Steering column issues

[Stu]

Has anybody tried the steering wheel adjustment that was suggested by somebody on here earlier this year?
I did it and my knock disappeared and hasn't come back since.
Basically all you have to do is release the lock on the column and rigorously adjust the wheel for maximum reach and rake in both directions. Sounds daft but it worked for me.

That's probably just moving the grease around on the shaft.

 

[Bjohnson]

Also interesting is the soft (spongy) floor between the front seats
I always thought that was normal !

so did I !!!


Good update on the steering column, ours has had this fault registered for over a year now and awaiting response from VW. I would add that our steering 'knock' does seem somewhat intermittent and certainly hasnt got worse from when it was first noted. That however isnt the point, as others have already well documented, its a £50k + vehicle so hopefully we can get some action sometime soon.

 

[Hutch]

I asked my dealership to check out the spongy floor because I've always found it strange, but thought recently that it seemed to be more pronounced - it was part of a list of checks I wanted investigated before my Cali turns 2yrs old in October. I'm glad it's not a 'fault', but I still don't understand why the floor's not firm under foot. To be honest I'm finding it hard to believe any of the assurances coming from my dealership at the moment - after all I was assured at the weekend there was no way of re-setting the aux heater - when clearly there was. Without this forum I think a lot of us would left floundering by misinformation from below par dealerships - it's about time VW introduced specialist dealers for the Cali as per Fiat with their Abarth range.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I know this may sound stupid. But earlier on this year I had a play around and found that the knuckle on the steering column was hitting the cover. I'm pointing to it, see pic below.
Anyways I messed around with it and packed out the trim cover off the steering rack. Note, yes I know what you mean when you refer to sponge floor which also never helped.

Still, many months down the line and I still haven't had the steering knock return. Coincidence or not, I don't know but it's worth a try :hello

 

[Richie]

Good post but could you explain how you managed to reset the heater fault? Cheers

 

[Hutch]

Hi Richie, to reset the heater was more luck than judgement - I played around with the Control Panel only really because Martin & Kev had suggested there was a reset. I think I went into Heater on the Control Panel, then selected Status - which was displaying 'Error' - then I pressed the return button (just below & right of the control button/wheel) and kept it pressed for a couple of seconds - it was either that our pressing the return button in heater menu. Then the flashing heater symbol on the panel stopped and was replaced by a clock symbol. When I back into heater menu and tried to switch the heater on again it started up as normal.
My dealership swore blind there was no quick fix!
I hope this makes sense!
cheers G

 

[MarkW]

How is your "new" steering column?

 

[Hutch]

How is your "new" steering column?

new column seems ok so far - not noticed any grinding or anything whilst turning. The steering does feel a little heavier though, unless I'm imagining it!
I might have to get it checked because the steering wheel looks to me as though it's now, (since the work was carried out) ever so slightly, off centre.
I might try Hereford VW for my service, due soon, recommended on the forum by "Welshgas" - I'll ask them to check the steering - I'm rapidly losing faith in Cardiff VW.

 

[Rob H]

Hutch,

Thanks for your info on the steering column, I'm sure will be followed by quite a few folk with the annoying steering clunk.

Your soft spongy floor, ... if its between the two front seat boxes , (middle to rear of boxes), there's some significant wiring and associated plastic securing clips that run between the two seat boxes on top of the steel floor pan, your carpet or rubber cab mat has cut out channels in its foam backing to accommodate and safeguard the wiring from chaffing as you step on it. I've 'beefed mine up' by sliding in a small piece of thin plywood betwix wiring and mat backing.

Hope this helps,

Rob H.

 

[Hutch]

Cheers Rob H,

yeah, it's the area between the front seats, behind the handbrake. I've not checked the handbook, but my dealership told me that it does mention that you are supposed to avoid standing on this area - sounds a bit bonkers to me as it's where you tend to stand when putting the upstairs bed up etc?!! Maybe VW should have put some sort of plate there? I just wanted to check it wasn't a 'fault' that needed repairing under warranty - I checked a new Cali in the showroom & it did seem soft (maybe not as much as mine?). Again though, it's something that could have been mentioned at purchase or handover but, sadly, as I've moaned before - my dealership seems to be seriously lacking in product knowledge with anything Cali related.

Thanks for the tip mate - I'll see what I can do.

G

 

[Carrg]

How the steering column now Mate?

I'm fed up with Cardiff VW, well VW in general! I've had two faulty columns and have since been waiting over a year for some sort of reply let alone a fix..

 

[CaliSue]

we have just taken our Cali in to the local VW garage about the 'knocking' on the steering column as you described...it is also 2013. They just said it was perfectly safe to drive and VW are aware of the problem....AND there are no spare parts to fit. They took the steering column covers off, took photos and wrote the steering column part number down and put it back together after sending report back to VW. End of! It's still knocking and not happy about it as only had van five months from new!

 

[Hutch]

Hi Gar, sorry I'm a bit late replying - been on a long run of shifts.
The new steering column seems ok - def feels tighter/heavier than the original. Not had any communication with VW Cardiff or VW, for feedback, since it was fitted. They said they'd reported my roof corrosion issue at the same time, but I've not had anything from VW on that either. Lost all faith in VW Cardiff and at moment, about to try booking my van in for 1st service at Hereford VW. I'm going to ask them to check the alignment of the steering wheel which seems slightly off centre since Cardiff had it! Bit annoyed actually that Cardiff haven't even given me a courtesy call to say my Cali is due it's first service!
If you want to have a look at it/try it mate we can meet up sometime and have a joint moan!

Hi CaliSue - I think all the dealerships should be aware that they are trialling a new part on several guinea pigs such as myself (according to VW Cardiff). We are also waiting for a decision so we can have our T5 Kombi sorted. As yet no one has contacted me for any feedback from VW - Slow/Shoddy seems to be the VW way!

Cheers G

 

[Carrg]

Hi Ger,

I called VW MK CS Monday to be told after 15min wait the system was slow and there were only two people in the office that day!!? Was promised a call back and here we are Thurs and still nothing....

We'll have to catch up soon

 

[SteveW]

Hi all, thought it was worth mentioning that i dropped my cali in to VW Worcester about 2.5 months ago now as they had a few VW engineers flying over from Germany with a new steering column to test and asked if I minded my cali being a tester. It's been fine since but as mentioned before just a little slightly heavier.

:cool

Cheers

Steve

 

[Carrg]

Thanks for the update Mate!

Let's hope it remains clonk free!

 

[meonshore]

Hi, The knocking noise on my 2013 California steering worsened to a point that I thought the van was unsafe to drive. Being in continual contact with customer services over this fault I was told that engineers from Germany were coming over to fit a new modified steering column to my van. This they done over a week ago and all seems ok. Time will tell if this is a permanent fix.

 

[IanE]

Hi Richie, to reset the heater was more luck than judgement - I played around with the Control Panel only really because Martin & Kev had suggested there was a reset. I think I went into Heater on the Control Panel, then selected Status - which was displaying 'Error' - then I pressed the return button (just below & right of the control button/wheel) and kept it pressed for a couple of seconds - it was either that our pressing the return button in heater menu. Then the flashing heater symbol on the panel stopped and was replaced by a clock symbol. When I back into heater menu and tried to switch the heater on again it started up as normal.
My dealership swore blind there was no quick fix!
I hope this makes sense!
cheers G

Re the heater problem, I disconnected and reconnected the battery under the passenger seat. That worked, except I now have a problem I think with the thermostat (see my separate post). Wish I'd known about correcting the fault by fiddling with the control panel as disconnecting the battery involved taking the securing bolts out of the front passenger seat.

 

[Toot-toot]

Well its been a while (18 mths?) but we have just had a call from VW customer services AND apparently we have a fix for the clonk!!!
'something' will be replaced along with the grease and voilà no clonk. Should be booked it shortly at VW dealership......
We will update again when its all done and clonk free.......

 

[CaliSue]

I don't know if anyone knows but VW have issued a replacement steering column to fix the 'knocking'. We have had ours done today...they have replaced the upper part of the steering column

 

[soulstyledevon]

Yes, I had mine done a few weeks ago after a phone call off Volkswagen customer care.
Fingers crossed it's solved

 

[WelshGas]

It would be helpful to other owners if you could indicate which vehicles you have as this problem may just be related to a particular year, engine or model.
Completing the vehicle type information on your profile could be extremely useful and help to get the correct information if you post a query.

 

[shambly]

It is a well known issue with ALL RHD T5.

I'll chase customer service as we weve been waiting a couple of years for the fix to be finally released.....

 

[WelshGas]

No problem on mine after 18,600 miles but will bear it in mind.

 

[CaliSue]

WelshGas It is a late 2013 model and apparently is a problem...have seen people mentioning it on here so thought it was a known fact...sorry to have got it wrong.

We also are getting two replacement blinds too as they haven't worked properly since we had it too....hope no one else had this problem