Steering Lock column Defective

**tobetrue123** · 20-11-2009,01:24 AM

Hello All,

Over a week ago, I got the Steering Lock column Defective message in my 55 plate 1.9tdi passat. After switching it off/on again, it's been ok ever since. I never got the message again.

However having read couple of threads on this subject, it seems this is an expensive problem...costing nearly a grand. My question is was my 'Steering Lock column Defective' message most likely a just a one off or is this how the problem starts to occur....i.e. message will start to apear more frequently over time till the car cuts out etc?

Many thanks in advance...need to decide what to do with the car

**martin1810** · 20-11-2009,02:21 PM

A few people have found that fitting a new, quality car battery has stopped this happening again. Maybe it won't happen again anyway. The steering column lock is a known issue.

**daveyboy467** · 20-11-2009,07:51 PM

Originally Posted by martin1810

A few people have found that fitting a new, quality car battery has stopped this happening again. Maybe it won't happen again anyway. The steering column lock is a known issue.

i agree, i had i couple of week of intermitant faults with this...then 2 month of no problems, then it came back for a day and then i disconnected the battery for 12hrs....and fitted a new one....since then no problems

**daveyboy467** · 22-11-2009,02:48 PM

OH MY GOD...talk about a curse!

it just did it again today...parked in multi storey, turned engine off. pressed key fob to lock...nothing happened.

i knew straight away it had the problem again. 5 min job to get 10mm socket out of boot, took live and negative terminals off batery, left for 10 secs, re connected. HEY PRESSTOE... Instant fix.

don't waste £100 on a new battery..its doesn't work for long...aprox 8 week since it last did it.

i'm going to make a log now to see if there is a pattern

**Quatrelle** · 22-11-2009,05:43 PM

Disconnecting the battery for a minute or so is a good fix for a lot of problems, always worth carrying a 10mm spanner in with the jack.

Best to disconnect the negative terminal first though....

**mickwillow** · 22-11-2009,05:57 PM

Hi
My 06 Passat sports (30k on the clock) started with the problem 4 weeks ago.

Took it in to the dealer for a service and they told me that the steering column and control unit was faulty , price for the repair £800 on top of the service !
My VW dealer told me they would talk to VW uk about "Goodwill" as my car was 6 months out of warrantry,
Guess what 2 weeks later VW have said they would pay 70% of the bill

it goes in tomorrow for the work!

**Quatrelle** · 22-11-2009,07:34 PM

It's good to know that you haven't got to pay more than 30%, but given VW's supposed 'reputation', and that it's a known fault, it's shabby. They should do a recall.

**mickwillow** · 22-11-2009,08:42 PM

too right !! when you see the same fault in the usa !!!!
Should be a recall !!!
COME ON VW

all us passat drivers out !!

**daveyboy467** · 22-11-2009,11:10 PM

well i'm happy just carrying a 10mm socket.... it would have to be free before i get it fixed.

i'd rather eat stones than take my cheque book to a vw dealer.

... i need another key but refuse to open my self up to stupid claims of further work needed.

all main dealers think its ok to charge massive sums, for un-skilled tasks....eg plugging the computer onto the car.

**daveyboy467** · 22-11-2009,11:14 PM

Originally Posted by daveyboy467

well i'm happy just carrying a 10mm socket.... it would have to be free before i get it fixed.

i'd rather eat stones than take my cheque book to a vw dealer.

... i need another key but refuse to open my self up to stupid claims of further work needed.

all main dealers think its ok to charge massive sums, for un-skilled tasks....eg plugging the computer onto the car.

no matter what anyone puts forward....this can not be argued...that it is a skilled task.... plug...pc...car...socket....list of codes....manual to refer to default codes....manual for changing codes...printer. job done.