'steering defective - do not drive' - please help

[apples12]

Hi all

have a 2012 (61) Audi A6 C7 Avant with a 2.0tdi engine and manual gearbox - went in for its MOT at Audi and on the drive home the above message popped up on the DIS - stopped driving and had it towed back to the dealer by the AA.

Dealer is now wanting 2.5k to replace the entire steering rack because there is apparently an 'intermittent fault with the steering rack ECU' - the car only has 30k miles on it with a FULL dealer history, was purchased approved used and has had every little thing done at the dealer down to scratches being repaired.

can anyone help? is there a TSB about this somewhere that I can send on to the service tech?

[Elansear]

Hi Do not know if this applies to your car, but may do. I have a 65 plate FL it went back for a MMI problem and at the same time they looked at a recall for the rack do do with moisture being let in by a seal. All was OK but your car might be subject to that recall, I would check it out it may help. Cant see 2.5k for a rack or its electronics.....

[johnsimcox]

I can believe the 2.5k figure. On our Polo I had to have the rack replaced about 18 months ago and at that time the cost of the rack alone from VW was over £800 and clearly there is a fair bit of labour (at £100+ per hour) involved in removing and reinstalling it. Even the non-VW alternative we ending up using cost over £500 plus labour.

I would have thought there would be a case for some level of goodwill contribution from Audi on this given the FASH and it would reasonable not to expect a steering rack to fail so quickly. Also if it is just the ECU that has failed a quick search on Audi Steering Rack ECU repair shows up a list of people who repair or offer replacement ECUs. Would expect it to be much cheaper than replacing the whole rack

[morski]

The steering racks can get moisture in them due to a bad seal and they are stupid expensive. If your dealer is not willing to give a generous goodwill then i suggest you look at a 2nd hand part from a breakers and have a decent garage fit it for you. A used rack should be around £150 upwards and there are plenty of A6's breaking. Its not a difficult job but does take time due to its location.

[Smithsk71]

I hope you can get some goodwill but I think £2.5k a little steep too.
Within the last couple of months I needed new rack on VW Touran and had it done with timing belt & water pump change, front pads and discs, oil & filter change, leaking boost pipe replaced and 4 wheel tracking for £2000 all-in Bosch Independent Garage. Price of the rack alone on GSF listed as £990! It had managed 93,000 miles.

Good luck with it.

[morski]

A new A6 steering rack is £1740 and then add on labour and dealer tracking then you can see why they have quoted £2.5k

[Akash]

As mentioned, the price is about right. My c6 had lots of rattling/play issues with the rack but it was replaced under warranty numerous times at which point they wrote the car off but I remember seeing the high potential costs if it was not in warranty. At that cost, it might be better to chop the car in especially back at that dealership and get another? Let them sort it out when the next person buys it especially as it's intermittent!