There is no need to remove the whole column for this repair. My 2011 did this very thing 4 months ago. I got a column from a junkyard for $100...removed the lock module and installed in the vehicle without removing the column. I did drop it down to access the module.. Then towed it to vw where they reprogrammed it for $50. Done, done and done...
For real. Stuff like this makes me scared to death to have a late model out of warranty vehicle. Other that my 2017 Jeep, I'm going back to the 90s or later for everything else from here on out.
@Aleïster Owley heck yeah! Same here. Sold my old car and got a 91 civic a couple years ago.. knew nothing about car repair. Now I can do everything short of engine and gearbox rebuilds on it.
I’ve been watching another RUclipsr “Jonathan W”. He’s a tow truck driver that collects old cars. 20s-50s. He’ll pull 1930s car out of a garage that’s been sitting for 40yr. Clean the spark plugs and they start right up. I mean these cars are completely trashed but still start like it’s 1935. I want a brand new car built to 1930s spec with modern A/C. Boom perfection.
Correct. All the red highlighted modules all said "Cannot be reached," because there was no ignition switch power. However, there IS a trick to wake up at least a couple more of those modules, most importantly address 05 start auth./column lock/KESSY. That is the module where the problem was in this instance and clearing the codes from that module can at least allow you to start the car and be able to drive it. Trick is to hold the brake pedal, turn on the hazards, pull back on the turn signal stalk ("Flash to pass" headlights--the work on straight battery power, not switched power) and hold it there. Then try to scan the gateway and see what modules are online. It still won't be all of them, but you're only interested in that address 05-KESSY module. Login to that, see what the codes are, SAVE the codes to reference later, CLEAR the codes, then try to start it. In most VW/Audi products with that electronic steering column lock/KESSY module, that will allow it to respond to the start button/ignition switch signal and to be able to start the car. Ultimately, it would likely still need a new/repaired column module to ensure a long-lived fix, but at least if you had that scan tool and knew the trick to wake up enough of the CAN bus to communicate with address 05, you could at least drive it to the shop instead of towing it and the shop themselves could move it around easily to wherever was ideal for them to let it sit in a corner while the column is removed and sent out for repair.
Really Bru....Im so puzzled regarding buying one but I'm so tempted and it's appears to be the perfect beast for what I intend to do with it.... please advise
i've had many bmw's, vw's Mercedes in the past and recently got sick of dealing with issues on them, so i went back to Toyota. bored with it so considered a Touareg then watched this video. i'll stay with my boring 4runner.....thank you!
Bought myself a Prado 2007 model. Had it vetted at a reliable mach. It's used as holiday car. Stands weeks at times. Get in turn the key and hey presto it runs. NO ISSUES peace of mind. The money he spent on repairs I spend on holiday. No brainer.
Good info and great to see your mechanic using VCDS and to see the CAN Gateway installation list. Most of the modules in red were that way because they were unable to come online and retrieve information from. You'll see the note on the right that says "Cannot be reached". That's because the column module was not allowing ignition switch power to come online. There is a trick that would be good to pass on and would be good for your own knowledge too if you buy VCDS or OBDEleven (Android bluetooth OBD2 tool with VAG OE level capabilities). You can wake up enough of the various CAN buses enough to at least retrieve codes from the module in question here: the address 05 steering column lock/start authorization/KESSY module. The trick to do that is to get in the car, hold your foot on the brake, turn on the hazards, pull back on the turn signal stalk ("flash to pass" high beam flash) and hold it so it keeps the high beams on. Then use your scan tool to login to the address 05 ESCL/start auth/KESSY module. Read the codes. Ideally you'd either save them to reference later or write them down. Then clear the codes. Once you clear the codes, you should be able to start the car. That way you're not fumbling around trying to find the manual shift release and paying for a tow. You could just clear the codes and drive it to the shop. This would also be good info to pass onto your technician so it's easier on him as well, he could drive the vehicle to a corner of his shop where he could disassemble things and be able to leave it there while waiting for the refurbished module to come back. Sometimes clearing codes like that will allow it to work for many weeks without issue, but when the fault starts to recur more frequently, definitely should just have it repaired rather than attempt to limp things along with this trick. Gets old having to do that.
I owned a 2007 Audi Q7 TDi. Once I switched the suspension to a KW V3 suspension and ran 18s I loved the vehicle tremendously. That said, I also had this issue - for thankfully it was covered under warranty. The thing that did drive me crazy, and ultimately had me sell the car back to Audi under the Diesel buyback program, was the Diesel Particulate Exhaust System which would never properly clean itself and would require dealer visits for them to put it through a burn cycle - this then led to other misfiring issues in the engine. Towing was awesome, drove amazingly, but the vehicle at the end wasn't worth keeping once the Dieselgate issues hit the resale value. Great vehicle if you want to be your own mechanic, otherwise avoid - but I did love it.
Not a Touareg owner but love my TDI! Had to watch this one. TDI's get no love in the states, ahem diesel gate, but looking beyond that they are such a fun power band to use on the street. Torrrrrque everywhere, all the time, with handling of a GTI.
Happens on a lot of Audi and vw touareg, Porsche cayenne. Steering lock module, it unlocks and tells rest of the car to wake up. You can repair it yourself if you know how to solder and replace micro switches. They sell kits for it, or there are places that rebuild the modules.
It would be nice if you would share that information. My car is doing this once in a while but the light goes off immediately after start up and has never left me stranded. Thanks!
Steering angle sensor..... my old Passat has an almost identical steering column. VW wanted 800$ for the steering angle sensor..... crazy! I got the whole column from a wrecker for 175$, took the sensor out, put it into the passat..... reset the steering angle sensor with Rosstech, done...... lasted as long as the car did.... The old one had a plastic part that had snapped off inside....not sure how that would have happened...... probably a design fault. Tyco product. Anyway.....I have a 2014 TDI Touareg R-line now, and really love the thing.
There is no reason a steering column should be so complex that needs a module and can immobilize a vehicle. Please, $1800 - $3000 is outrageous for technology that is overkill and not needed. Steering systems were working well enough and were cost effective when we had hydraulic systems.
There’s a reason cars from the 80’s and 90’s are appreciating in value. Yes they are becoming classics, the second reason is they have less to go wrong with them, parts art cheaper/simplistic, and you don’t need proprietary software to work on one.
I just had this come up on my 2011 TDI Touareg as well. Same thing, part was on back order, took 3 weeks to get everything done. I didn't know about the yellow lever to switch it into neutral, I just used CAA and got them to dolly it. Good info boys.
My Touareg encountered the exactly same chaos last couple days ago from nowhere..., even worse because the freaking handbrake was on....The tow company tried three different tow trucks to get my car towed to vw dealer shop (It was finally towed by putting dolly wheel underneath the front two wheels). And now the dealer told me the entire steering column has to be replaced... so frustrating, what a nightmare.
Honestly, this is not a maintenance item. This is poor reliability design from VW. They should be taking ownership and fixing this at a low cost or if not free. This is the kind of poor product and service which will drive customers away from your brand for their lifetime.
A family friend had a Touareg that VW replaced the entire dash assy in twice under warranty. When it died again for the third time they bought it back from her.
As much of a disappointment as this is, after reading the video title, I'm just glad it wasn't something diesel engine related, like maybe a high pressure fuel pump. As an owner of one of these (as well as other less expensive vw tdis) it's nice to know what the common failures are before they happen.
This is the problem with putting way too many relays/electronics in newer vehicles, my 2002 Subaru WRX wagon (Stage 2+ Protuned) is still going strong after 205k miles with no issues! Electronics make cars worse since more things can go wrong.
Buy a 4WD Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, or Sequoia next. Other than that, the next best thing is a AWD Toyota Higlander, Honda Pilot, or Acura MDX after making sure you dig for model years without engine and transmission issues. I'm actually partial to used old used police Ford Explorers, those cars are genuinely fast.
Across my immediate family over the past 20 years, we have owned 10 German cars and 4 Japanese cars. The maintenance and failures have been pretty equal across the board. Easily the most reliable have been the Porsches. So many JDM fan bois in these comments acting like Japan has never made a bad car. I love my 350Z, but I'd definitely rather have an M3 or a Cayman S.
Just happened the same problem to my 2011/12 Touareg VR6, here in Brazil, in the middle of the pandemia, I cant even order the steering wheel module at the VW dealer, Does any one figure out a different solution?
Oh trust me, I wanted one so bad. Then I drove it. Its like a big tank and gets the same gas mileage as one. I wanted something a bit more agile, towed great, and got great mileage.
It's very common problem with a lot of cars from this era: vw, audi, bmw, volvo, subaru. Almost every with electronic steering lock and systems related with this. For some cars it can go bad even while driving which is terrifying. I've had this problem with my volvo (not starting because of steering lock fault). Decided just to program this system out and forgot about it. You don't even notice :) Cost arround 150 euros, which is, i think, up to 200usd.
Holy hell ! He still loves this car after this...but when a Japanese car gives a tiny error, the whole German fanboy community cheers. For sure there is a double standard in how people view cars.
German cars are meant for use during its warranty time. After warranty they are royally fucked. The ppl who buy second hand "new" german cars most likely need a couple grand worth of work.
Probably the same as my e91 you can get a mini board that you plug in to the instead of the steering lock module. It was around 30 bucks. Steering rack emulator, column sure looks the same. Same reset of the angle after fitting too.
I've got a VCDS cable, an older can+ one but it still works, I've had a few clocksprings fail so I just disabled the modules until they were replaced. Easier said then done, but it can be done (sometimes).
You know, you can do the audio mod, reverse mirror dip, folding mirrors, Google earth, parking heater, video in motion and much more. With just a VCDS.
Wow, didn't realize how much this video resonates with VW & non-VW drivers. @SpeedAcademy, any updates with the Touareg after another year? Did you unload it?
My Brother bought a running and driving Touareg for $1000. All these VW will end up in the Junkyard. Modules, Computers, ect is all way to expensive to repair and the dealers want an Arm and a leg for all these parts. I'm German and will never buy another Modern VW again
ZE_GERMAN My friend Klaus is Bavarian and he has a serious soft spot for BMW's but for VW: no way! Me too. I had 3 Passats and while the VR6 were a joy, the 1.8t wasnt very smooth and usually I could not keep up with repairs. Needless to say Klaus got his wife a CRV and I'm in a new Civic. He drive a fast M3 but he repairs it mostly himself.
what a bummer. we have a 2007 golf that's had a bunch of odd issues (things you wouldn't expect to fail) including the ignition barrel falling to bits & feels like the brand new replacement is about to do the same thing after a couple of years.
Why not just disable the column lock completely? In order to prevent this, you can preventatively disable the steering column lock in the Central Electronics Module (09). Go to byte 29 and check bit 0. Your steering wheel will no longer lock when you turn the engine off and remove the key. Or turn the engine off and open the driver’s door for KESSY equipped vehicles.
If the column is on back order it seems VW is well aware of that failure. Is there no service bulletin for it? Warranty replacement? As its a safety issue it seems like there should be.
J764 Steering lock module failure, most common on Jetta's ( some even had warranty extensions). Wait until you have a failed glow plug that's frozen in the head, THAT is scary. This Touareg likely has more in common with an A6/A8 than almost any VW and parts are priced accordingly.
i think the 253k was in kms, so about 157k miles. also, he bought car last year and it was already high, i think it came with 240k kms. ruclips.net/video/GX2VuFfhl0I/видео.html
Looking at the comments your guys over the pond have a downer on European cars and have seriously thick rose tinted glasses.... GM, FORD etc all make some serious duds with massive issues and very poor quality. Every brand/ marque has its issues
I just speak from actual experience and I'm not bias. Had a brand new Mercedes E350 and let it go at around 30,000ish miles. Had to be towed to the dealer 3 times for major failures dash completely died, starter died, and ecu freaked out. Sure it was fixed under warranty but the inconvenience of the breakdowns was terrible in that 2 out of the 3 breakdowns was out of town on vacation/visit.
Mrlolibre Yes, but you are just as likely if not more likely to have problems with a similar spec ford or GM product. I am not defending European brands, just saying you don’t need to look far to see your back yard isn’t clear 👍
James T There are different levels of complication and this particular VW is extremely luxurious but also extremely complicated. I doubt anything GM/Ford made can match it for luxury or complexity. We have Cadillac but nothing to the level of Rolls Royce for example. Pay to play... if you want the best, be ready to pay. To be really honest, recent practices of global sourcing of parts has made some of Ford parts a nightmare because it was previously all sourced from people close to Detroit. not anymore. And pushing for maximum power output has shown cracks in the poor engineering and design at Ford. Focus RS issues...Shelby mustang issues...Some faults at GM too. So you have a point.
welcome to the VW ownership nightmare. my Touareg is great when it works and an expensive pile of junk when it doesn't. i think German luxury vehicles were designed to convince customers to buy Toyota and Lexus vehicles-more dependable and easy to maintain. Had my Touareg in for 3 days to repair emission hardware under the VW extended warranty. 20 minutes later the check engine light is on again. comments here are right on- you must own a VCDS from Ross Tech to own any VW-Audi product. if you seriously want to own VW-Audi junk it will cut dealer visits in half and save you money.
Ross Tech and ECS Tuning is your friend. One thing I'll say is that the 2003 A6 2.7T seemed to be engineered to be serviced where my wife's, then girlfriend's, Ford Fusion seemed to be made to be assembled. It also seems like VAG quality took a shit after Piech took a lesser role.
I have a 2013 toureg now with the v6 gas engine but my problem so far is that it drink gas hard and I also the have steering problem with my 2006 Jetta and it's the vcds from ross tech fix that problem now the cable come more hand incase I developed any problem with my toureg
I'd much appreciate a video on this vehicle about towing. Specifically towing a car if possible. I'm looking to buy one and I know the older ones with air suspension are loved for their towing abilities, but I'd really prefer the newer model, but they don't have the air suspension.
Hey, I’m looking to get a Touareg. I do a lot of driving, including towing, hauling and idling...lol. Looking for a diesel, luxury/value for money, mid-size suv. Any update on your Touareg?
It must be a good feeling knowing you can make a video about your car failing and the ad revenue will pay for it 😁 That’s why he’s smiling the whole time
planed obsolescence they dont want us driving 10yr old used cars anymore or pay threw the nose to keep em roiling. long time audi/vw guy here but my 07 audi is the last il ever buy . seams like whatever goes wrong with them these days always requires dealer or specialty shop to sort out
Hi everyone if you own one of these please support the Hoover dam fund. The Hoover dam is a marvel of engineering with only one way in and no way out. Q the scream ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Love VW's in theory, but I would instantly hate my car forever if it pulled BS like this on me. I'll take my less attractive but always reliable Honda and Toyotas
“2011 Touareg was a great value! Check it out guys!” *1 year later* “Our Touareg broke and it’s a big one!” Everyone who’s watching: Yeah, that’s why no one wants only VWs.
One of these days we will have the technology to steer a car using simple gears that never break, and we will finally be able to throw all these computers and modules away forever.
The steering lock module was faulty. Its built into the steering column so hard to show the piece. Usually requires replacing the entire column but Rob had a specialist fix it on the column
There is no need to remove the whole column for this repair. My 2011 did this very thing 4 months ago. I got a column from a junkyard for $100...removed the lock module and installed in the vehicle without removing the column. I did drop it down to access the module.. Then towed it to vw where they reprogrammed it for $50. Done, done and done...
thank you
Can you share the location of this module in the car? From what I can find, its on the top of the steering column?
@@maxum25 yes it is on top of the steering column. You do need to drop the column down a bit to get to the screws. Not a huge deal.
It is better to buy a new module. It costs about 120 dollars.
Damn I love the simplicity of 90's cars
For real. Stuff like this makes me scared to death to have a late model out of warranty vehicle. Other that my 2017 Jeep, I'm going back to the 90s or later for everything else from here on out.
@Aleïster Owley funny that you mention civic. Ive been thinking about an EG or an EK for a while now.
@Aleïster Owley heck yeah! Same here. Sold my old car and got a 91 civic a couple years ago.. knew nothing about car repair. Now I can do everything short of engine and gearbox rebuilds on it.
@@R3LF13 do it!
I’ve been watching another RUclipsr “Jonathan W”. He’s a tow truck driver that collects old cars. 20s-50s. He’ll pull 1930s car out of a garage that’s been sitting for 40yr. Clean the spark plugs and they start right up. I mean these cars are completely trashed but still start like it’s 1935. I want a brand new car built to 1930s spec with modern A/C. Boom perfection.
If the part is on back order, this most likely is a high rate fail item.
The entire car is a massive failure
a lot of things vw is back order its like they didnt expect their cars to be shit
It looks like a major problem with vw
not for a 9 year old VW...but true for anything "modern"
@@cheesetoucher5941 usually those with tons of electronics
I had the same problem. It cost me 400 dollars in Poland. Just changed faulty module and made an adaptation without removing the whole column.
German engineering: "Why make it simple when we can make it complex."
All those faults @5:54 are from scanning the car in the off position.
That, and "Please read DTC static (XXX module)" faults.
Correct. All the red highlighted modules all said "Cannot be reached," because there was no ignition switch power.
However, there IS a trick to wake up at least a couple more of those modules, most importantly address 05 start auth./column lock/KESSY. That is the module where the problem was in this instance and clearing the codes from that module can at least allow you to start the car and be able to drive it.
Trick is to hold the brake pedal, turn on the hazards, pull back on the turn signal stalk ("Flash to pass" headlights--the work on straight battery power, not switched power) and hold it there. Then try to scan the gateway and see what modules are online. It still won't be all of them, but you're only interested in that address 05-KESSY module. Login to that, see what the codes are, SAVE the codes to reference later, CLEAR the codes, then try to start it.
In most VW/Audi products with that electronic steering column lock/KESSY module, that will allow it to respond to the start button/ignition switch signal and to be able to start the car. Ultimately, it would likely still need a new/repaired column module to ensure a long-lived fix, but at least if you had that scan tool and knew the trick to wake up enough of the CAN bus to communicate with address 05, you could at least drive it to the shop instead of towing it and the shop themselves could move it around easily to wherever was ideal for them to let it sit in a corner while the column is removed and sent out for repair.
"Forget the tool, sometimes your hand is best." Contender for best "That's What She Said" come back of 2020.
🤣
I have a VW Touareg 2014 V8TDI R-line, 230,000km and not a single problem, love it to bits
Really Bru....Im so puzzled regarding buying one but I'm so tempted and it's appears to be the perfect beast for what I intend to do with it.... please advise
i've had many bmw's, vw's Mercedes in the past and recently got sick of dealing with issues on them, so i went back to Toyota. bored with it so considered a Touareg then watched this video. i'll stay with my boring 4runner.....thank you!
Bought myself a Prado 2007 model. Had it vetted at a reliable mach. It's used as holiday car. Stands weeks at times. Get in turn the key and hey presto it runs. NO ISSUES peace of mind. The money he spent on repairs I spend on holiday. No brainer.
Could u imagine this being your only car ?? And u wake up and it’s gone for 3 weeks and plausible 4K ?? And backed order ?? Nope
That's why I keep a 1967 Chevy with a 327 ready to roll any time I need it.
It’s fooked when yo have a computer controlling a steering column
Every modern car has that.
Yeah pretty much every non economy car from like 2015 and up has a steering control module
You are not wrong. Fooked up.
@@komentierer not true
@@Hallowsaw Yes, it is. Insurance companies demand electronic steering locks.
Nobody: Steering in cars is too simple and reliable
Germans: HOLD DAS BEERSKY SCHNELL
Would a VW be a real VW without catastrophic electronics failure?
Good info and great to see your mechanic using VCDS and to see the CAN Gateway installation list. Most of the modules in red were that way because they were unable to come online and retrieve information from. You'll see the note on the right that says "Cannot be reached". That's because the column module was not allowing ignition switch power to come online.
There is a trick that would be good to pass on and would be good for your own knowledge too if you buy VCDS or OBDEleven (Android bluetooth OBD2 tool with VAG OE level capabilities). You can wake up enough of the various CAN buses enough to at least retrieve codes from the module in question here: the address 05 steering column lock/start authorization/KESSY module.
The trick to do that is to get in the car, hold your foot on the brake, turn on the hazards, pull back on the turn signal stalk ("flash to pass" high beam flash) and hold it so it keeps the high beams on. Then use your scan tool to login to the address 05 ESCL/start auth/KESSY module. Read the codes. Ideally you'd either save them to reference later or write them down. Then clear the codes. Once you clear the codes, you should be able to start the car. That way you're not fumbling around trying to find the manual shift release and paying for a tow. You could just clear the codes and drive it to the shop.
This would also be good info to pass onto your technician so it's easier on him as well, he could drive the vehicle to a corner of his shop where he could disassemble things and be able to leave it there while waiting for the refurbished module to come back. Sometimes clearing codes like that will allow it to work for many weeks without issue, but when the fault starts to recur more frequently, definitely should just have it repaired rather than attempt to limp things along with this trick. Gets old having to do that.
Thanks for the solid tip! I’ll look into that!
I owned a 2007 Audi Q7 TDi. Once I switched the suspension to a KW V3 suspension and ran 18s I loved the vehicle tremendously. That said, I also had this issue - for thankfully it was covered under warranty. The thing that did drive me crazy, and ultimately had me sell the car back to Audi under the Diesel buyback program, was the Diesel Particulate Exhaust System which would never properly clean itself and would require dealer visits for them to put it through a burn cycle - this then led to other misfiring issues in the engine. Towing was awesome, drove amazingly, but the vehicle at the end wasn't worth keeping once the Dieselgate issues hit the resale value. Great vehicle if you want to be your own mechanic, otherwise avoid - but I did love it.
Well put, if you dont want to do you own work, these cost a pretty penny.
Not a Touareg owner but love my TDI! Had to watch this one. TDI's get no love in the states, ahem diesel gate, but looking beyond that they are such a fun power band to use on the street. Torrrrrque everywhere, all the time, with handling of a GTI.
David Brunner how is the maintenance as far as particulate filter and def fluid? any costs associated?
Happens on a lot of Audi and vw touareg, Porsche cayenne. Steering lock module, it unlocks and tells rest of the car to wake up. You can repair it yourself if you know how to solder and replace micro switches. They sell kits for it, or there are places that rebuild the modules.
It would be nice if you would share that information. My car is doing this once in a while but the light goes off immediately after start up and has never left me stranded. Thanks!
Holy crap! $1800 on a failure that came out of nowhere?! Wowowow
These cars are over engineered to the point that they are untrustworthy in the long run.
Nah, VW is just a crappy company except for porsche and I hardly would consider them to be a VW. Audi is junk, VW is junk
I never had any problems with mine
Steering angle sensor..... my old Passat has an almost identical steering column. VW wanted 800$ for the steering angle sensor..... crazy! I got the whole column from a wrecker for 175$, took the sensor out, put it into the passat..... reset the steering angle sensor with Rosstech, done...... lasted as long as the car did.... The old one had a plastic part that had snapped off inside....not sure how that would have happened...... probably a design fault. Tyco product. Anyway.....I have a 2014 TDI Touareg R-line now, and really love the thing.
There is no reason a steering column should be so complex that needs a module and can immobilize a vehicle. Please, $1800 - $3000 is outrageous for technology that is overkill and not needed. Steering systems were working well enough and were cost effective when we had hydraulic systems.
All these people saying "omg its unreliable". It's a very uncommon issue and the car has over over 250000 km on it in addition to being 9 years old.
There’s a reason cars from the 80’s and 90’s are appreciating in value. Yes they are becoming classics, the second reason is they have less to go wrong with them, parts art cheaper/simplistic, and you don’t need proprietary software to work on one.
I just had this come up on my 2011 TDI Touareg as well. Same thing, part was on back order, took 3 weeks to get everything done. I didn't know about the yellow lever to switch it into neutral, I just used CAA and got them to dolly it. Good info boys.
Same thing happened to me, the steering column lock is a common failure item. It fails more often in the cold!
Same thing happened to mine. Some 3weeks back and its yet to be sorted. Quite disappointing really
3k for rebuilding a steering lock lmao. The car is almost totaled. That's modern VW for you.
Just like modern BMW and Mercedes. All garbage.
@@samadrid6321 Yeah, I agree. As much as I love German cars I'd never buy one.
@@samadrid6321 Yes German engineering not what it used to be we use VW at work they all have something wrong with them, they are rubbish
@@blackvulcan100 maybe current engineering schools require time wadting classes like The Thermodynamics of Intersectionality.
Bad design. They know the batteries need replacement, so they should make it an easy job. But no, battery replacement is 2K and labor is 5K.
My Touareg encountered the exactly same chaos last couple days ago from nowhere..., even worse because the freaking handbrake was on....The tow company tried three different tow trucks to get my car towed to vw dealer shop (It was finally towed by putting dolly wheel underneath the front two wheels). And now the dealer told me the entire steering column has to be replaced... so frustrating, what a nightmare.
well, i am not surprised
Honestly, this is not a maintenance item. This is poor reliability design from VW. They should be taking ownership and fixing this at a low cost or if not free. This is the kind of poor product and service which will drive customers away from your brand for their lifetime.
Sathianandaraj Ranganatham very true
A family friend had a Touareg that VW replaced the entire dash assy in twice under warranty. When it died again for the third time they bought it back from her.
As much of a disappointment as this is, after reading the video title, I'm just glad it wasn't something diesel engine related, like maybe a high pressure fuel pump. As an owner of one of these (as well as other less expensive vw tdis) it's nice to know what the common failures are before they happen.
This is the problem with putting way too many relays/electronics in newer vehicles, my 2002 Subaru WRX wagon (Stage 2+ Protuned) is still going strong after 205k miles with no issues! Electronics make cars worse since more things can go wrong.
If you don't overboost them, the EJ WRX's are reliable huh?
@@jamesmedina2062 The 2.0L ones are pretty good, the EJ20G, EJ205, EJ207 (forged pistons on the EJ207) -- it's the 2.5L which were more problematic.
Buy a 4WD Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, or Sequoia next. Other than that, the next best thing is a AWD Toyota Higlander, Honda Pilot, or Acura MDX after making sure you dig for model years without engine and transmission issues. I'm actually partial to used old used police Ford Explorers, those cars are genuinely fast.
Across my immediate family over the past 20 years, we have owned 10 German cars and 4 Japanese cars. The maintenance and failures have been pretty equal across the board. Easily the most reliable have been the Porsches. So many JDM fan bois in these comments acting like Japan has never made a bad car. I love my 350Z, but I'd definitely rather have an M3 or a Cayman S.
What a car. Steering lock doesn't work so it disables the engine. Wow.
A literal mind fuck
I saw one of these on my commute home yesterday and it immediately made me think of the Speed Academy Touareg and how it's holding up. Ooof.
That’s why I love old school mechanical operation
Just happened the same problem to my 2011/12 Touareg VR6, here in Brazil, in the middle of the pandemia, I cant even order the steering wheel module at the VW dealer, Does any one figure out a different solution?
A 100 series Land Cruiser would have been a better idea.
Oh trust me, I wanted one so bad. Then I drove it. Its like a big tank and gets the same gas mileage as one. I wanted something a bit more agile, towed great, and got great mileage.
It's very common problem with a lot of cars from this era: vw, audi, bmw, volvo, subaru. Almost every with electronic steering lock and systems related with this. For some cars it can go bad even while driving which is terrifying. I've had this problem with my volvo (not starting because of steering lock fault). Decided just to program this system out and forgot about it. You don't even notice :) Cost arround 150 euros, which is, i think, up to 200usd.
How did you program the system out?
Brother in law had same fault (or very similar) on a brand new 2 week old Passat. Towed away. Took weeks to fix.
I glad the touareg is back i love my touareg like you said is a awesome suv and the TDI engine is so nice 👌👌👌👌
I just brought one,high klms,looks and drives beautifully.....pray for me.
Follow your channel just for the Touareg updates 😁👍🏻 Best TDI SUV out there
Holy hell ! He still loves this car after this...but when a Japanese car gives a tiny error, the whole German fanboy community cheers. For sure there is a double standard in how people view cars.
*First mistake. Well you already know what that it.*
German cars are meant for use during its warranty time. After warranty they are royally fucked. The ppl who buy second hand "new" german cars most likely need a couple grand worth of work.
Probably the same as my e91 you can get a mini board that you plug in to the instead of the steering lock module. It was around 30 bucks.
Steering rack emulator, column sure looks the same. Same reset of the angle after fitting too.
Can you tell me more about that? I have the same issue wit my car and definitely don't have $1800 to spend.
Andrew Stacey google e90 starring rack emulator and you’ll find it on the forums
I've got a VCDS cable, an older can+ one but it still works, I've had a few clocksprings fail so I just disabled the modules until they were replaced. Easier said then done, but it can be done (sometimes).
You know, you can do the audio mod, reverse mirror dip, folding mirrors, Google earth, parking heater, video in motion and much more. With just a VCDS.
Thanks for the tip!
A much appreciated reminder why sold my last vw a couple decades ago! lol
Wow, didn't realize how much this video resonates with VW & non-VW drivers. @SpeedAcademy, any updates with the Touareg after another year? Did you unload it?
German engineering at its best.... :-)
Robert Kohut deine Mutter unter meinem Tisch
Ya should see the vids of one of these OFF ROAD.. makes the jeep look like any other STREET suv!!
My Brother bought a running and driving Touareg for $1000. All these VW will end up in the Junkyard. Modules, Computers, ect is all way to expensive to repair and the dealers want an Arm and a leg for all these parts. I'm German and will never buy another Modern VW again
ZE_GERMAN My friend Klaus is Bavarian and he has a serious soft spot for BMW's but for VW: no way! Me too. I had 3 Passats and while the VR6 were a joy, the 1.8t wasnt very smooth and usually I could not keep up with repairs. Needless to say Klaus got his wife a CRV and I'm in a new Civic. He drive a fast M3 but he repairs it mostly himself.
@@jamesmedina2062 are they really that bad. Was thinking about switching brands for more fun
Tony Chau from what brand to what? VW?
@@jamesmedina2062 honda
Tony Chau so you want to get a Honda or you have a honda?
what a bummer. we have a 2007 golf that's had a bunch of odd issues (things you wouldn't expect to fail) including the ignition barrel falling to bits & feels like the brand new replacement is about to do the same thing after a couple of years.
An electrical problem on a Volkswagen? I didn't see that coming
Rick B5005 I didn’t either mine has 260,000 no issues
Its not exceptionally common but the part is back ordered
Still have the car? Any updates or things you've done to it? Thanks!
Why not just disable the column lock completely? In order to prevent this, you can preventatively disable the steering column lock in the Central Electronics Module (09). Go to byte 29 and check bit 0. Your steering wheel will no longer lock when you turn the engine off and remove the key. Or turn the engine off and open the driver’s door for KESSY equipped vehicles.
The beauty of German engineering..
If the column is on back order it seems VW is well aware of that failure. Is there no service bulletin for it? Warranty replacement? As its a safety issue it seems like there should be.
Scotty warned us but nobody listened
J764 Steering lock module failure, most common on Jetta's ( some even had warranty extensions). Wait until you have a failed glow plug that's frozen in the head, THAT is scary.
This Touareg likely has more in common with an A6/A8 than almost any VW and parts are priced accordingly.
I noticed 253,000 miles in the odometer- to me you’ve gotten your money’s worth.
i think the 253k was in kms, so about 157k miles. also, he bought car last year and it was already high, i think it came with 240k kms. ruclips.net/video/GX2VuFfhl0I/видео.html
Looking at the comments your guys over the pond have a downer on European cars and have seriously thick rose tinted glasses.... GM, FORD etc all make some serious duds with massive issues and very poor quality. Every brand/ marque has its issues
I just speak from actual experience and I'm not bias. Had a brand new Mercedes E350 and let it go at around 30,000ish miles. Had to be towed to the dealer 3 times for major failures dash completely died, starter died, and ecu freaked out. Sure it was fixed under warranty but the inconvenience of the breakdowns was terrible in that 2 out of the 3 breakdowns was out of town on vacation/visit.
Mrlolibre Yes, but you are just as likely if not more likely to have problems with a similar spec ford or GM product. I am not defending European brands, just saying you don’t need to look far to see your back yard isn’t clear 👍
James T There are different levels of complication and this particular VW is extremely luxurious but also extremely complicated. I doubt anything GM/Ford made can match it for luxury or complexity. We have Cadillac but nothing to the level of Rolls Royce for example. Pay to play... if you want the best, be ready to pay. To be really honest, recent practices of global sourcing of parts has made some of Ford parts a nightmare because it was previously all sourced from people close to Detroit. not anymore. And pushing for maximum power output has shown cracks in the poor engineering and design at Ford. Focus RS issues...Shelby mustang issues...Some faults at GM too. So you have a point.
Im surprised Charles from Humble Mechanic has not commented on this video yet, or at least I couldn't find his comment
welcome to the VW ownership nightmare. my Touareg is great when it works and an expensive pile of junk when it doesn't. i think German luxury vehicles were designed to convince customers to buy Toyota and Lexus vehicles-more dependable and easy to maintain. Had my Touareg in for 3 days to repair emission hardware under the VW extended warranty. 20 minutes later the check engine light is on again. comments here are right on- you must own a VCDS from Ross Tech to own any VW-Audi product. if you seriously want to own VW-Audi junk it will cut dealer visits in half and save you money.
Ross Tech and ECS Tuning is your friend. One thing I'll say is that the 2003 A6 2.7T seemed to be engineered to be serviced where my wife's, then girlfriend's, Ford Fusion seemed to be made to be assembled. It also seems like VAG quality took a shit after Piech took a lesser role.
I have a 2013 toureg now with the v6 gas engine but my problem so far is that it drink gas hard and I also the have steering problem with my 2006 Jetta and it's the vcds from ross tech fix that problem now the cable come more hand incase I developed any problem with my toureg
Do you still have the Touareg?
should have bought a Toyota
wow man you really lucked out finding such a good mechanic and his work should be complimented 👏
for German cars to be so cool, they are such a pain in the a$$😒
I’m glad I have the 2010 model and has actual power steering.
I'd much appreciate a video on this vehicle about towing. Specifically towing a car if possible. I'm looking to buy one and I know the older ones with air suspension are loved for their towing abilities, but I'd really prefer the newer model, but they don't have the air suspension.
Is there an update on the Touareg?
Seems like the vagcom is really important for vw’s. I already have one that I used for my old CC. Planning on getting a touareg
Disconnect the battery it may work
Nice to see a 356 on the lift at Rob's shop
Hey, I’m looking to get a Touareg. I do a lot of driving, including towing, hauling and idling...lol. Looking for a diesel, luxury/value for money, mid-size suv. Any update on your Touareg?
Ah cool..another car to cross off the list. 30yrs time theres going to be huge piles of perfectly mechanically good cars with broken modules.
Yep-they will all be scrapped-what a huge waste!
It must be a good feeling knowing you can make a video about your car failing and the ad revenue will pay for it 😁 That’s why he’s smiling the whole time
Ha! This video will need about 100K+ views to pay for the fix so I petition everyone watch it twice :)
planed obsolescence they dont want us driving 10yr old used cars anymore or pay threw the nose to keep em roiling. long time audi/vw guy here but my 07 audi is the last il ever buy . seams like whatever goes wrong with them these days always requires dealer or specialty shop to sort out
Subtle Arc’teryx puffer flex
Back ordered? Sounds like it should be a recal.
Did you notice any creeking sounds coming from the front driver side prior to this issue with the steering column?
I'm in the middle of rebuilding a salvage 2015 Q5 on my channel. Really hope I don't run into this problem in the future :/
Why did it break? Will it fail again? How about a towing demonstration in the VW?
Mines just did this Wednesday morning
Had the same issue on my 2005 Passat B6. Cost me 2000€ because the comfort control module had to be replaced.
Scotty was right....
Landcruiser it is then! 👍
Hi everyone if you own one of these please support the Hoover dam fund. The Hoover dam is a marvel of engineering with only one way in and no way out. Q the scream ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Love VW's in theory, but I would instantly hate my car forever if it pulled BS like this on me. I'll take my less attractive but always reliable Honda and Toyotas
Needs an extended warranty. My sister has one on her Lexus RS350, tranny went. Free new one
Me too. I'd love the power and torque of a Touareg or an X5, but I like the bullet proof reliability of my Shogun more. Landcruiser next.
Ohh man... I have a ‘12; fingers crossed!
“2011 Touareg was a great value! Check it out guys!”
*1 year later*
“Our Touareg broke and it’s a big one!”
Everyone who’s watching: Yeah, that’s why no one wants only VWs.
One of these days we will have the technology to steer a car using simple gears that never break, and we will finally be able to throw all these computers and modules away forever.
It's a VW... What did you expect?
They had a recall on earlier model VWs for this problem
I watched the video and couldn’t understand what actually went wrong with the car? What did you replace specifically?
The steering lock module was faulty. Its built into the steering column so hard to show the piece. Usually requires replacing the entire column but Rob had a specialist fix it on the column
I drive a 2016 Touareg TDI with 20,000 miles on it. Loooove the fuel range of 700 miles...thoughts?
It is because aa batteries lodged in the vent tube under the seat. ha!