POWER STEERING FAILURE
STIFF STEERING / STEERING WHEEL STIFF
It was a perfect sunny day with hardly any breeze, when my wife and I decided to go for a Sunday outing. We loaded the VW Polo 2.0L Highline, with picnic umbrella, and packed a picnic basket filled with food and refreshments. I mounted the bicycle holder on the tow-bar ball and attached our 2 bicycles, and off we went. But our joyous mood was abruptly interrupted about halfway to our destination when the Polo had a sudden steering problem. This is probably the worst thing that can happen to any unsuspecting driver whilst driving in a relaxed state. As I was entering into a long but sharp curve, my power steering kinda "froze for a second" . I was steering with one hand — which is all it normally takes — because the steering wheel is so light. But before I could respond to grip the steering with two hands, I also instinctively braked and with screeching tyres, I hit the pavement so hard that both front airbags popped.
The steering wheel had suddenly become hard to turn / stiff and tight /difficult to turn. Kinda difficult to explain. A stiff hard to turn steering wheel as if there is no power steering. It was light to steer when suddenly it was hard to turn the steering wheel, because the steering wheel went stiff. A stiff steering when turning. The steering wheel becomes stiff and hard to turn. I hope you know what I mean. Fortunately there wasn't a another car involved and even more fortunate nobody got injured except my pride. The first thing that went through my mind after calming the wife down and confirming that she was ok, was to determine the extent of the damage.
As the airbags deflated I looking at the dashboard and saw all the light on the dashboard glowing. The yellow EPC light was on, the yellow steering wheel light (K161) was on, the ABS light was on, the red battery light was on, and the yellow brake pad light was on. The engine had switched off and I realized the ignition was still on. So I tried started the engine and it wouldn't take, I switch the ignition off and tried again, all the light went out and the car idled. On further inspection, I saw the rim that hit the curb was deformed and the tyre was flat. I figured I could just fit the spare and we would be on our way. As I reversed away from the pavement, the steering wheel was back to normal, it was light again. After fitting the spare wheel, I turned the steering wheel two full turns in either direction with one hand or rather my fingertips. This was very odd, even peculiar, because the Polo just came back from its 100k service / cam belt replacement a short while ago. I'm certain if there was any problem with my steering wheel my machy would have told me but he said absolutely nothing. Anyway, so we eventually get home and as I turned into my driveway the steering goes hard/stiff/difficult to turn once again. As I drove forward the steering wheel returned to normal. So I popped the bonnet, checking for anything out of the ordinary. I rolled under the Polo, checked the steering control module, looked at the steering pump (V187), yet it all checked out fine. Out came VCDS and I scanned the Polo and found the battery connection to be intermittent. Look at the 18010/P1602 error below.
The steering wheel had suddenly become hard to turn / stiff and tight /difficult to turn. Kinda difficult to explain. A stiff hard to turn steering wheel as if there is no power steering. It was light to steer when suddenly it was hard to turn the steering wheel, because the steering wheel went stiff. A stiff steering when turning. The steering wheel becomes stiff and hard to turn. I hope you know what I mean. Fortunately there wasn't a another car involved and even more fortunate nobody got injured except my pride. The first thing that went through my mind after calming the wife down and confirming that she was ok, was to determine the extent of the damage.
As the airbags deflated I looking at the dashboard and saw all the light on the dashboard glowing. The yellow EPC light was on, the yellow steering wheel light (K161) was on, the ABS light was on, the red battery light was on, and the yellow brake pad light was on. The engine had switched off and I realized the ignition was still on. So I tried started the engine and it wouldn't take, I switch the ignition off and tried again, all the light went out and the car idled. On further inspection, I saw the rim that hit the curb was deformed and the tyre was flat. I figured I could just fit the spare and we would be on our way. As I reversed away from the pavement, the steering wheel was back to normal, it was light again. After fitting the spare wheel, I turned the steering wheel two full turns in either direction with one hand or rather my fingertips. This was very odd, even peculiar, because the Polo just came back from its 100k service / cam belt replacement a short while ago. I'm certain if there was any problem with my steering wheel my machy would have told me but he said absolutely nothing. Anyway, so we eventually get home and as I turned into my driveway the steering goes hard/stiff/difficult to turn once again. As I drove forward the steering wheel returned to normal. So I popped the bonnet, checking for anything out of the ordinary. I rolled under the Polo, checked the steering control module, looked at the steering pump (V187), yet it all checked out fine. Out came VCDS and I scanned the Polo and found the battery connection to be intermittent. Look at the 18010/P1602 error below.
Chassis Type: 9N - VW Polo
Scan: 01,02,03,08,09,15,17,19,25,37,44,45,46,56,76
---------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: None
Controller: 06A 906 032 PB
Component: 2.0l ME7.5.10 0305
Coding: 00071
Shop #: WSC 01120
AAVZZZ9NZ7UXXXXX VWZ7Z0G52XXXXX
1 Faults Found:
18010 - Power Supply Terminal 30: Voltage too Low
P1602 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
Readiness: 0000 0000
---------------------------------------------------
Address 15: Airbags
Control Module Part Number: 6Q0 909 601 F
Component and/or Version: 05 AIRBAG VW5 0010
Software Coding: 12341
Work Shop Code: WSC 31414
6 Faults Found:
00595 - Crash Data Stored
35-00 - -
01214 - Crash Data for Belt Tensioner Stored
35-00 - -
00588 - Airbag Igniter; Driver Side (N95)
32-00 - Resistance too High
00589 - Airbag Igniter 1; Passenger Side (N131)
29-10 - Short to Ground - Intermittent
00589 - Airbag Igniter 1; Passenger Side (N131)
32-10 - Resistance too High - Intermittent
01280 - Airbag; Passenger Side; Disabled
35-00 - -
---------------------------------------------------
Thereafter I decided I was going to take the Polo back on the road. So I reversed out of the driveway and suddenly the problem was back. The only thing I did was climb the 30 mm coping at the edge of the driveway so I drove back into the driveway and as the back wheels hit the driveway copping the steering was fine once more. Since the steering pump (V187) actually stops working for the second or so, it had to be something to do with the power. So I pulled on every visible cable that goes into the wiring harness to the steering pump (V187). I even checked the enclosed fuses on top of the battery when I noticed that the negative battery terminal wasn't properly tightened. As I tightened the nut I discovered the nut was stripped and wouldn't tighten any further. Then realized this had to be the problem. I scratched around in the garage, found a screw that would work, tightened the battery terminal and reversed out of the driveway and drove it back in a few times and the problem didn't reoccur. So I called my wife and asked her move the steering wheel to and fro with her hand while standing outside the Polo with her hand through the open window. I loosened the battery terminal and disconnected the battery while the polo was idling. When it was disconnected my wife couldn't move the steering wheel and when I replace the terminal she could. So I was totally convinced that the intermittent battery contact caused intermittent power to the pump which is exactly what happened a second before I fit the pavement.
So now I had to track down the cowboy who stripped by battery terminal nut because the last time I took the battery out to replace my headlight bulbs I personally tightened it and am darn sure it wasn't stripped. This was roughly a week before it went for that major service. It just had to be one of the workshop guys that was responsible so like three days later I went to my VW /Audi machy's workshop to complain and demanded compensation for the damage to my car but got the saddest news. The same Sunday that my wife and I want for our picnic my VW/Audi machy was out biking and was killed in a head-on collision and died on the spot.
Here are some VW, Audi power steering problems listed below, all of which seem to have a (G85) sensor issue.
Address 03: ABS Brakes
Controller: 7L0 907 379 G
Component: ESP ALLRAD MK25 0203
Coding: 0006402
Shop #: WSC 3141
00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85)
000 - -
Address 34: Level Control
Controller: 7L0 907 553 F
Component: LUFTFDR.-CDC- 3C3P1 3081
Coding: 0015521
Shop #: WSC 02631
00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85)
004 - No Signal/Communication
Address 03: ABS Brakes
Part No: 6Q0 907 379 M
Component: front H02 0001 ESP 5.7
Coding: 0000000
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85)
005 - No or Incorrect Basic Setting / Adaptation
Address 44: Steering Assist
Part No: 1K1 909 144 J
Component: EPS_ZFLS Kl.5 D04 1606
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85)
000 - -
Address 03: ABS Brakes
Part No: 1K0 907 379 K
Component: ESP FRONT MK60 0104
Coding: 0021121
00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85)
005 - No or Incorrect Basic Setting / Adaptation
Address 44: Steering Assist Labels: 6Q0-423-156.lbl
Part No: 6R0 423 156 B
Component: LenkhilfeTRW V277
Coding: 11221
Shop #: WSC 06402
00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85)
49-00 - No Communications
When I surfed the net, I discovered that several other VW owners experience similar problems. Here a dude who says:- "The dealership keeps giving my car back to me unfixed yet still replacing parts! The dangerous part of this is the steering locks up when the car dies and i'ts still moving. I am fearful of driving it and I haven't gotten anywhere with VW. I am not alone and that it seems to be the same particular year and engine as mine in most owners replies. I would like to help find a solution before any serious accidents happen or anyone is hurt. Thanks".
The Steering Angle Sensor (G85) is an opto coupler fitted in a collar under the steering wheel airbag. It sends sends the steering wheel position to the Power Steering Control Module (J500) at the base of the steering column interfacing with the Electro-mechanical Power Steering Motor V187 all of which need power to operate properly. If the power disappears, the pump doesn't work and the steering goes stiff until the power is restored.
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