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MK7 R Heavy Steering

replicate

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Downunder
The only code I've ever seen was this - 1048836 - Blower Output Reduction due to Energy Management B10CE 00 [008] - . My issues returned a couple weeks after the alternator was replaced for the 2nd time. No steering warning light or any other warning lights ever. Car runs fine otherwise.
Have you tried pulling codes before shutting off the engine? That was the only time I saw low voltage codes. They disappeared when I turned off the engine.
 

AquaTone61

New member
Location
Third rock from the Sun.
Car(s)
2015 GTI SE DSG
Have you tried pulling codes before shutting off the engine? That was the only time I saw low voltage codes. They disappeared when I turned off the engine.
I will have to try that when I get home. Thinking back, I don't think I have scanned it after/during driving when I was having issues. An ignition cycle can definitely reset certain codes and always made the steering work again.
 

AquaTone61

New member
Location
Third rock from the Sun.
Car(s)
2015 GTI SE DSG
I’d love to hear an update on your issue AquaTone61! I’m having the EXACT same symptoms.
I wish I had some more info. I did scan my car recently before shutting the ignition off and got a code which I haven't seen before, U141100. Not sure what that means but there isn't a whole lot out there on the internet, even in here, about it. There are a couple threads where that code pops up but most are talking about coding issues when replacing a regular battery with a lithium. I do currently have an AGM installed and did code for an AGM using the Carista app(may have been Carly) for what its worth. But the issue was there before the battery so I don't know but it seems to be a little less frequent with the new battery. The alternator has been replaced twice in my car, once because of front bearing failure and once to try and fix this steering issue. The power steering rack is not something that is a common failure on the MK7 chassis but there is always a first.
 

DarrenK

New member
Location
Sarasota FL
Car(s)
2015 VW GTI - PP+DSG
EDITED:

Hi. I also have the same issue with my 2015 GTI (75k miles). It just started a few days ago. The same code, frequent blower reduction in speed, and a very occasional stickiness in the steering (seems to only happen going slow on tight turns). I installed a new battery a few months ago (weird experience and a story for another time). I love my car but the trouble has been mounting lately, replaced the radiator, water pump, and oil cooler seals for coolant leaks this year alone. 😐

Anyway, here is the OBD11 report (excluding modules with no codes except engine).
Note: The heated seat code is always there. The Trans code has been there a while (I would welcome any thoughts on that as well). The rest are new since 7/28.

It's a bit troubling. I'm going to check my battery terminals and I suppose I could have a defective battery?
Anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions?



OBDeleven vehicle history log

Date: 2021-08-09 14:14

VIN: 3VW447AU4FM091017
Car: Volkswagen Golf GTI
Year: 2015
Body type: 5-dr hatchback
Engine: CXCB
Mileage: 121700 KM

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 01 Engine
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 0
System description: 2.0l R4 TFSI
Software number: 5G0906259A
Software version: 0006
Hardware number: 06K907425B
Hardware version: H13
ODX name: EV_ECM20TFS0205G0906259A
ODX version: 001008
Faults:
No trouble codes found

Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:36

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 02 Transmission
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 1
System description: DQ250-6V MQB
Software number: 0D9300020G
Software version: 4523
Hardware number: 02E927770AQ
Hardware version: H53
Serial number: TFK01501122034
ODX name: EV_TCMDQ250021
ODX version: 001001
Faults:
P072600 - Engine Speed Inp.Circ. Range/Performance
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:36

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 08 Air Conditioning
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 1
System description: AC Manuell
Software number: 5GM907426A
Software version: 1001
Hardware number: 5GM907426A
Hardware version: H02
ODX name: EV_ACManueBHBVW37X
ODX version: 003019
Faults:
B10CE00 - Blower reduction due to energy management
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:37

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 09 Central Electrics
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 1
System description: BCM PQ37BOSCH
Software number: 5Q0937087R
Software version: 0145
Hardware number: 5Q0937087R
Hardware version: 028
Serial number: 86582803151042
ODX name: EV_BodyContrModul1UDSBosc
ODX version: 014004
Faults:
B1806F0 - Heated seat passenger's side Safety shutdown due to occupant detection
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:37

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 19 Gateway
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 8
System description: GW MQB Mid
Software number: 5Q0907530AB
Software version: 2203
Hardware number: 5Q0907530L
Hardware version: 211
Serial number: 14041510001788
ODX name: EV_GatewConti
ODX version: 011020
Faults:
U012700 - Lost Communication With Tire Pressure Monitor Module
static
U112600 - Undefined control module No communication
static
U103B00 - A/C compressor No Communication
static
U103E00 - Brake booster control module No communication
static
U020800 - Lost Communication With “Seat Control Module A”
static
U112600 - Undefined control module No communication
static
U104C00 - Rearview camera system control module No communication
static
U141100 - Battery terminal recognition Open circuit
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:38


---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 5F Multimedia
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 2
System description: MU-S-S-US
Software number: 5G0035844
Software version: 0655
Hardware number: 5G0035844
Hardware version: 014
Serial number: V7B02003150169
ODX name: EV_MUStd4CPASE
ODX version: 002040
Faults:
B10F411 - Antenna for satellite radio Short circuit to ground
Intermittent
U10CC00 - Optical data bus for digital sound system Sporadic disruption
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:39

---------------------------------------------------------------
 

DarrenK

New member
Location
Sarasota FL
Car(s)
2015 VW GTI - PP+DSG
Update: my battery voltage is good during charging, driving, and under load with the car off. The terminals are tight and clean.
I have been watching the alternator / generator measurements with the OBD11 while driving. There is an Alternator Reserve value that seems to tell a story. Assuming it can supply up to 140 Amps as rated, while the car is cruising I have seen it as high as the upper 90s. If I am parked and turn on most of the loads (fan, heated seats, lights, rear defrost, etc) I can get it down between 20 and 40 amps reserve. Since the steering is one of the symptoms, I tested and observed that turning the wheel while stopped or at parking speeds seems to draw down about 20 to 30 amps reserve. That must be because the steering is electric assist (versus hydraulic assist). So I think it's safe to assume there are moments where the generator reserve reaches zero and the system initiates the power reserve features.

So this leads me to a series of questions:
1. Is the steering assist motor drawing too much current?
2. Is the intermittent loss of steering assist a symptom of that motor failing? Or a symptom of the motor being current starved?
3. Is something else drawing too much current? (Blower fan?) And that's starving the steering assist motor?
3. Could it be multiple items drawing too much current?
4. Is my generator failing, causing all of these problems?

Thoughts?

OBD11 pics attached
 

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MK7markie

New member
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Car(s)
2016 GTI Autobahn
EDITED:

Hi. I also have the same issue with my 2015 GTI (75k miles). It just started a few days ago. The same code, frequent blower reduction in speed, and a very occasional stickiness in the steering (seems to only happen going slow on tight turns). I installed a new battery a few months ago (weird experience and a story for another time). I love my car but the trouble has been mounting lately, replaced the radiator, water pump, and oil cooler seals for coolant leaks this year alone. 😐

Anyway, here is the OBD11 report (excluding modules with no codes except engine).
Note: The heated seat code is always there. The Trans code has been there a while (I would welcome any thoughts on that as well). The rest are new since 7/28.

It's a bit troubling. I'm going to check my battery terminals and I suppose I could have a defective battery?
Anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions?



OBDeleven vehicle history log

Date: 2021-08-09 14:14

VIN: 3VW447AU4FM091017
Car: Volkswagen Golf GTI
Year: 2015
Body type: 5-dr hatchback
Engine: CXCB
Mileage: 121700 KM

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 01 Engine
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 0
System description: 2.0l R4 TFSI
Software number: 5G0906259A
Software version: 0006
Hardware number: 06K907425B
Hardware version: H13
ODX name: EV_ECM20TFS0205G0906259A
ODX version: 001008
Faults:
No trouble codes found

Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:36

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 02 Transmission
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 1
System description: DQ250-6V MQB
Software number: 0D9300020G
Software version: 4523
Hardware number: 02E927770AQ
Hardware version: H53
Serial number: TFK01501122034
ODX name: EV_TCMDQ250021
ODX version: 001001
Faults:
P072600 - Engine Speed Inp.Circ. Range/Performance
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:36

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 08 Air Conditioning
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 1
System description: AC Manuell
Software number: 5GM907426A
Software version: 1001
Hardware number: 5GM907426A
Hardware version: H02
ODX name: EV_ACManueBHBVW37X
ODX version: 003019
Faults:
B10CE00 - Blower reduction due to energy management
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:37

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 09 Central Electrics
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 1
System description: BCM PQ37BOSCH
Software number: 5Q0937087R
Software version: 0145
Hardware number: 5Q0937087R
Hardware version: 028
Serial number: 86582803151042
ODX name: EV_BodyContrModul1UDSBosc
ODX version: 014004
Faults:
B1806F0 - Heated seat passenger's side Safety shutdown due to occupant detection
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:37

---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 19 Gateway
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 8
System description: GW MQB Mid
Software number: 5Q0907530AB
Software version: 2203
Hardware number: 5Q0907530L
Hardware version: 211
Serial number: 14041510001788
ODX name: EV_GatewConti
ODX version: 011020
Faults:
U012700 - Lost Communication With Tire Pressure Monitor Module
static
U112600 - Undefined control module No communication
static
U103B00 - A/C compressor No Communication
static
U103E00 - Brake booster control module No communication
static
U020800 - Lost Communication With “Seat Control Module A”
static
U112600 - Undefined control module No communication
static
U104C00 - Rearview camera system control module No communication
static
U141100 - Battery terminal recognition Open circuit
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:38


---------------------------------------------------------------
Fault
Control unit: 5F Multimedia
Active faults: 0
Inactive faults: 2
System description: MU-S-S-US
Software number: 5G0035844
Software version: 0655
Hardware number: 5G0035844
Hardware version: 014
Serial number: V7B02003150169
ODX name: EV_MUStd4CPASE
ODX version: 002040
Faults:
B10F411 - Antenna for satellite radio Short circuit to ground
Intermittent
U10CC00 - Optical data bus for digital sound system Sporadic disruption
Intermittent


Mileage: 121621 km
Date: 2021-08-08 12:39

---------------------------------------------------------------
Having this EXACT issue. Please tell me you were able to find a solution?
 

MK7markie

New member
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Car(s)
2016 GTI Autobahn
Hey guys, sorry to wake this from the dead but I have a "15 GTI and I am having a similar issue. My steering gets heavy after driving for a bit, can be 20 minutes, can be an hour +, seems like the more steering I have to do, the sooner it happens. I have only one fault code - --1048836 Blower Output Reduction due to Energy Management B10CE 00 [009] - It seems to happen more often if I am running a lot of electrical load like fog lights, seat heater, rear defrost etc. I have noticed that my A/C fan will decrease speed to 3 regardless of a higher setting if the steering is heavy, sometimes it even slows down before the steering gets heavy. I had the dealer look at it in October right before my CPO ran out as it started acting up in August/September but was very intermittent. They found the battery was not completely bad but needed to be replaced. The battery was about 2 years old. It was fine for a couple weeks after the new battery but now I can make it happen almost every time I drive the car if I want. Another thing that is curious to me is that I had my alternator go bad about a year ago so that has been replaced. Is this an issue with the EPS, either bad CU or the motor drawing too many amps, or is it a power supply issue? Power supply seems like it would be okay as I have 1 year old alternator and a 2 month old battery but I have seen new parts fail right out of the box. I have never seen a warning light and everything works fine after an ignition cycle. I am going back to the dealership next week so they can look at. I will update this with any new information I have.
I’m having this exact issue. I’ve had my alternator replaced and it stopped for a week then the issue returned again. Mine is mainly dropping the blower fan speed to 3, I’ve only had the power steering issue happen a couple times and not since replacing the alternator. The blower speed dropping to 3 is driving me absolutely nuts though (I live in Arizona) and I’ve been dealing with it for months and probably made 10 trips to the dealer over this. PLEASE for the love of God, tell me you found a fix?
 

mrobin44

New member
Location
Knoxville,TN
I had the same issue start today. I was shocked to find such a current thread with others experiencing the same thing. 2017 Golf R with 80k miles.

Sluggish, binding steering and a few fault codes:

Blower reduction due to
energy management
Fault code:
B10CE00


Battery terminal recognition
Open circuit
Fault code:
U141100

I did have some corrosion on the negative terminal. I cleaned that up and the battery was reading low. Alternator seems to be in good shape. Charging at 14.6v. I'm hoping the battery had a bad connection, lost voltage, and caused issues. I PRAY the steering rack isn't going out.
 

2018gti

Drag Racing Champion
Location
Massachusetts, USA
Car(s)
Golf GTI Autobahn MT
This is kind of far out there but I’ve seen videos of people trying to fix notchy, tough steering and it turns out it’s the shaft that connects the steering wheel to the rack - the U joint that’s right at the rack gets corroded and makes it tough to steer. Your guys’ issue sounds a bit different but figured I’d mention that in case it helps.
Update: the Golf has both U joints inside the car. This shouldn’t apply to our cars (the U joint getting rusty).

I’ve been dealing with a (sort of) related issue for a while which is my wheel doesn’t smoothly return to center on its own when I’m driving slowly. It mostly jerks instead of smoothly rotating.
 
Last edited:

Millsn

Passed Driver's Ed
Location
Uk
Car(s)
Golf 7R
I assume a golf has swivel ball joints much like the megane 3. On the megane they eventually bind up. Gives sporadically heavy steering.
 

DarrenK

New member
Location
Sarasota FL
Car(s)
2015 VW GTI - PP+DSG
Hi all. I don't have any update on this issue. The problem has not returned on my GTI as of yet.
I did have to replace the left rear wheel bearing though (did the right about a year ago), and there is a big clunk from the front right when I reverse, turn the wheel, and hit the brakes (like when backing out of a parking spot). ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
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