B7 RS4 S button NOT working

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Seeby
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B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by Seeby » Fri Nov 21, 2014 1:25 pm

Hi guys,

My S button does not work at all - no activation of seat/throttle/exhaust flaps.
I attached the car to a Vagcom and the passenger lambda sensor was showing up as faulty.
I've now replaced this and the car already drives much better/smoother - but this has not fixed the S button problem (which I kind of thought it would do)
Has anyone had this problem ? or does anyone know what this could be.
The audi specialist has not been helpful at all and im racking up a bill everytime he has a look at it.


Cheers

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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by adsgreen » Fri Nov 21, 2014 2:19 pm

With Vag Com you should be able to log/monitor the exhaust flap position demand.
Irrespective of other faults, this should tell you if the button is faulty and if the ECU is responding to the signal.

Seeby
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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by Seeby » Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:27 pm

Thanks - i'll speak to the mechanic to see if he can print out the reports too for me - no idea how to use/ connect a VAG-COM myself and don't know anyone on the island (live on the isle of man) with one that I could connect it to and see for myself.
Or I may have to just bring it across to the UK to get a proper dealership to have a look.
I'm all knew to the technical side of it :/

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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by adsgreen » Fri Nov 21, 2014 4:42 pm

Does the S light up on the dash?

Seeby
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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by Seeby » Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:18 pm

yeah - the S button only works on the steering wheel but shows up on the dash.
The S button on the centre console doesn't work.

No idea what's going on but its been driving me mad

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Surrey Sam
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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by Surrey Sam » Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:52 pm

Ahh, sounds like a coding issue. Your car may have originally had the multi-function steering wheel that has now been swapped over to the flat bottom steering wheel.

Do you have VCDS (Vagcom)?
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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by adsgreen » Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:34 pm

Yep - I'd agree. Odd that the dash lights up but nothing happens. However with can bus networks who knows what is listening for what.

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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by marc1 » Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:53 pm

Try Ruch at Viper Tuning, he's based in IoM

https://www.facebook.com/ViperTuning
https://www.facebook.com/richard.weir.948

Fault fixing like this isn't his specific area. Writting complex bespoke remaps, building unbelievable cars, and testing them at the TT circuit is though. Top bloke and I'm sure he'll help if if can.

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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by Seeby » Fri Nov 28, 2014 2:59 pm

Cheers guys

I'll give him a shout and see what the outcome is.

Hasn't been my week - my rear Rim has split so RS4 is off the road till I can buy a new rim.
Excuse to get a new set of rims I guess :D

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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by marc1 » Fri Nov 28, 2014 3:13 pm

Just re-reading this and whilst the exhaust flaps may be an issue if they are not stuck. Check the DIS display between the dials using the set button and make sure the seats are set with the Sport button. That will confirm if they inflate on demand or not. You can disable the function, therefore either having them permanently inflated / deflated at your preference. It's possible that is the issue.

Re throttle response. I though the Sport button only activated the seats and exhaust flaps, and hence if you had a non valved Milltek and disabled the seats as per above the S button would be a redundant feature. I could be wrong though so hopefully someone else can chip in and confirm.

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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by MartayMcFly » Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:46 am

Seeby wrote:yeah - the S button only works on the steering wheel but shows up on the dash.
The S button on the centre console doesn't work.

No idea what's going on but its been driving me mad
Big clue in the fact you have both a steering wheel and dash button. I'd be pretty surprised if they were both wired to actually work.

Let me just check - steering wheel button brings up S on DIS and nothing else, dash button does nothing at all? Does it light up when you turn on the car lights like the other dash buttons?
2001 8L S3 - sold
2008 8P2 S3 - sold
2007 B7 RS4 - sold
2006 B7 RS4 (supercharged) - sold
2016 C7 RS6 - sold
2015 8V RS3 Stage 3 - sold
2017 Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio

Seeby
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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by Seeby » Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:59 pm

Correct - steering wheel button brings up S on DIS and nothing else, dash button does nothing at all !
Doesn't light up when I turn on the car lights like the other dash buttons either

Hoping that the S buttons/connection is faulty and so an easy fix...
This is driving me crazy but until I've fitted new alloys car is stuck in my garage so cant take to a garage to get it sorted either

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MartayMcFly
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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by MartayMcFly » Tue Dec 02, 2014 2:01 pm

If the dash button doesn't light up then it's not getting power, so not connected. Could just be a connector, but more likely deliberately disconnected when the wheel was fitted. You can prise the buttons out (might need a bit of trim removed first) and see what wires, if any, are in to the back of the button.

As for the wheel button showing S but not doing anything, seat bolsters can be deactivated in DIS or could just be dead (pumps/valves that control the inflation tire and stop functioning). The exhaust valves could be seized, or you could have a vac leak stopping them operating. Throttle could be mapped out? Or just imperceptible with a vac leak sapping power anyway.

Surprised there's no-one on the island that can help without charging for each unsuccessful 'investigation'. Get Clarkson on the phone!
2001 8L S3 - sold
2008 8P2 S3 - sold
2007 B7 RS4 - sold
2006 B7 RS4 (supercharged) - sold
2016 C7 RS6 - sold
2015 8V RS3 Stage 3 - sold
2017 Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio

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Re: B7 RS4 S button NOT working

Post by adsgreen » Tue Dec 02, 2014 2:25 pm

The problem is modern can bus makes these things hard to diagnose.
Essentially what happens when you press the S button is a network message is sent from the steering wheel controller. Any other device that is listening for that data will then receive it.
In this case the dashboard controller notices that the S button is activated and illuminates the dash. However this may not make any difference as the seat bolsters (which may or may not be on the same controller) and the main engine ECU may still be configured to be looking for the sport button message from the dashboard.
I'd need to double check but this is a common issue when changing codings - it's done in one place but not another.

easy way to test throttle mapping - drive in say first or second gear at half throttle then press s. If nothing happens then it's not working.

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