error when the Driver Steering Recommendation is turned off.

So considering another 2013 Allroad here has the exact same setup but is not getting the ABS module code would make me think it's coding in another module that's effecting this. Something isn't behaving harmoniously.

Cheers,

[drob23]

I took some time to run out and code the ADS Lite and get that all set. It worked, supposedly I now have control of the engine and steering.

However I still get the ABS incorrect coding error when the Driver Steering Recommendation is turned off.

So considering another 2013 Allroad here has the exact same setup but is not getting the ABS module code would make me think it's coding in another module that's effecting this. Something isn't behaving harmoniously.

Cheers,

I also get this ABS error after turning off the "driver steering recommendation". Any potential solutions yet? I have quite a few VCDS coding options checked, so I'm guessing that you're correct about something else affecting this (might it be TPMS?). I can send you a print out of my scan if you like?

Thanks!

[zee007]

Interesting. Let me know if you want me to brainstorm options or modules. I can take a look this weekend.

[[email protected]]

Interesting. Let me know if you want me to brainstorm options or modules. I can take a look this weekend.

What would be great is if you sent over a full Auto-Scan. If you can do that this would be awesomely helpful: [email protected]

Thank you!

[thedollardoctor]

I am sorry if i am asking this question again but can you please define slip issue ?

Is it with the hands on steering or without it

By doing this setup change can the car throw any error , i read somewhere above that it threw ABS error

Just want to understand whether i have this issue and decide if i need to do this setup for better steering feel. As of now i dont see any issues with my steering.

Definition of "the slip" is given in the original post. To my knowledge, no S4 owner who had made this adjustment has had any ABS error codes or any error codes at all. Also, S4 owners appear to be having greater success with this being a "fix" than other car model owners.

[Seinsmeld13]

Update guys. Corrected the slip issue 750 km ago. I also adjusted my Bielsteins from full soft to 4 all around four days ago. Feels like a new car. I was seriously considering selling the car, that's how bad it was, just awful. Anyway thanks to the OP and Thomasz for finding this fix, I gotta go now and find some twists with my new ride.

[Doc Brown]

So, I have been following this thread and many others. My steering has been fine, and for that I consider myself blessed. I am old enough that sayings like, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" ring true for me. I had planned to leave it alone

Last night driving home, the car got kinda "wandery" on the highway. Yeah, I was traveling "at a good clip" with cross winds, but I did not think they were THAT bad and the car was dancing quite a bit. Steering never felt "loose" but I did need to correct a lot.

So this morning, I got out the VAG and found that in my car this French Driver Assist thing was already disabled. Mmmph. I guess that explains why my steering has not been sucking. Never had the notchiness. It is no M3, but the steering is direct and more than adequate, if a bit artificial in feel. No complaints. Never convincingly had the slip issue, but the steering did behave "oddly" with inappropriate boost on two occasions a few months ago which made the car a bit challenging to drive. Braking hard into low speed turns, to be exact. Control was never compromised, but it was a real event

My car was built in October, delivered in November and had its first service visit in late Feb. I will say that when I picked my car up from first service (5K miles), the steering felt different to me. I never thought it felt bad, but it felt different - or so I thought.

I attributed it at the time to my having just driven the Q5 loaner (a lovely vehicle) and getting back in an S car. I wonder now if Audi has also figured this out and is quietly turning off this feature at service visits until it can come up with a real fix. There was no mention of coding on my work receipt and the other VAG mods I made previously are still there. I recall one other poster on this thread (perhaps more) noting that the code was turned off in his/her car as well.

Anyone else connect the VAG and find this feature already disabled?

[Gotchaa]

So, I have been following this thread and many others. My steering has been fine, and for that I consider myself blessed. I am old enough that sayings like, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" ring true for me. I had planned to leave it alone

Last night driving home, the car got kinda "wandery" on the highway. Yeah, I was traveling "at a good clip" with cross winds, but I did not think they were THAT bad and the car was dancing quite a bit. Steering never felt "loose" but I did need to correct a lot.

So this morning, I got out the VAG and found that in my car this French Driver Assist thing was already disabled. Mmmph. I guess that explains why my steering has not been sucking. Never had the notchiness. It is no M3, but the steering is direct and more than adequate, if a bit artificial in feel. No complaints. Never convincingly had the slip issue, but the steering did behave "oddly" with inappropriate boost on two occasions a few months ago which made the car a bit challenging to drive. Braking hard into low speed turns, to be exact. Control was never compromised, but it was a real event

My car was built in October, delivered in November and had its first service visit in late Feb. I will say that when I picked my car up from first service (5K miles), the steering felt different to me. I never thought it felt bad, but it felt different - or so I thought.

I attributed it at the time to my having just driven the Q5 loaner (a lovely vehicle) and getting back in an S car. I wonder now if Audi has also figured this out and is quietly turning off this feature at service visits until it can come up with a real fix. There was no mention of coding on my work receipt and the other VAG mods I made previously are still there. I recall one other poster on this thread (perhaps more) noting that the code was turned off in his/her car as well.

Anyone else connect the VAG and find this feature already disabled?

Doc my car was built around the same time, I have drive select and dynamic steering, and my DSR is not enabled. I had my 5k done a week ago. I do believe Audi is disabling this as a short term fix. As shared in the steering thread, my local shop foreman explained they just had a regional meeting with Audi field rep and all the area shop foreman's and were told the steering issue is still being worked on. I shared the coding change with him and asked if they did this, he indicated they just upload whatever program Audi gives them. Had my car in last month for steering rack replacement, which was pointless, and an alignment, 3 now. The steering is now perfect.

He is going to ask his field rep if this coding change was done for a short term fix but could not promise the field rep from AoA would know or would even answer this question as Audi may consider this info privileged. I am sure they don't want folks going in and coding their own cars.

It is clear that early rack replacements did not change this coding, and now it seems there is a variance of who has it enabled and who does not.

There also seems to be confusion about 2013s, packages, and differences in coding:
(PDD) which includes Audi Drive Select, Audi Dynamic Steering, and Adaptive Cruise control
(PDU) includes Audi Drive Select and Sports Diff

The PDD package with Dynamic Steering is not something that can be coded to enable as there is a mechanical difference with dynamic steering (while Drive Select can).

The mixed reports of DSR already disabled may be attributed to whether or not one has been in for service recently on this steering issue or a 5K, or it could be just coding differences based on build and date of manufacture. Not everyone has this slip issue.

I believe we will find coding differences between these two packages, as well as cars that don't have either for 2013. What the actual setting was and should be for each model/package variance, what changed, when it changed, and why is the question (I believe the why is short term fix).

[13S4]

I've never had any of the issues mentioned in either of these threads, but last night I made the Vag com change and never realized what I was missing. My other vehicles are big trucks so the steering isn't the best on them, and the Audi's always felt miles better. After making the change the steering feels seems a bit heavier, and there is more road feedback. I highly recommend every check theirs and make the change if it isn't already done. Thank you dollardoctor for figuring this out.

[thedollardoctor]

I've never had any of the issues mentioned in either of these threads, but last night I made the Vag com change and never realized what I was missing. My other vehicles are big trucks so the steering isn't the best on them, and the Audi's always felt miles better. After making the change the steering feels seems a bit heavier, and there is more road feedback. I highly recommend every check theirs and make the change if it isn't already done. Thank you dollardoctor for figuring this out.

Happy to help brother and glad you found this adjustment helped your steering improve eventhough you didn't have the slip! This seems to be the general consensus in the S4 community now. A MUST MOD

[boss2k]

Also if u do uncheck the box can it be checked again back , in other words can the setting be reverted back to factory setting in case it throws an error code

[zee007]

Also if u do uncheck the box can it be checked again back , in other words can the setting be reverted back to factory setting in case it throws an error code

Yes, it can be reversed.

[Mrads]

Great thread. Thanks to all for your efforts and information.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Mbrad]

Most interesting thread I have seen in a while, relatively new here (new bwm to audi convert) so not sure how to subscribe without posting something.

[rs4dreams]

Flipped the bit on my car today. Definite improvement. Steering is more "consistent" throughout the full range and a bit heavier in all modes. I did get the "incorrect coding" code in the ABS module but I'm not too worried about it. Thanks for the great info!

[Silica666]

Quick question, do any of you guys with the 12 O'clock slip, have 'Lane assist'? as an option on your vehicles, as this may be part of the 'driver suggest'. It is an option in European models, talking with my dealer to try this vag-com option.

[thedollardoctor]

Quick question, do any of you guys with the 12 O'clock slip, have 'Lane assist'? as an option on your vehicles, as this may be part of the 'driver suggest'. It is an option in European models, talking with my dealer to try this vag-com option.

I had "the slip" horribly and do not have lane assist on my car.

[Silica666]

I had "the slip" horribly and do not have lane assist on my car.

Thanks, will let them know.

[Bronx Cheer]

At what point is the ABS error triggered? Is the code thrown immediately when you try to save the "off" setting for driver suggestion setting? Or after your drive the car a bit?

[[email protected]]

At what point is the ABS error triggered? Is the code thrown immediately when you try to save the "off" setting for driver suggestion setting? Or after your drive the car a bit?

Happens immediately when the coding is changed in the Steering Assist for the DSR. At least from what I have seen, don't even need to shut the car down and back on. The second the DSR bit is unchecked the ABS module throws that code.

Cheers,

[thedollardoctor]

Makes sense to some degree why it would do this as the DSR is part of the overall Electronic Stability Control system in the car and this must have some tie-in with the ABS system as well. For all practical purposes I have been driving with this adjustment and (most likely the ABS error code as well) for many weeks and miles now with NO issues at all with steering or braking..... Sure I prefer no error codes at all, but to me the improvement in steering is completely worth this code being thrown.

As a side note, I have only once ever even had my ABS activate, even when driving in severe snow, and braking late, the ABS just didn't activate due to dedicated winter wheels and the badassery that is the Quattro AWD system.

[drob23]

Makes sense to some degree why it would do this as the DSR is part of the overall Electronic Stability Control system in the car and this must have some tie-in with the ABS system as well. For all practical purposes I have been driving with this adjustment and (most likely the ABS error code as well) for many weeks and miles now with NO issues at all with steering or braking..... Sure I prefer no error codes at all, but to me the improvement in steering is completely worth this code being thrown.

As a side note, I have only once ever even had my ABS activate, even when driving in severe snow, and braking late, the ABS just didn't activate due to dedicated winter wheels and the badassery that is the Quattro AWD system.

I think in most instances ABS is not a system you necessarily "notice". If you want to understand the difference, try going out to a parking lot and mashing the brakes normally and then with the ABS fuse pulled. It's night a day and a pretty important safety feature. Quattro really won't help when you need to stop

[thedollardoctor]

I think in most instances ABS is not a system you necessarily "notice". If you want to understand the difference, try going out to a parking lot and mashing the brakes normally and then with the ABS fuse pulled. It's night a day and a pretty important safety feature. Quattro really won't help when you need to stop

I get your point, but overall, I feel confident that my car is just fine with this adjustment, even if there is a ABS fault code. I'll be having my dealership take a look at my VAG setup next week when my car is in for Springs install and summer wheel setup. I'll report back what my tech has to say about it.....

[boss2k]

I get your point, but overall, I feel confident that my car is just fine with this adjustment, even if there is a ABS fault code. I'll be having my dealership take a look at my VAG setup next week when my car is in for Springs install and summer wheel setup. I'll report back what my tech has to say about it.....

This is why i am hesitant to do this setup because of ABS fault code ... dont want further issues. When i get the slip will have my dealer look at this option and prefer to get it handled by them.