Cheap Fix for Passat B6 Steering lock problem with non dealer recode

[Quatrelle]

Crasher, having completely hijacked this thread, let me just finish by saying that my letter to the CEO of VW in Germany regarding their policy on injector replacement was passed to VW France who said that it's not their policy to resolve problems that haven't occurred.

The best bit was when I spoke to the manager of the service dept in my dealers a couple of years ago about reports on this forum of injector failures. His reply was that I shouldn't believe things I read on UK forums....

[Crasher]

The best bit was when I spoke to the manager of the service dept in my dealers a couple of years ago about reports on this forum of injector failures. His reply was that I shouldn't believe things I read on UK forums....

Yes, I remember you relating that at the time and it made me smirk, the French just don't like us, its about time we realised that.

[V6Jules]

Just a little update to say the fix I did nearly two years ago still seems to be working fine in my passat. Glad the photos are still helping people :-)

[tommo1961]

Hi Reddevil7 just had a quote from dealer for £805 FOR this problem can you post number or name of place in northampton you used. I am Coventry and should manage to get car to northampton. Need car for work so quite urgent.

[martin1810]

Hi Reddevil7 just had a quote from dealer for £805 FOR this problem can you post number or name of place in northampton you used. I am Coventry and should manage to get car to northampton. Need car for work so quite urgent.

The quote is nonsense. Try another dealer. The part is £75.00 plus fitting and coding, should be less than £300 all in.

[deputyjk]

Hi all.

I'm new to the forum and joined because of V6Jules guide to fixing this dreaded steering lock problem. Fair play to ya V6Jules ;-). Anyway I am considering doing this procedure tomorrow, however one question before I start tearing the car appart. I have a B6 Passat, 1.6L Petrol.

I am having difficulty starting the car. Sometimes it starts for a second or two and then cuts out, it could take 10 attempts or it might start first time. Other times it dosent even turn over but various attempts later it will start. However I have never gotten any error message on the console. Does indicate anything? Should there always be an error on the consule?

Any help is much appriciated. Thanks in advance guys.


P.S. If anyone is having any Alfa 156 probs give me a shout. Have loads of experience with these ;-)

[martin1810]

Why take car apart if you don't have diagnostics to show what the fault is. Steering fault and immobiliser fault should show up in a scan. How to fix the steering fault is explained on my site.

[deputyjk]

Why take car apart if you don't have diagnostics to show what the fault is. Steering fault and immobiliser fault should show up in a scan. How to fix the steering fault is explained on my site.

Thanks Martin

Low and behold this morning I started the car and it displayed the dreaded “Steering Lock See Workshop” in the driver information system on the dash and the Steering Wheel warning light illuminates in either Red or Orange.

Do you suggest I perform this operation now?

Also is there any danger I could set off the airbags, should I disconnect the battery? Do all the covers around the steering column need to be removed? (I am having difficulty trying to figure out how to remove the steering column)

[martin1810]

Seems like steering lock needs replacing now. I still have a few spare switches if you want to try the repair method on my site.

[deputyjk]

Seems like steering lock needs replacing now. I still have a few spare switches if you want to try the repair method on my site.

Thanks Martin. Think I try a bit of contact cleaner first.


Is there any danger I could set off the airbags, should I disconnect the battery? Do all the covers around the steering column need to be removed? (I am having difficulty trying to figure out how to remove the steering column)