Steering Column Module went bad

[BryMFL]

Got in my car Friday morning and the ABS and traction control lights were on. After further inspection nothing in the steering column, sun roof, and window controls didn't work. I had my mechanic diagnose it and he said its the Steering control module, according to Bently it's part # J527. Do the problems and part sound related?

[manhertm]

Comfort control module, never heard of one going out, but it does sound like what would cause all those to not work. It is located in the steering column. Check your fuses first.

[RecklessTuning]

correct me if i'm wrong but the CCM is located under the carpet in front of the drivers seat.

[manhertm]

correct me if i'm wrong but the CCM is located under the carpet in front of the drivers seat.

Hmm, maybe I'm confusing it with something else? It very well could be there, I've never confirmed where it was on my A4, it was near the steering column in my friend's Jetta.

[RecklessTuning]

yes in jetta's it's located to the left of the steering column not in it. In the A4 it's located under the carpet in front of the driver seats. If you push on your floor you can feel it's kind of hollow. The CCM is is encased in a "water tight" box that I here sometimes isn't so water proof causing a lot of the electrical gremlins people speak of.

[A4SoftWalker]

Welcome to the club. I have the $300 ring shaped plastic part with electrical contacts and sensors (steering ctrl module) sitting in a box now waiting for me to get pissed off enough to have it done by dealer.

I could do the installation which requires the steering wheel to come off but the calibration of the computer module to talk to everything is the key. Traction ctrl uses the angle of the steering inputs to other various items... sooo yep good times are a comin. Not sure about putting it in and driving to dealer for calibration.

I have the same error code J527. The symptoms can differ depending on vehicle:
My traction control works fine
Interior fan goes out on full throttle at about 4500rpm
Headlights go out too
As do the turn signals

Here is the summer thread on this issue that I only got partial resolution to and it seems that the bad ground instigated it. Scroll halfway down or so for my Bentley screenshots on the fix - the airbag has to come out - great.

This thread states that the alternator might also be the issue. If that is the case it is getting done next time I do the timing belt in a few months.

[rollerton]

Calibrating the steering angel sensor is no big deal if you have VCDS-
STEERING ANGLE SENSOR PROCEDURE
If/ When you remove the clockspring (if thats what you're doing?) just make sure the steering wheel is +/- 7.5* from straight via measuring blocks...when replacing the CC module you shouldn't have to even do the steering angle sensor calibration. Just Plug it in and change the coding to your old coding? A4 doesn't even have a CAN gateway...so shouldn't be very hard ...i don't think. . ?

[A4SoftWalker]

Calibrating the steering angel sensor is no big deal if you have VCDS-
STEERING ANGLE SENSOR PROCEDURE
If/ When you remove the clockspring (if thats what you're doing?) just make sure the steering wheel is +/- 7.5* from straight via measuring blocks...when replacing the CC module you shouldn't have to even do the steering angle sensor calibration. Just Plug it in and change the coding to your old coding? A4 doesn't even have a CAN gateway...so shouldn't be very hard ...i don't think. . ?

Interesting - the Clockspring that is what I remember now the parts suppliers were calling it... one expensive clockspring.
Thanks for the link.

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Got in my car Friday morning and the ABS and traction control lights were on. After further inspection nothing in the steering column, sun roof, and window controls didn't work. I had my mechanic diagnose it and he said its the Steering control module, according to Bently it's part # J527. Do the problems and part sound related?

I get the same lights intermittently and have no idea what is causing them.

I might look at my module as well since I money around in the steering column area all the time.

[rollerton]

I wouldn't go digging into the modules unless you know they're bad..symptoms of a bad clockspring could be airbag light, MFSW controls acting wierd, and ABS/ traction control/ESP failure and errors- and believe it or not the radio will throw ABS wheel speed error codes due to the sampling of wheel speed to engage dynamic volume.
The angle sensor tells the ECU what angle the car is turning at so the ECU can calculate wheel rotation rate differences and manage the ABS. If the Angle sensor is off or wrong, it will disable the ABS and ESP, sometimes intermittently, sometimes all together. Or sometimes it will just drive strangely when cornering at low speeds, in parking lots etc..the ABS will see the wheels speeds not agreeing with the steering angle reading and think the wheels are slipping and activate ESP, and you'll get a surprise when one front wheel tries to lock up as you're pulling into traffic on a nice hot summer day!
Other than the dynamic volume/ MFSW I don't think the CC module interacts with the Clockspring-- and maybe not even there.

[rbj325]

Interior fan goes out on full throttle at about 4500rpm
Headlights go out too
As do the turn signals

If you are losing electrical components on WOT it is the voltage regulator in your alternator. FOR SURE.

Mine got to the point where it was messing up at idle as well. Replaced the alternator and all is well.

The OP's symptoms sound different though as I never had an issue with the sunroof(well except for it never works right).