Came out to 2004 V8 Touareg,and it would not start. MRI reads steering defective workshop. Changed battery to new interstate battery like forums stated. Old battery was 8 mo. old and had a bad cell, would only hold 12.8 volts. New battery pushing well over 14 volts, thought this would fix problem. Still will not start. Wheel in lock position and will not turn. Key turns over in ignition but no starter turnover. Any Ideas?
Steering defective workshop. Need help!
scotthinson
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Came out to 2004 V8 Touareg,and it would not start. MRI reads steering defective workshop. Changed battery to new interstate battery like forums stated. Old battery was 8 mo. old and had a bad cell, would only hold 12.8 volts. New battery pushing well over 14 volts, thought this would fix problem. Still will not start. Wheel in lock position and will not turn. Key turns over in ignition but no starter turnover. Any Ideas?
Hopefully this will help people with the problem in future. I have a 2004 V6 Petrol that I "lazily" parked in full lock (may have caused the problem) and returned to find the "Steering Defective Workshop" warning light on.
What to do;
1. Do not let the breakdown service plug in their diagnostics as this only creates more problems to fix before getting to the real problem.
2. Get the car recovered to a non VW garage who uses the "VW Com" computer program.
3. The rest below will help the auto electrician find and correct the fault.
4. Start UTH, Select Control Module and DO NOT Auto Scan
5. Go into Electronics 1 then 05 to access the start authority manually.
This will show the issues and as mentioned the auto electrition should now be able to see the fault and reset the counter to zero.
A new steering column is £1100.83 plus fitting and I paid much much less than that. If it happens to you in England the electrician I used is in Northampton.
What to do;
1. Do not let the breakdown service plug in their diagnostics as this only creates more problems to fix before getting to the real problem.
2. Get the car recovered to a non VW garage who uses the "VW Com" computer program.
3. The rest below will help the auto electrician find and correct the fault.
4. Start UTH, Select Control Module and DO NOT Auto Scan
5. Go into Electronics 1 then 05 to access the start authority manually.
This will show the issues and as mentioned the auto electrition should now be able to see the fault and reset the counter to zero.
A new steering column is £1100.83 plus fitting and I paid much much less than that. If it happens to you in England the electrician I used is in Northampton.
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Who was your Northampton auto-sparky?
Update on Steering Defective Workshop
An update on the situation and I feel it is only fair to respond to threads and not directly for the good of all. And so;
An update on the situation and I feel it is only fair to respond to threads and not directly for the good of all. And so;
- When you get the Steering Defective Workshop problem it can (usually) be cleared by using VCDS by Ross Tech
- To get to the problem, run the software and go to "Select Control Module" > "Electrics 1" > 05-Acc/StarttAuth." and you can clear the fault code. If it keeps coming back then be patient, keep trying and also move the steering wheel.
- I only know that on a 2004 Touareg, replacing the steering column is the only sure way to cure the problem. On later models (not sure when) it is just a sensor that needs replacing.
- FURTHER THINGS TO DO
- I bought a cheap box of fuses and replaced all the fuses as per the manual finding that some were missing and some were of the wrong rating.
- The car obviously had problems with the previous owner as most of the courtesy bulbs had been disconected. I replaced everything without any new problems.
- BEST OF ALL is that as advised by Ross Tech, I replaced the battery with a Varta Silver Dynamic and to date I have not had any problems or faults appearing on a scan of the car. I have over 12.5 without the engine running and nearly 15 with the engine on.
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Very informative!
Could/should this procedure be posted as a sticky or a DIY in General Maintenance & Repair?
Could/should this procedure be posted as a sticky or a DIY in General Maintenance & Repair?
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You do NOT take the seat out!
You undo the two bolts in the floor at the front of the seat, remove the plastic trim on the runners at the rear of the seat and it then hinges backwards out of the way!!
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Mine was the same age and it does hinge. There's no rust or anything else to stop it.
Steering Defective Workshop
![Image]()
![Image]()
An update on my Steering Defective Workshop (2004 V6 3.2 Petrol Touareg) problem is;
I repalced the battery after those nice guys at Ross Tech kept in touch and kept giving me suggestions and this meant I had no problems for over 4 months. Unfortunately, I had the SDW problem twice in the last few weeks and so decided once and for all to try and sort out the problem.
I found what I hope to be a cure on a Phaeton forum that funnilly was a problem with the 2004 models. Look on the enclosed photo and you can clearly see that the connection is stretched and not giving a perfect fit. You can find the connection if you take the cover off above the pedals and look on the left hand side. Am I sure it will cure the problem? ONLY TIME WILL TELL BUT I WILL POST AGAIN IF I GET ANOTHER SDW In favour of it working is that when I disconnected the cable I got the SDW message and when I plugged it back in it went away. I paid £50 to have the three wires lengthened and so hope thats it...
![Image]()
I repalced the battery after those nice guys at Ross Tech kept in touch and kept giving me suggestions and this meant I had no problems for over 4 months. Unfortunately, I had the SDW problem twice in the last few weeks and so decided once and for all to try and sort out the problem.
I found what I hope to be a cure on a Phaeton forum that funnilly was a problem with the 2004 models. Look on the enclosed photo and you can clearly see that the connection is stretched and not giving a perfect fit. You can find the connection if you take the cover off above the pedals and look on the left hand side. Am I sure it will cure the problem? ONLY TIME WILL TELL BUT I WILL POST AGAIN IF I GET ANOTHER SDW In favour of it working is that when I disconnected the cable I got the SDW message and when I plugged it back in it went away. I paid £50 to have the three wires lengthened and so hope thats it...
Reply to Mike
Mike, a new option. Try replacing the the button battery in the key fob. Mine went again last week for the umpteenth time. Also, I will now make a note of which key I am using when the problem occurs and if I find it is only with one key then I will reprogram the key
Hope this helps
ps
My advice to any VW / Audi owner is to buy the Ross Tech software
Mike, a new option. Try replacing the the button battery in the key fob. Mine went again last week for the umpteenth time. Also, I will now make a note of which key I am using when the problem occurs and if I find it is only with one key then I will reprogram the key
Hope this helps
ps
My advice to any VW / Audi owner is to buy the Ross Tech software
Was about to buy a new car. Got a trade-in offer. Came home, ran inside. Came out to drive away and the steering defective workshop came on. So now it's stuck in park in my driveway.
Changed battery in key fob. Took battery out of car and put it on charger. No effect!
What have you spent in getting this problem fixed? I'm trying to decide if I should pay to get it fixed or just have it towed away and see what they'll now offer for a broke vehicle.
From what I'm reading, there's no quick way to get this vehicle started to drive it to the dealership and let them deal with it after I trade it in? LOL
Changed battery in key fob. Took battery out of car and put it on charger. No effect!
What have you spent in getting this problem fixed? I'm trying to decide if I should pay to get it fixed or just have it towed away and see what they'll now offer for a broke vehicle.
From what I'm reading, there's no quick way to get this vehicle started to drive it to the dealership and let them deal with it after I trade it in? LOL
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You will need to get the vehicle scanned with VCDS to get the fault codes.
Indeed you may be able to clear the fault codes long enough to get the car traded in.
Indeed you may be able to clear the fault codes long enough to get the car traded in.
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You guys are the fn GREATEST! Thanks for your time and sharing your pain and diagnostics to help us poor dogs 🙏🏻✌🏼❤Steering Defective Workshop
![Image]()
An update on my Steering Defective Workshop (2004 V6 3.2 Petrol Touareg) problem is;![Image]()
I repalced the battery after those nice guys at Ross Tech kept in touch and kept giving me suggestions and this meant I had no problems for over 4 months. Unfortunately, I had the SDW problem twice in the last few weeks and so decided once and for all to try and sort out the problem.
I found what I hope to be a cure on a Phaeton forum that funnilly was a problem with the 2004 models. Look on the enclosed photo and you can clearly see that the connection is stretched and not giving a perfect fit. You can find the connection if you take the cover off above the pedals and look on the left hand side. Am I sure it will cure the problem? ONLY TIME WILL TELL BUT I WILL POST AGAIN IF I GET ANOTHER SDW In favour of it working is that when I disconnected the cable I got the SDW message and when I plugged it back in it went away. I paid £50 to have the three wires lengthened and so hope thats it...
![Image]()
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3 Posts
Hey did u find any solution? I’m having the same problem and my toureg has been dead for more
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