Slid on ice, hit a curb and messed up my wheel. Now ABS and ESP are on

[mark001]

I accidently hit a curb due to slidding on some ice and curb rashed the crap out of my driver side wheel. As far as I know nothing else got damaged but shortly after I hit the curb my ABS and traction control light came on. Once I got home I tested for codes but couldn't find any. The next morning the lights were gone but after driving for a minute or so they came back on. The steering is really wacky and feels strange know. Does anyone know what might have gone wrong?

[ls16v]

I accidently hit a curb due to slidding on some ice and curb rashed the crap out of my driver side wheel. As far as I know nothing else got damaged but shortly after I hit the curb my ABS and traction control light came on. Once I got home I tested for codes but couldn't find any. The next morning the lights were gone but after driving for a minute or so they came back on. The steering is really wacky and feels strange know. Does anyone know what might have gone wrong?

something is bent control arms or streeing rack

[mark001]

the upper control arms on the driver's side appeared to be in decent shape. I didn't notice anything bent. I should also mention that the steering whee have to be pointed about 30 degrees to the right now in order for the car to go straight. If I straighten the steering wheel (where it should be) the car goes to the left.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

something is bent on your suspension/steering that's a given since you say your steering is wack.

As for the ABS/ESP light, either the tone ring got messed up (might be a clue to say that your spindle is bent from the impact) or you ripped/damaged the wire to the ABS/wheel speed sensor.

I'm going to put my money on the spindle/axle being messed up, along with a few other things (tie-rod, etc).

[Scotty@Advanced]

You've probably bent the lower control arms, and possibly the suspension bearing housing and the wheel. The hob could be bent as well. You probably knocked the abs sensor out of it's housing.

[mark001]

oh, great

I guess I'll have to check this when I get home. Thanks for the help

[AudiFan6482]

I did the same thing to my b5 a4 3 winters ago!

now the big question is if you had the wheel turned when you hit the curb?

is the wheel centered in the wheel well?

when you go over a bumb now does the car tend to pull hard in one direction?

if it was straight you probably messed up your steering rack, and you might have also done something to the transmission and axle as well.

if the wheel was turned you bent a control arm or tie rod

my wheel was turned to almost full left lock when i hit a curb at about 5 mph, and i bent the upper control arm and rashed the crap out of the wheel.

[P0234]

Lesson to the boys and girls reading: When sliding towards a curb and a hit is imminent, turn the wheel into the curb to try to get as much tread contact as possible.

[holywater]

I would just go get a 4 wheel alignment done and see if that helps your steering issue.

If your Traction control lights and ABS lights stay on please share you fix as I have the same problem.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Lesson to the boys and girls reading: When sliding towards a curb and a hit is imminent, turn the wheel into the curb to try to get as much tread contact as possible.

Good info for n00b's, but not hitting the curb is better :P

[dgrs4sd]

I did almost the exact same thing on a round a bout here in CO. I was driving my girl's A6....lower control arm broke in two, the bearing is damaged....and I punctured the CV boot trying to fix it...oh yah the wheel has a huge chunk out of it too...it doesn't matter as much if you have quattro on ice!

[DiscoPotato]

Most definitely a speed/abs sensor and/or the wiring that sensor

[mark001]

I hope just the abs sensor fell out and it's nothing serious. The last thing I need is more problems

[V8Star]

Jack up the front end, put it on stands so that its safe.

Pull both front wheels, and just start visually inspecting everything.

Chances are if somethings bent you won't be able to visually see, but you may get lucky and notice something is far out.

For starters you may want to check the knuckles where the tie rod ends meet the knuckle.

[mark001]

By the way, the car always tended to pull slightly to the right if you'd let go off the wheel while driving

[mark001]

I just went for lunch so I drove the car for a few minutes. The ABS and ESP light did not pop up this time. The wheel was slightly cocked to the right to straighten the wheels. However, the car didn't pull in any certain direction when I let go off the wheel. It's as if it had perfect alignment...wtf?!

[csosnowski]

sounds like you have bent/broken suspension component(s).

visual inspection may reveal more, definately might want to get an alignment and have the shop center the steering wheel.

[julex]

Dude, if you need to turn your wheel 30 deg to go straight, your suspension is majorly damaged. I wouldn't be surprised if you had several degrees of toe in. Just get out of the car, move steering wheel until one of the wheels appear straight and go the other side and have a good look at the other side. I bet it will be pointing inwards.

DIY method of checking if it is bent so that affect toe would be a long piece of string running from back wheel to front and checking if it is inline on both sides. If it is a lot off (1/8-1/4 of clearance between string and rearward edge of front tire is ok since audis run toe out), fix it.

Either way, don't drive this car as you will kill yourself the second you hit a wet surface or ice again. Have a shop do alignment, they will tell you if stuff is bent beyond adjustment.

[mark001]

I plan on doing that...I'm just trying to troubleshoot while I'm at work

[mark001]

I'm home now and will be lifting the car to see if I can find anything unusual. Meanwhile, I checked for codes while the ABS and ESP lights were on and got a 00778 Steering Angle Sensor (G38) code. I also noticed that I lost power steering. Where is this sensor located at?

[csosnowski]

steering angle sensor is in the clock spring i believe. someone with more experience will have to confirm this though.

it would stand to reason that the steering angle code would be related to bent chassis components, imo.

[mark001]

I will try this and see what happens

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/car...ringangle.html

[mark001]

steering angle sensor is in the clock spring i believe. someone with more experience will have to confirm this though.

it would stand to reason that the steering angle code would be related to bent chassis components, imo.

bent chassis components like what? Maybe the sensor is just bad and is causing me to lose power steering and the ABS/ESP lights to pop up? I checked every control arm, axel, abs sensor, sway bars and they all seem in tact. It doesn't appear as if there is any toe in either. Both sides look the same when the wheels are straightened out...

[csosnowski]

is the steering wheel turned at all when the wheels are straight or vice versa? did you use the string method to measure toe for abnormal toe?

although that can be indicative of an improperly installed steering wheel, it can also mean bent tierods which are notoriously hard to diagnose if they are bent since their location is shrouded by the fender liner.

has the steering wheel been removed recently?

it might be a longshot, but you may have shifted the steering rack? i doubt it though since the tie rods are designed to bend and not destroy the rack.

very well could be the sensor also, but ive never heard of a sensor effecting the power steering. that makes me think the ps system is having an issue.

if it were me id check for continuity on the sensor(s) since they are just a coil of wire it should be a closed circuit, check the position of the wheels vs the steering wheel. then check the toe.

[V8Star]

If you can't see any visual problems take it to a alignment shop. They should know what to look for. Just tell them you hit a curb, now the steering is off. And you want to know what looks to be the problem.

[mark001]

yeah, I guess I'll have to take it to an alignment shop. It's weird because if I turn the steering wheel all the way right and then all the way left I can make both wheels face the same direction and make the steering wheel point the way it's supposed to (with the s4 emblem on the buttom) but after driving the car I have to turn the steering wheel about 30 degrees to the right in order for the wheels to face straight (this is when the ABS and ESP pop up). And, no, the steering wheel hasn't been removed any time recently (probably never).

I don't understand how a small impact can cause so many issues

[V8Star]

Even at a low rate of speed, a certain angle will cause a lot of damage.

Did you happen damage the bumper at all? If not then you got a little lucky, they are expensive to replace.

If its a knuckle, figure $100-150 used for a new one from the classifieds. If you need tie rods, I would replace both inners and outers to be safe.

If you need control arms I have a set of literally brand new OEM uppers (less than 3k miles) I can give you a deal on. Just let me know.

[mark001]

that's the thing...nothing else has been visually damaged other than the wheel so I have nothing to go by. I'll just take the car to an alignment shop and see what they say even though they probably won't even know wtf is wrong with these obnoxious/complicated cars...

[mark001]

oh, and someone explain this to me please. Every time I turn the car off (when I head to bed for example and wake up for work) and then turn it on the ABS and ESP are gone (without even having to clear the code). As I'm backing out of the garage I notice that the power steering IS working, the steering wheel is turning by itself as it should. After driving the car for about a minute the ABS and ESP pop on, the steering wheel is at that weird 30 degree angle and I'm back where I started (without power steering) and I get the Steering Angle Sensor code.

[julex]

oh, and someone explain this to me please. Every time I turn the car off (when I head to bed for example and wake up for work) and then turn it on the ABS and ESP are gone (without even having to clear the code). As I'm backing out of the garage I notice that the power steering IS working, the steering wheel is turning by itself as it should. After driving the car for about a minute the ABS and ESP pop on, the steering wheel is at that weird 30 degree angle and I'm back where I started (without power steering) and I get the Steering Angle Sensor code.

Well, the steering angle sensor is calibrated at the time when toe is significantly changed at alignment shop. The sensor tells the ECU/ABS system the angle at which the steering wheel is turned either way to properly apply ABS/ESP intervention. The sensor is used in conjunction with inertia sensor. In your case the steering wheel is crooked now in respect to what the system knew to date as zero degree steering wheel position so when you drive straight ahead your steering angle sensor shows some amount of turn. At the same time the inertia sensor shows no lateral acceleration so ECU goes into "WTF?" mode and disables systems so you don't kill yourself. It knows something is off and gives you the best guess - steering angle sensor error. I think it also kill the power steering relay as it suspects broken power steering.

This alone should give you a clue that your suspension is REALLY BROKEN now.

I would get a clue the second I noticed my wheel is now 30 deg off.

You seem very resistant to any advises me give out here so this will be my last post. Use the frigging string.

[mark001]

I'm not being resistant to your advise. I already mentioned that I've checked toe and both wheels look identical on both sides when pointing forward. Neither is pushed in farther in than the other. I'm just trying to find out wtf else could the issue be since all control arms, axle, sway bars, and other suspension components are in tact.
I had no chance to take the car to the alignment shop yet since my work schedule is messed up. Hopefully I can take the car in today and they can clarify what the hell is wrong.

[P0234]

You seem very resistant to any advises me give out here so this will be my last post. Use the frigging string.

You should check out the OP's several other threads about problems with his car and the antics along with the attempted repairs. He seems incapable of troubleshooting and/or following advice. Any attempts at help are just pissing in the wind.

[mark001]

Sorry, I guess it's just wishful thinking that nothing serious is wrong when it probably is...

You should check out the OP's several other threads about problems with his car and the antics along with the attempted repairs. He seems incapable of troubleshooting and/or following advice. Any attempts at help are just pissing in the wind.

Which thread? The one about my fuel issues? I did everything that was suggested. From doing fuel pressure tests etc to replacing parts...What did I miss? Even though it might not seem that I appretiate your guys' help I really do and I state that on nearly every thread I make

[P0234]

Sorry, I guess it's just wishful thinking that nothing serious is wrong when it probably is...



Which thread? The one about my fuel issues? I did everything that was suggested. From doing fuel pressure tests etc to replacing parts...What did I miss? Even though it might not seem that I appretiate your guys' help I really do and I state that on nearly every thread I make

You are trying stuff, yes, however you aren't troubleshooting. Troubleshooting means dividing systems and following proper procedures to test components in the system. These cars are very complex and if you don't follow procedures, you end up playing a parts replacement game. What you are doing is playing a very expensive (time and money) guessing game.

[mark001]

You are trying stuff, yes, however you aren't troubleshooting. Troubleshooting means dividing systems and following proper procedures to test components in the system. These cars are very complex and if you don't follow procedures, you end up playing a parts replacement game. What you are doing is playing a very expensive (time and money) guessing game.

I did every test possible when it comes down to the fuel issue......fuel pressure test (which determined that in fact the fuel pressure was dropping more than it should and is what is causing the whole fuel issue thing), I did the compression test, and the smoke test to check the evap system. Which other tests are there? By the way, I didn't spend money on the parts I've replaced...I borrowed them from a friend with a healthy working S4.

Once again, thanks for all the help but I did troubleshoot with no success. And, when it comes to this ABS crap, I never mentioned that I will just go ahead and buy new control arms, axle, sway bars etc before taking the car to a shop...I checked everything I could (naturally) before taking/having the time to take the car to a shop since my work schedule is messed up and by the time I get off work every shop is closed. I'm taking time off from work tommorow however

[P0234]

Once again, thanks for all the help but I did troubleshoot with no success.

This isn't the time or place to discuss how you properly troubleshoot, but I will say there are only two outcomes of troubleshooting, finding a component that has failed or having another question. There is no "done and I don't know." Troubleshooting isn't hooking up a fuel guage and saying, pressure read, done. I can't teach it to you over a forum. When I was having misfires, I spent a good bit of time troubleshooting, in fact the issue was so complex I had to scribble down some notes:

[mark001]

Wish you were closer so you could do some troubleshooting for me. Looking at that chart you obvioiusly know what you're talking about (I'm not being sarcastic).

[P0234]

I'd love to help, but I'd rather teach you how to troubleshoot than fix your problem for you, you know then teach a man to fish thing. Some good links if you really want to get started:

http://www.suite101.com/content/gene...hooting-a14843
http://autorepair.about.com/od/troub...hooting.htm#s1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubleshooting

[julex]

I love your diagram.

[mark001]

I straightened the wheels and while the wheel that was curb rashed is straight the passenger wheel is pointing a bit to the right so I guess I have some toe-out. But like I said, I inspected the whole suspension assembly and nothing seems off. I tried to take the car to several different places and missed many hours of work to try to find a place that has a lift, low enough for my car so the mechanics could inspect it. I guess Sears is my only option to go to since they're open past 5pm and all the other shops Close at around 5pm. But could an alignment simply fix this issue? Give me some hope guys