Dead multifunction steering wheel...

[Revolvo]

Chaps,

Bought my C5 RS6 in full knowledge that multifunction steering wheel will need a reset. The horn works but the other buttons do not and they do not light up, including the tiptronic paddles. I can live without them but previously read on various other fora that these functional buttons are linked to the radio in most VAG vehicles. Will perform reset asap but just wondering if anyone else on here has experienced anything similar and if so, how/ if they managed to fix it.

Thanks.

[bam_bam]

Best thing for it, get yourself a 3 spoke with paddles... I wonder if Chunky ever sold his alcantara 3 spoker...

[chunky79]

Yeah, sorry, Mine was snapped up pretty quick. Wonder if a normal a6 multi crap steering turd will work?
I would ditch it and fit a normal steering wheel.

[Revolvo]

Had another look at steering wheel and it looks like a later S4 or maybe RS4 steering wheel that's been plonked on to it although it has smaller paddles than I'd have expected an S4 or an RS4 to have.

i found this photo of a similar one online, although it feels great in the hand I'm thinking now someone didn't wire it up properly. Is it very messy job changing/adjusting a wheel?

Codes tell me that car was originally fitted with a 2ZS steering wheel which I am guessing was a 4 spoke multifunction one.

Glad that i now have a hobby sourcing all the original parts..........

Will let you know how it all goes.

[bam_bam]

There's no way it'd be an RS4 wheel with paddles. Popular choices for replacement steering wheels have been TTRS and C6 RS wheels. The problem with both of those options is the dual stage airbag system mated to a single stage system found on the C5 i.e. It won't fire in a prang!
It sounds like the previous car owner would've spent time as a forum member, post your car details, someone might know it or of it. I'm sure it's a nice steering wheel but as mentioned, the real issue is, how safe is it during a crash and how would you 'test' it?

[Stoo.]

If there is no Airbag light on, the resistance in the airbag is ok.

It should still fire in an accident. The airbag control unit will send a deployment voltage anyhow.

The two stage part of it means it has two igniters that fire between 5 and 40ms apart dependant on impact severity.

So it should still fire the main charge.

[Revolvo]

Hmm, no airbag light on so that's reassuring especially after it had occurred to me that airbag might not be working.

Yeah, the RS4s were all manual, right? Guess that'd mean no paddles on their steering wheels.........

So think it's just bad wiring by previous owner who put it on there? Will reset radio first and see if that makes any difference then take it from there.

Thanks for the insights then reassurance.

[bam_bam]

The use of the word 'should' when talking about airbag deployment is a little too vague for my liking.
There was a thread on another forum about a chap who had become an unwilling crashtest dummy, he had a dual stage fitted on his C5RS and it didn't fire.

[Stoo.]

I say should because I'm not going to say will to avoid any liability, worst case.

However. If there is no airbag light on, the circuit has a good resistance measurement and the airbag control unit WILL send a deployment signal voltage down that line in an incident that calls for the drivers airbag to deploy. Even if there is a suspect fault, the airbag CU WILL send a deployment signal down all required lines. It also uses 24v to make sure any airbag gets a good enough kick to go off.

See, matey that had the airbag not deploy... Do you know what type of impact it was?

I say this as the front airbags will not always deploy in all situations. Ie it will not deploy in a side or rear impact.

Nor will it deploy if the impact speed/severity isn't very high. If the plausibility of the up front crash sensor signal, and deceleration sensors within the airbag CU itself AND the final stage safety switch in the CU too, don't match, then it will not deploy either.