Changed cruise control switch assembly, now steering angle sensor is messed up, HELP

[NastyNice]

Hey guys

so I took my car to the shop, my cruise control wasn't working. What they ended up doing was replace the "cruise control switch assembly". When I got the car back, I had a BRAND NEW problem, which is the "steering angle sensor" is now messed up, and I need a new one. In order to get to the cruise control switch assembly, they had to remove and then reattach the steering angle sensor, meaning they clearly disturbed it (not necessarily saying they clearly damaged it, just saying it was clearly something they put their hands on)

My question is, what is the chance that there was an error on their end, which caused this new problem for me? What is the chance that they are not at fault, and I just have this new problem now?

They say its not their fault. He couldn't give me any explanation as to what could have caused the problem, he just told me "I don't know what to tell you".

I feel it is their fault, reason being that now my abs and esp (exclamation inside a triangle with an arrow around it) lights are CONSTANTLY on and the power to my wheels occasionally cuts out, whereas before none of these lights were EVER on, and NEVER did I experience losing power to my wheels. So from my pov, this was an absolute non issue before taking it to the shop, and it is now a CLEAR issue the second I drove out of their shop with the car, I even called the guy within 5 min of leaving and said hey, these new lights are now on.

This isn't a vent thread (at least not right now), nor am I just trying to get people to take my side, I legitimately want to know from people who REALLY KNOW about this stuff, who's at fault here? Because if they AREN'T at fault, then they shouldn't have to swallow any burden of the repair, and if they ARE at fault, then I shouldn't have to swallow any burden of the repair, and I honestly want to be fair here.

*I took the car back and they already ordered and installed a new "steering angle sensor", as they said mine had crapped out. They've already fixed it, I was basically about to just walk out of the shop with my car, but then at the end I was like ok, I'll pay half the bill, since you feel its not ur fault, I feel it is, and who knows what the truth is, let's just both swallow half the cost. I wonder, did I just get ripped $350? Either way, as it stands now, my car is working fine. I'm just wondering whose fault it was.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Its their fault. It has to be installed correctly and in the right orientation. I am like 95% sure its not broken. I dealt with this when removing my wheel for the steering wheel trim and had those lights on and the same codes. This is how I fixed it. If the shop has vagcom they should be able to do it, if not then you or find someone with vagcom.

Okay first off, you have to have a full version of vagcom. No other options. The whole hex can cable and all. Unplug the battery and take off your wheel (while the wheel is straight, helps with lining up the sensor and your wheel when you're done).

First thing to do is set your steering angle sensor. Plug the battery in and turn the ignition on(or turn the car on.. Dont remember) Plug in vagcom. Go to your abs module (03) and then login with 40168 and select basic settings. Then go to measuring blocks at the bottom of the screen, then put in group 005 or 001(don't remember again). This should now show your steering angle! Then you can turn the sensor around until it is straight and reads 0. Make sure it stays there and then put your wheel back on. When you put the wheel on and line it all up, the steering angle should still read 0 +/- 5 degrees. Then you can tighten the bolt back down! Turn your wheel +/- 30 degrees as well and vagcom should show this to confirm its working. Unplug your battery again, put the airbag back on and make sure the connections are set in right. Your steering angle is now done but you may notice your lights are still on! Which is onto the next step..

Then plug your battery back in and turn the ignition on. Plug in your vagcom. Scan all your codes for the engine (01) and abs (03) modules and delete them. Then go to the abs module (03). Click login and in the first box insert the numbers for your car (there's a box that should pop up with all the info to create the 5 digit code for your car). Login with that code. Then click the recoding button and another box should pop up similar to the last, with a few differences. Create another code based on your cars specs and put it in the first box. The workshop code doesn't matter. Then click go or whatever it is and it SHOULD set your abs module code and it will show up in the green letters where it was likely 00000 before. Your abs module is now set!

Once thats all done, turn your ignition off, start the car and go back and check all the things you just set (steering angle sensor still at 0? Abs code still set?), then login with 40168 again and check group 001 or 005 and the "alignment status" in one of these should read OK.

I may have missed things but that's the majority of it.

[Audi9]

It's most certainly their fault as they would need to remove all of that if they replaced your cruise control assembly. Hopefully they just forgot to plug in the connector or something simple like that but it's not uncommon to have the wiring inside the angle sensor break if you let it unravel.

I'm guessing this is an indy shop?

[NastyNice]

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[NastyNice]

Its their fault. It has to be installed correctly and in the right orientation. I am like 95% sure its not broken. I dealt with this when removing my wheel for the steering wheel trim and had those lights on and the same codes. This is how I fixed it. If the shop has vagcom they should be able to do it, if not then you or find someone with vagcom.

Okay first off, you have to have a full version of vagcom. No other options. The whole hex can cable and all. Unplug the battery and take off your wheel (while the wheel is straight, helps with lining up the sensor and your wheel when you're done).

First thing to do is set your steering angle sensor. Plug the battery in and turn the ignition on(or turn the car on.. Dont remember) Plug in vagcom. Go to your abs module (03) and then login with 40168 and select basic settings. Then go to measuring blocks at the bottom of the screen, then put in group 005 or 001(don't remember again). This should now show your steering angle! Then you can turn the sensor around until it is straight and reads 0. Make sure it stays there and then put your wheel back on. When you put the wheel on and line it all up, the steering angle should still read 0 +/- 5 degrees. Then you can tighten the bolt back down! Turn your wheel +/- 30 degrees as well and vagcom should show this to confirm its working. Unplug your battery again, put the airbag back on and make sure the connections are set in right. Your steering angle is now done but you may notice your lights are still on! Which is onto the next step..

Then plug your battery back in and turn the ignition on. Plug in your vagcom. Scan all your codes for the engine (01) and abs (03) modules and delete them. Then go to the abs module (03). Click login and in the first box insert the numbers for your car (there's a box that should pop up with all the info to create the 5 digit code for your car). Login with that code. Then click the recoding button and another box should pop up similar to the last, with a few differences. Create another code based on your cars specs and put it in the first box. The workshop code doesn't matter. Then click go or whatever it is and it SHOULD set your abs module code and it will show up in the green letters where it was likely 00000 before. Your abs module is now set!

Once thats all done, turn your ignition off, start the car and go back and check all the things you just set (steering angle sensor still at 0? Abs code still set?), then login with 40168 again and check group 001 or 005 and the "alignment status" in one of these should read OK.

I may have missed things but that's the majority of it.

oh sorry, I should have mentioned, I took the car back and they already ordered and installed a new "steering angle sensor", as they said mine had crapped out. They've already fixed it, I was basically about to just walk out of the shop with my car, but then at the end I was like ok, I'll pay half the bill, since you feel its not ur fault, I feel it is, and who knows what the truth is, let's just both swallow half the cost. I wonder, did I just get ripped $350?

*op updated

[Audi9]

oh sorry, I should have mentioned, I took the car back and they already ordered and installed a new "steering angle sensor", as they said mine had crapped out. They've already fixed it, I was basically about to just walk out of the shop with my car, but then at the end I was like ok, I'll pay half the bill, since you feel its not ur fault, I feel it is, and who knows what the truth is, let's just both swallow half the cost. I wonder, did I just get ripped $350?

*op updated

I'm actually amazed at their arrogance to say it wasn't their fault when it CLEARLY is, 110%. So the sensor just shit the bed a couple seconds after you were messing with it? Yeah, and my name is Mickey fucking Mouse.

[S4tech2]

Well you do have to think this is a 15 year old car, stuff takes a shit with no warning. I think we all know this. For example I had a customer come in wanting their a/c re charged, so we did. 45 minutes later they come back in saying it doesn't blow cold any more. Turns out the a/c pressure sensor took a crap with no warning. Do you think that in this instance it is my fault that this part went bad after I touched the vehicle?

[S4tech2]

But to go with your issue I do think they screwed up the g85 sensor. You do have to remove it to replace that stalk if I'm not mistaken

[Audi9]

Well you do have to think this is a 15 year old car, stuff takes a shit with no warning. I think we all know this. For example I had a customer come in wanting their a/c re charged, so we did. 45 minutes later they come back in saying it doesn't blow cold any more. Turns out the a/c pressure sensor took a crap with no warning. Do you think that in this instance it is my fault that this part went bad after I touched the vehicle?

In that scenario, the sensor could've been the original problem why the ac wasn't working and you don't touch it when charging the ac system. So no

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Its pretty unlikely the thing just crapped out. It's basically got eyes for a sensor to track its position and theres a clock spring and thats really all that can break. I have only found 1-2 people who had the sensor go out on them after researching for hours. I really feel like the shop fucked up and made you pay for their mistake. And 350? what a rip off. For that you could've bought a ross tech hex can cable and done it yourself.

[NastyNice]

Thanks for the replies everyone, very much appreciated

Well you do have to think this is a 15 year old car, stuff takes a shit with no warning. I think we all know this. For example I had a customer come in wanting their a/c re charged, so we did. 45 minutes later they come back in saying it doesn't blow cold any more. Turns out the a/c pressure sensor took a crap with no warning. Do you think that in this instance it is my fault that this part went bad after I touched the vehicle?

Sounds like you either have a shop or work at a shop. I'm curious, let's say my exact situation happened to you (you being the shop owner, and it being the customer's car that ended up with a messed up steering angle sensor), how would you have proceeded with the customer?

[NastyNice]

Its pretty unlikely the thing just crapped out. It's basically got eyes for a sensor to track its position and theres a clock spring and thats really all that can break. I have only found 1-2 people who had the sensor go out on them after researching for hours. I really feel like the shop fucked up and made you pay for their mistake. And 350? what a rip off. For that you could've bought a ross tech hex can cable and done it yourself.

Well what happened was we just ordered a brand new steering angle sensor straight from germany, as this part isn't readily available (according to them, but I believe them on that since we had to wait 5 days for the part to come in). The part alone was $450 dealer price, I think came out to about $550 on the bill (about a $100 markup, seems reasonable), plus $90 labor (said he cut off 1.5hr labor to give me a break, I was like uhh, me paying for your fuck up isn't a break, lol), plus tax the bill was upwards of $700.

Its almost sounding like the part may not have even been messed up. I have the old steering angle sensor with me, as he gave me the old part, is there any way I could take it to audi, or another mechanic, and have them check to see if it still works?

[Audi9]

Well what happened was we just ordered a brand new steering angle sensor straight from germany, as this part isn't readily available (according to them, but I believe them on that since we had to wait 5 days for the part to come in). The part alone was $450 dealer price, I think came out to about $550 on the bill (about a $100 markup, seems reasonable), plus $90 labor (said he cut off 1.5hr labor to give me a break, I was like uhh, me paying for your fuck up isn't a break, lol), plus tax the bill was upwards of $700.

Its almost sounding like the part may not have even been messed up. I have the old steering angle sensor with me, as he gave me the old part, is there any way I could take it to audi, or another mechanic, and have them check to see if it still works?

There's no reason to at this point. You were screwed over by a shitty shop. Move on and find a better shop.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Ditto^ it isn't that easy to break them unless they spun it past its breaking point one way. But by then they should have enough common sense to not turn it anymore and break it. I'm willing to bet your old one is fine and they are retarded and didn't align it correctly and then said its broken. I'm sorry that happened to you man, find a better shop and leave a shitty yelp review haha