Yes, I am cross posting to two different Audi boards. Apologies to those who might have already seen this!

I'm having a bit of a problem with my dealership understanding (or agreeing) with what I am saying, so I turn to those who actually know :-)

I have a 2007 A4 Cabriolet, 3.2 engine, 65,000 miles. I am the second owner (this was a Certified car that I purchased from a dealer in 2010). The warranty, of course, ran out in April 2013.

Since mid-summer, I have noticed that there is some "play" in the steering. Not much at low speeds, maybe 3/4" each way before the steering seems to "catch". But when at highway speeds (or faster), it can be very disconcerting to have all that wiggle going on, and not see any movement from lane to lane.

Back in March, when the steering was squealing when cold started, and only a little wiggly, I took it to the dealer (just under the warranty mark). They said it was low on power steering fluid. End of September, when I hit 65,000 miles, I took it back and said there was a little noise on a hard turn (backing out of the garage), but the extra play was making me nervous. They talked me into a power steering flush and then told me that the service rep had "driven another car of the same model year, and found the same amount of play in the other car as well." (Of course he had also said earlier that no one could feel the wiggle like I had).

So now I wonder: Is it NORMAL to have 1/2"-3/4" of play in the steering? I don't remember ever feeling this in the past 3 years I've had the car!

Any ideas are appreciated. I know I'm going to have a fight over the warranty already, just want to know whether it's worth the argument.

Thanks!

 

There is a little play or vague dead feeling on these cars at dead center. Many professional reviews of the car bring this up. Mine at 113,000 miles doesn't have anywhere near that much, but when I first got the car, I noticed the same thing you are. I took it in and the tech who has been doing steering on Audis for 25 years went on a ride with me, and drove it. He said that with rack and pinion there is always a touch of play. If it was to tight, the wheel wouldn't return to center. These cars also return to center much slower than others, which in my opinion makes the play more noticable. On typical front drive cars, the wheel returns back to center really quick. The slightest turning of the wheel will snap back to center when the wheel is released. That doesn't happen on the quattro Audis. I find that I have to pull the wheel back to center in certain situations, which makes that vague play more noticeable since the wheel doen't just snap back on its own.

 

At slow speeds, I have maybe 1/2" - 3/4" play, but it tightens up the faster you go. 72k miles, quattro. On the highway, it's not much. Seems pretty good in comparison to other cars I have. Our Jeep has a lot of play, but I'm not sure if the bad alignment I got last time around is to blame or the steering rack is starting to get sloppy (the Jeep has 157k miles on it).

 

Thanks both of you for the responses. After nearly 200 views, I was beginning to wonder if I would hear from anyone.

The issue is more that I did NOT have any play from 36,000 (when I got the car, certified), until about 32,000 miles (I'm now at 35,000). The play seemed to start just last spring, and may be getting worse.

As for tightening up at higher speeds, that's not the case... And that's what makes me worried. It feels really sloppy on the highway. Bad over 40, really wiggly over 60. On a rough road, I am constantly over correcting.

I've been told by my local dealership that it's normal, but a local auto shop (by phone) says it sounds like a rack issue.

So for now, it sounds like it could be "normal," but that it should not be so bad as it is on the highway...

Anyone else?

 

What you're describing does not sound "normal." A further note about mine--I've not noticed any significant change between 34k miles when I got the car and now (almost 72k).

Is it still under warranty? If so and the dealership still insists it's normal, about your only options are to find a different dealership or demand to take out a similar one they're selling off the lot and compare the two.

 

Sometimes another thing that can make a difference is tires. I noticed a change in my steering when I got new tires. Different tires respond differently. One set felt sloppier than another, and I felt like the steering wheel wasn't connected at times. My snows really feel even sloppier compared to true all seasons, or performance tires. I also have to keep a close eye on the tire pressure, I can tell through the steering when the pressure gets low, the wheel gets more vague and sloppier than usual. If I keep the pressure at the what the door plate says, the tires are to soft, and I can tell though the steering, it gets more vague. If I inflate them a little more than what the door plate says, the steering feels more accurate/exact.