Red steering wheel of death!!!!! ugggggg

[pairadocs]

my 2013 B8.5 S4 decided to give me the dreaded red steering wheel of death DO NOT DRIVE light on the dash. and to make matters worse, this is the 2nd time this week, and only 8 hours after getting it back from the dealer, Audi Devon.

it was throwing the yellow steering wheel at me for the past week, and it says ''you can continue to drive'' so i continued, and planned to get it into the dealer next week while i am away. but, on tuesday morn, got into the car to go to work, and it wouldn't start and red steering wheel light came on. 4 hours later, audi tow truck came and took it to dealer in PA.

When the yellow light was coming on this past week, it felt like my steering wheel was possessed, mildly, and usually only when the car was cold, in the morning.

i just knew that it didn't sound fixed when the service guy called me and said i can pick it up. when i asked what they did, he said they ''replaced 2 relays and they will see if that works''. Gotta love the confidence in that statement.

drove 10 miles to my office, car sat for 8 hours, got in it last night in the middle of typical northeast thunderstorm, and once again it wouldn't start and same red steering wheel light on dash saying DO NOT DRIVE. towed back to audi devon.

any advice is much appreciated.

FML

[audibmi]

dealer replaced my steering rack when my dash displayed that warning. read about it here: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post9018062

[WJN S4]

Sorry to hear - what's your mileage and what mods do you have on?
I'm curious to know whether it is an Audi component, or aftermarket related (your AWE system, etc)

[AKPS4]

Sounds like Audi related to me. This has not really be reported before here following any mods. Most if not all mods shouldn't effect steering anyways.

[pairadocs]

mileage 39781

no mods except AWE exhaust

[DGVR6]

Uff, that's expensive. Steering column.

[MrFunk]

That sucks. The 13's continue to have a lot of steering issues...
Has nothing to do with mods...
Hope they get it right this time. Nothing worst than being stranded like that... I'd get with AoA and let them know what's happening so that they can "big brother" the repair and make sure you don't get it back until it's 100% fixed.

[SteveYem]

Very interesting. This morning when I started my car (2015 S4) after it sat outside in the heavy rain all night, an unusual 'buzzing' noise came from the steering column area that lasted for a little less than a second. I did not get any warning lights or experience any unusual feeling in the steering (other than the normal B8.5 unusual steering feel). The noise happened right at start-up when the wheel typically twitches back and forth on its own.

Do either of you guys have aftermarket suspension parts - springs, coilovers, sway bar, endlinks?

[DGVR6]

Back when I had the b6 Passat we had electric steering just like the b8.5.

Eventually they issued a recall for the steering column. I wouldn't be surprised if more issues like this surface.

[IIIAWOLIII]

''replaced 2 relays and they will see if that works''. Gotta love the confidence in that statement.

FML

Sorry to hear about your steering issue. Hopefully they get it fixed this time.

I've been hearing negative things about the Devon dealership. Thinking of using the Conshohocken dealer for my 5k service. Wonder if they're owned by the same group...

Edit: I see they are building a new Audi dealership in Chadds Ford, PA. Hope it's also unaffiliated with Devon...

[pairadocs]

Sorry to hear about your steering issue. Hopefully they get it fixed this time.

I've been hearing negative things about the Devon dealership. Thinking of using the Conshohocken dealer for my 5k service. Wonder if they're owned by the same group...

Edit: I see they are building a new Audi dealership in Chadds Ford, PA. Hope it's also unaffiliated with Devon...

the devon dealer has an impressive appearance - aesthetically pleasing, but thats not worth $h!t if they dont fix this.

i'm totally going to chadds ford once it opens, since its so much closer to me. I never go to the wilmington dealer.

[Frinkferta]

Hmm this is a new issue to me. Sorry to hear about this happening. I have a 13 S4 with 45k miles, no steering issues.

[shadyreddy]

Sorry to hear about this issue! I have a 2014 S4 and my steering wheel ticks at low speeds. Its almost really annoying and i've never been able to pinpoint why or where its coming from =\ has that happened to you or anyone else before ?

[SteveYem]

Sorry to hear about this issue! I have a 2014 S4 and my steering wheel ticks at low speeds. Its almost really annoying and i've never been able to pinpoint why or where its coming from =\ has that happened to you or anyone else before ?

I've never heard my steering wheel tick. I'm assuming yours does it only when actively turning the wheel? Or does a ticking sound emanate from the steering column regardless of steering position or movement? Any chance you could capture a sound clip of it?

[pairadocs]

well, the latest update - dealership just called me, told me that the Master technician found that there was a '' ground wire that had come loose''. ....sounds fishy to me, but all i an do is hope its fixed. a ground wire, lol...guess it didn't need the relays that they put in it a few days ago?

[cchoi83]

Very interesting. This morning when I started my car (2015 S4) after it sat outside in the heavy rain all night, an unusual 'buzzing' noise came from the steering column area that lasted for a little less than a second. I did not get any warning lights or experience any unusual feeling in the steering (other than the normal B8.5 unusual steering feel). The noise happened right at start-up when the wheel typically twitches back and forth on its own.

Do either of you guys have aftermarket suspension parts - springs, coilovers, sway bar, endlinks?

Steve, I have a 2015 S4 as well and I've never noticed it. I also drove late last night in the pouring rain and I didn't notice anything unusual except for the typical weird "anti-drift" and "lazy-center" stuff. I'll have to keep in mind to pay more attention the next time it pours.

[cjw]

All I noticed is some scrubbing in tight turns. I figured that was normal...I hope.

[Turboaudi01]

Sorry to hear - what's your mileage and what mods do you have on?
I'm curious to know whether it is an Audi component, or aftermarket related (your AWE system, etc)

His AWE system?! What his exhaust?

[pairadocs]

yea, i have an AWE catback exhaust system. i came from a B7 with a Fast Intentions full system and the B8.5 was just too quiet. didn't last more than a week with the OEM exhaust and i put the AWE on....much more enjoyable. traveling to vegas/yosemite/sequoia. gonna get the car back next saturday and pray it works

[shadyreddy]

I've never heard my steering wheel tick. I'm assuming yours does it only when actively turning the wheel? Or does a ticking sound emanate from the steering column regardless of steering position or movement? Any chance you could capture a sound clip of it?

It actually comes up when i am turning but its pretty annoying and freaks me out thinking something is wrong with the steering. I can try to capture the sound the next time i get in. But i unfortunately got into an accident today and my front right side is pretty much banged up.

[poopzeug]

My steering rack was replaced due to 2 broken gear teeth. It never gave me a warning light. It took 4 trips to the dealer to diagnose. It felt like a bump or judder when turning the wheel more than one turn in either direction.

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