Technical Service Bulletin
48 Electric steering column adjustment is inoperative
48 14 59 2017266/7 June 2, 2014. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 48 number 13-51 dated August
30, 2013 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A6

2005 - 2011

All

Not Applicable

A8

2003 - 2010

All

Not Applicable

Q7

2007 - 2013

All

Not Applicable

Q7

2014

000001 - 002000

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

7

-

Revised header data (Added VIN break)
Revised Production Solution (Added solution)
Revised Service (Removed steps)
Revised Warranty (Updated TUs)

6

8/30/2013

Revised header data (Updated customer codes, workshop codes, and applicable
model years)
Revised Condition (Updated TSB in reference)
Revised Warranty (Reformatted table)

5

8/13/2010

Revised header data (Controlling TSB display in ElsaWeb)

4

2/18/2009

Revise Warranty

3

11/4/2008

Revise Title to include Repair Group

• Electrically-adjustable steering column adjustment is restricted and does not adjust vertically.
• Incorrect operation of Easy Entry is not the cause. It is unlikely that external forces have led to the loss of the
stored end positions of the adjustment movement. See TSB 2015819, 48 Easy Entry function of the power
adjustable steering column intermittently does not work, for more information.
• Seat adjustments can be used to maintain the 10-inch minimum recommended distance from the steering
wheel in case of airbag deployment. The axial adjustment is still functional during this condition.

© 2014 Audi of America, Inc.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Background
The steering column may be under tension due to unfavorable tolerances of the steering column and module
cross carrier. As a result, the current draw of the regulator motors is above specification, which causes the electric
steering column adjustment to fail. Once the vehicle electrical system control module, J519 (address word 09),
detects an excessive current draw, the basic settings will be erased. If basic settings are not stored in the vehicle
electrical system control module, the module will not send voltage/current to the motor to operate the vertical
adjustment.

Production Solution
Modified module cross carrier.

Service
Checking the electrically-adjustable steering column
1. Remove the steering column trim to gain access to the 8-pin (black) connector located under the dash.
2. Identify wires on T8d/1 and T8d/5. Install the current pick-up clamp around these wires (Figure 1).
Note:
Current will only flow on one wire at a time (up/down), so the current clamp can be placed over both wires.
Current will only flow after basic settings have been set in the central electrics control module, J519.

Figure 1. Current clamp installed (left), pins 1 and 5 (right).
3. Perform basic settings of the steering column in the J519 control module. Record the peak current values
during the length and height adjustment.
© 2014 Audi of America, Inc.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
• The expected current draw in correct steering columns is about 1A for axial adjustments and about 2.8A 3.4A for vertical adjustment (lower current draw typically found during testing, 2.0A-2.5A). Current draws
above these values are an indication of binding or a tight steering column.
4. Loosen the steering column from the cross carrier,
then tighten the column according to ELSA
instructions (Figure 2). This should relieve any
tension between the steering column and cross
carrier, if any existed.

Figure 2. Tightening sequence (see ELSA for correct
torque specifications)
5. Operate the steering column up and down and note the peak current draw:
• If the current draw is lower and within the specifications after the mounting bolts have been loosened and
retightened, the steering column had tension. If the current draw stays low after the reinstallation, the
tension is only caused by the installation. An adjustment of the steering column is not necessary.
• If the current draw rises to its original level after the reinstallation, the tension is caused by unfavorable
tolerances of the components. The steering column must be adjusted as described in the instructions that
follow.
Adjustment of the steering column to reduce belt tension
Tip: Changing the tension of the belt drive may lead to an increased noise level during adjustment of the
steering column.

© 2014 Audi of America, Inc.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
1. Loosen the belt cover of the steering column:
• If necessary, remove the footwell and steering
column covers.
• Next, move the height adjustment of the steering
column to a central position.
• Then, carefully loosen the side clips without
damaging the clasps (Figure 3).
Note:
Do not disconnect the wiring harness at the side on
the cover attachment.

Figure 3. Side clips.
2. Carefully remove the gear belt from one gear wheel,
using a fine screwdriver (Figure 4). Leave the gear
belt removed from one wheel for step 3.

Figure 4. Remove the gear belt with a fine screwdriver.
3. Reduce the tension in the steering column:
• Mark the gear’s original location on the gear, on
the housing, and on the belt (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Marking original gear location.
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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
• Turn the gear clockwise and mark the location
with the greatest resistance (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Marking the location with the greatest
resistance in the clockwise direction.
• Turn the gear counter-clockwise and mark the
location with the greatest resistance (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Marking the location with the greatest
resistance in the counter-clockwise direction.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
• Place the original marking of the gear in the
center of the two greatest resistance markings
(Figure 8).

Figure 8. Placing a green dot in between the two
yellow dots and turning the gear (red dot) to match the
green dot on the housing.
4. Place the gear belt, by hand, on the gear wheel
(Figure 9).
Note:
The gear may have to move slightly to engage the
belt during installation but other than that, the gear
and green dot should line up (+/- ½ tooth). This will
ensure that the gear is now centered between the
two greatest resistance points.

Figure 9. Installation of gear belt.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
5. Carefully reinstall the cover on the housing (Figure
10).

Figure 10. The cover, installed on the housing.
6. Perform the basic settings:
• First, re-program the steering column with V.A.G. scan tool in the basic settings for the electronic central
electrics module, J519.
• Next, verify that the changing current values during length and height adjustment are no greater than
specification (2.8A - 3.4A).
• Perform a function check.
7. Reassemble the steering column.
8. Verify the proper function of the adjustment.

© 2014 Audi of America, Inc.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
Warranty
Claim Type:

Use applicable claim type. If vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin
is informational only.

Service Number:

4823

Damage Code:

0017
Steering column height adjustment remove + reinstall
4823 1999

70 TU (Max)

Belt tension reduction

4823 1599

30 TU (Max)

Road test prior to service procedure

No allowance

0 TU

Road test after service procedure

No allowance

0 TU

Labor Operations:

Diagnostic Time:

Technical diagnosis at dealer’s discretion
(Refer to Section 2.2.1.2 and Audi Warranty Online for DADP allowance details)
Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2017266/7

All warranty claims submitted for payment must be in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and
Procedures Manual. Claims are subject to review or audit by Audi Warranty.

Required Parts and Tools
Tool Description

Quantity

Electric current pick-up clamp

1

Fine screwdriver

1

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2017266) are subject to change and/or removal. Always
check with your Parts Department and service manuals for the latest information.

© 2014 Audi of America, Inc.

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All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.