Active cruise alignment

[20vcqdriver]

This is one option I'll never want on a car again, in principle its good but in practice its been nothing but trouble. Having it mounted so low down on the car is a stupid idea for a start and the cause of some of my issues.
It worked perfectly for 7 months after buying the car, until I caught a high kerb and knocked it slightly out of alignment, As I had only had the car a short time I had it re-aligned at a rip off price by Audi not realising how much it would cost (never again).
3 months later the heated cover failed , why it should be a critical issue that stops the active cruise working I don't know but I decided not to bother sorting it for 12 months but eventually bit the bullet and changed it and reset it on the vcds. Great it was working again for 3 weeks when I hit one of the many hundred potholes in Liverpool tonight and found it wasn't working again. On plugging in vcds it once again came up with misalignment that wouldn't clear. great.
So first question: How does this sensor know its misaligned?.
2nd question: Has anyone managed to carry out an alignment without resorting to an Audi dealership and their extortionate Labour costs .
As it stands at the moment I'm not going to fix it again, unless its possible to resort to normal cruise control by changing a setting on VCDS....
Thanks in advance...

[20vcqdriver]

OK. I have had time today to check sensor and all that appears to have happened is that 2of the locating pins popped out of the plastic holders. Pushed back in until they clicked in and tested alignment with a laser pointer as detailed in a other post and all perfect but fault will not clear from vcds. I am guessing that a code bit needs changing to allow the code to be cleared and my cruise to work again. Anyone know how to do this. Cheers

[MarkTM]

As I think I've said before the ACC function is probably spec'd 1:100 cars in the UK if that, so finding advice will be a rarity.

Am guessing that VCDS may have a separate module for the ACC as don't even know where the cruise module can be found for my standard system!

Did a quick google and the only thing meaningful I found was this:

http://www.audi-portal.com/en/diagnostic/ecu_11740.html#1

Which I'm guessing you've probably already seen?

Hopefully someone with ACC on a C6 pre will be along soon :)

[20vcqdriver]

Sorted. Having driven50 miles or so since re-alignment I tried again to reset and it cleared... Seems to need to learn check parameters before it decides its safe to allow a reset/ clearing of the code.
something to remember for ne,t time as I'm sure it will happen again ;)

[dan2485]

It's good to know that the laser alignment worked and you did not have pay a fortune to get it sorted out.

[c4a5er]

Do you have a link to the post on the testing with a laser pointer?

[dan2485]

I found this a while back of the net see post 13.


There are some typos in it.

Active cruise alignment - Page 2 (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/156149-Active-cruise-alignment/page2)

[20vcqdriver]

Yep this was the method used, I used 2 axle stands 20-30m away on a flat road and set them up to the same height as sensor, using string against front to rear tyres to get stands spot on, pointer (cat laser toy :D) fired from one stand to mirror and back to the other stand that had a sheet of paper attached, adjusted screws as necessary (had to spray first with WD40). Took 2 hours all done but saved me an expensive few hours at a dealer..

[MarkTM]

Wow! Would have thought a cat toy, mirror, sheet of paper and 2hrs could save £££'s

'Here's one I made earlier' takes on a whole mew meaning :biglaugh:

[c4a5er]

I found this a while back of the net see post 13.


There are some typos in it.

Active cruise alignment - Page 2 (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/156149-Active-cruise-alignment/page2)



Yep this was the method used, I used 2 axle stands 20-30m away on a flat road and set them up to the same height as sensor, using string against front to rear tyres to get stands spot on, pointer (cat laser toy :D) fired from one stand to mirror and back to the other stand that had a sheet of paper attached, adjusted screws as necessary (had to spray first with WD40). Took 2 hours all done but saved me an expensive few hours at a dealer..

Thank you both. Very useful info should I ever be in need.:beerchug: