2013 Steering Issues VAG COM Fix?

[CascadiaQuattro]

Pirellis here and had the same wandering until I disabled DSR. Made a marked difference. Used to feel a bit like an old recirculating ball steering box and now it feels a lot more like my old ur quattro. That certainly doesn't mean the Contis didn't contribute as a better tire will always be an improvement. As an aside I'll go in to VCDS tomorrow and see if the ABS fault some are talking about is present.

[jokingjimmy]

Pirellis here and had the same wandering until I disabled DSR. Made a marked difference. Used to feel a bit like an old recirculating ball steering box and now it feels a lot more like my old ur quattro. That certainly doesn't mean the Contis didn't contribute as a better tire will always be an improvement. As an aside I'll go in to VCDS tomorrow and see if the ABS fault some are talking about is present.

Agreed, it's much better. Keep in mind that disabling the DSR through VAG-COM will throw an ABS "soft code". Nothing you can do about that soft code.

[GTSJeff]

I would like to bump this thread to add my experiences.

1. The module only accepts the coding with the engine off but ignition on. Perhaps the OP could include this in the first post, because I read the whole thread to figure this out!!!
2. It will throw a silent ABS fault code. ABS still works. I tested it on a patch of ice outside my house.
3. It does indeed improve drivability. In my case, a 2014 S4 without dynamic steering, no issues with notchy steering or slip, it made the car steer more steadily at highway speeds. No more constant corrections to keep the car going the right way. I don’t think it’s an all new car, but it does make it better.
4. One really nice and unexpected benefit, is that now when I slam on the brakes hard, the car tracks straight. Before, whenever I braked hard, the car felt like it wanted to change directions, as if the tail was totally unweighted.

All in all, worthwhile and takes 2 seconds.

[doughboy17]

Could someone that has a 2014 - 2016 S4 without dynamic steering but has had the proper Audi ECM flash to improve this issue, please comment whether disabling DSR improved the steering. I purchased a CPO 2014 S4 in late June so anticipate it had all of the applicable software updates. Although I cannot say I have yet had issues with notchy steering or slip, my S4 is harder to keep going in a straight line on the highway than my A4. I just drove the A4 on a longer highway trip last week and was reminded how easy it is to track straight.

[GTSJeff]

Could someone that has a 2014 - 2016 S4 without dynamic steering but has had the proper Audi ECM flash to improve this issue, please comment whether disabling DSR improved the steering. I purchased a CPO 2014 S4 in late June so anticipate it had all of the applicable software updates. Although I cannot say I have yet had issues with notchy steering or slip, my S4 is harder to keep going in a straight line on the highway than my A4. I just drove the A4 on a longer highway trip last week and was reminded how easy it is to track straight.

Why don't you just take the 2 seconds to try the coding? It's easy enough to reverse too

[bberg22]

This helped my steering issues immensely. So glad I found this post.

As others have said, make sure the engine is not on when you start VCDS otherwise it will not take the coding.

[jaxkewl]

Just offering my experience. 2014 B8.5 S4 6sp, no 48K4, or VAGCOM mods. I was experiencing the notch, the 12 o'clock slip, whatever you call it. I experienced it consistently at cold temps (~32F) with my front tires inflated to about 45psi. each. Dropped the pressure of the fronts down to 36psi with 24 degF temp and I could not feel the slip at all. I left my rears alone at 38psi. We'll see if the slip/notch comes back.

[theswoleguy]

Just offering my experience. 2014 B8.5 S4 6sp, no 48K4, or VAGCOM mods. I was experiencing the notch, the 12 o'clock slip, whatever you call it. I experienced it consistently at cold temps (~32F) with my front tires inflated to about 45psi. each. Dropped the pressure of the fronts down to 36psi with 24 degF temp and I could not feel the slip at all. I left my rears alone at 38psi. We'll see if the slip/notch comes back.

Mines the same way, sub roughly 30° and it'll do it sometimes. Ironically if I restart the car after driving a few minutes it goes away. The coding helped a lot but it still does happen occasionally.

I too have noticed though adjusting the air pressure also seems to fix it.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[KRp220]

guys, try this and report back. i'm trying to determine if its just a placebo effect:
but turn the wheel to full lock in each direction, pausing for a moment at each side
turn off the car
turn it back on
do the same thing and drive away...
i've noticed that this has helped in a few scenarios in the past
just a thought

[doughboy17]

Just offering my experience. 2014 B8.5 S4 6sp, no 48K4, or VAGCOM mods. I was experiencing the notch, the 12 o'clock slip, whatever you call it. I experienced it consistently at cold temps (~32F) with my front tires inflated to about 45psi. each. Dropped the pressure of the fronts down to 36psi with 24 degF temp and I could not feel the slip at all. I left my rears alone at 38psi. We'll see if the slip/notch comes back.

Jeez, do you have the stock 19" wheels and tires? If so, 45psi is much higher than recommended. I believe a load of 3 people is recommended at 39psi Front and 33psi Rear.

[jaxkewl]

Jeez, do you have the stock 19" wheels and tires? If so, 45psi is much higher than recommended. I believe a load of 3 people is recommended at 39psi Front and 33psi Rear.

yes stock 19" with conti all season

[doughboy17]

yes stock 19" with conti all season

Same setup as me. You may want to review the recommended pressures in the owners manual for your typical load (huh, huh, I said, "load")

[evanb]

Same setup as me. You may want to review the recommended pressures in the owners manual for your typical load (huh, huh, I said, "load")

The info is on sticker on the drivers side B pillar.

[doughboy17]

The info is on sticker on the drivers side B pillar.

I believe the values in the owner's manual are specific to amount of load .

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Audizine mobile app

[Moxnix]

guys, try this and report back. i'm trying to determine if its just a placebo effect:
but turn the wheel to full lock in each direction, pausing for a moment at each side
turn off the car
turn it back on
do the same thing and drive away...
i've noticed that this has helped in a few scenarios in the past
just a thought

Yeah I believe I posted this elsewhere and I don't think it's a placebo. Plus you don't have to turn the car off or even come to a full stop. I used to pull over anywhere there was enough room and just go a couple of mph, lock to lock and then just drive off. Defintely works

[if6ws9]

I unchecked the DSR box but got the following message:

"VCDS Re-Code Invalid

This appears to be an uninitialized control module;
valid WSC/Importer/Equipment data may be required

Click [Yes] for VCDS to use default values of 12345/123/12345
Click [No] for VCDS to try the values currently in the module
Click [Cancel] for VCDS to go back and manually edit the values

Yes No Cancel"

[Jroyalty7]

***NECRO BUMP ALERT***
I just want to put this here since it took quite a bit of googling and searching to find out why I had this persistent soft code with my ABS system:
Address 03: ABS Brakes (J104) Labels:. 8K0-907-379-V1.clb
Part No SW: 8K0 907 379 CK HW: 8K0 907 379 CK
Component: ESP8 quattro H09 0100
Revision: -------- Serial number: --------------
Coding: 291D1A
Shop #: WSC 06325 000 00000
VCID: 0407CAB08734116AF9-8050

1 Fault Found:
01044 - Control Module Incorrectly Coded
000 - -
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100000
Fault Priority: 3
Fault Frequency: 2
Reset counter: 17
Mileage: 89995 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2019.05.09
Time: 12:48:04

Freeze Frame:
Hex Value: 0x00C0
Hex Value: 0x0782
Hex Value: 0x0015
Hex Value: 0x108F
Hex Value: 0x0000

Its already stated in this thread, on pages 4-6. but unchecking the box for driver steering recommendation causes this ABS code on my 2013 Audi s4 b8.5. After rechecking the box the persisting soft code is gone.
So if your like me and hate seeing soft codes you cant solve, this is the answer. Again this is already in this thread but took me about an hour of searching before I finally stumbled across it, so just refreshing this to save anyone else the time.

[if6ws9]

Thanks!

[GTSJeff]

Another bump. Had the setting enabled since 2017. Car threw a "sport diff system fault" a couple times. Went to dealer. They said a steering module coding error lead to an ABS code which eventually lead to a sport diff code. They recoded all these modules with updated stuff...now with the most recent coding and DSR at the default, the steering feels better than ever. And no fault codes.

[stoked_S4]

Got another steering rack installed after the original got fried from water. It is a take off from a salvaged 2014 S4 and driving home the car was pulling right and left. Can't wait to disable the DSR tomorrow! Guess the original owner did not see this thread :)