2018 Q7 'wanders'
01-30-2019, 07:09 AM
#121
EPS systems came out about 15-20 years ago and since about 10 years ago pretty much all manufacturers started switching to it. It's simpler.
I remember when they came out the steering felt a LOT lighter than hydraulic systems and it takes a little time to get used to them. As said earlier, Q7 steering is light compared to it's size and weight. If you let the steering wheel go and you still feel wandering of the car to left and right (keep lane assist OFF) then there is something wrong. If not it's most likely you over-reacting to the system. It takes some time getting used to it. True, tier types, tire pressure, smoothness of the road, wind gusting or not, etc all play into this.
I remember when they came out the steering felt a LOT lighter than hydraulic systems and it takes a little time to get used to them. As said earlier, Q7 steering is light compared to it's size and weight. If you let the steering wheel go and you still feel wandering of the car to left and right (keep lane assist OFF) then there is something wrong. If not it's most likely you over-reacting to the system. It takes some time getting used to it. True, tier types, tire pressure, smoothness of the road, wind gusting or not, etc all play into this.
01-30-2019, 09:17 AM
#122
AudiWorld Super User
so you feel like something is missing and end up bouncing back and forth through the dead zone, which of course makes the car then wiggle a little and makes it seem like you need to continue correcting. After seeing your video, I tried driving on the highway and putting repetitive correction movements through the steering wheel and I was able to do it with the car barely responding. The steering response is very vague in that central region
01-30-2019, 11:59 AM
#123
I have a Prestige with the standard suspension, and gave this a go as this was my feeling all along as well. But to my surprise there is no dead-on-center in the Q7. Any slight movement of the steering wheel sent the Q in a different directions, even if slightly. There was no dead band in the steering motion from center.
01-30-2019, 12:19 PM
#124
AudiWorld Super User
I have the 20" OEM wheels with Pirelli Scorpions. I didnt say I had this phenomenon, but do know that many people (different cars) complain of the dead zone in the center position of the wheel. I didnt find one in my Q
01-31-2019, 12:00 AM
#125
01-31-2019, 05:07 AM
#126
AudiWorld Senior Member
With the weather turning, let's say cooler, in NY, I decided to check my tire pressure, especially since it seemed that it was harder to keep the Q on the straight line than usual. Yesterday, it was all over the place at 50~60MPH, it required a constant correction, to the point that I started wondering when I'm going to start bouncing off other cars just so I can stay in my lane. Same feeling this morning, so I pulled into gas station to put more air in the tires. Check the tire pressure, ... what the F@^# ... 43PSI ?!!?! How the F&%$ is this possible. I normally keep it at 35PSI, and that was when the temperatures where much warmer. So I started thinking how this could happen, realizing that the Q was at the dealer recently for an oil change. They must have pumped it up to the max. I kicked myself in the a$$ for not checking it, but honestly I didn't expect them to do that with an oil change. After I let the air out down to 36PSI (trying to account for some warming of the tires), the Q became a different animal. It still has no dead-on center as BigKutta put it, but at least I can keep it within a quarter margin of error now. What a difference. Of course the 20" GY RFT are stiffer in cold weather and increased tire pressure doesn't help. Next time it goes to the dealer, tire pressure check after is on my to do list.
01-31-2019, 05:36 AM
#127
AudiWorld Senior Member
With the weather turning, let's say cooler, in NY, I decided to check my tire pressure, especially since it seemed that it was harder to keep the Q on the straight line than usual. Yesterday, it was all over the place at 50~60MPH, it required a constant correction, to the point that I started wondering when I'm going to start bouncing off other cars just so I can stay in my lane. Same feeling this morning, so I pulled into gas station to put more air in the tires. Check the tire pressure, ... what the F@^# ... 43PSI ?!!?! How the F&%$ is this possible. I normally keep it at 35PSI, and that was when the temperatures where much warmer. So I started thinking how this could happen, realizing that the Q was at the dealer recently for an oil change. They must have pumped it up to the max. I kicked myself in the a$$ for not checking it, but honestly I didn't expect them to do that with an oil change. After I let the air out down to 36PSI (trying to account for some warming of the tires), the Q became a different animal. It still has no dead-on center as BigKutta put it, but at least I can keep it within a quarter margin of error now. What a difference. Of course the 20" GY RFT are stiffer in cold weather and increased tire pressure doesn't help. Next time it goes to the dealer, tire pressure check after is on my to do list.
01-31-2019, 06:04 AM
#128
AudiWorld Super User
With this cold, can you imagine the number of people driving with 18-20 psi today? The first time the temp drops below freezing, I make sure to pump air into all the tires to bring them back up to spec
01-31-2019, 06:14 AM
#129
AudiWorld Senior Member
I mentioned the psi to the OP earlier on here but he said it wasnt his issue.
For years everytime I have brought any of our vehicles in for service they nearly always come back with overinflated tires...I now leave a note for them to adjust only if needed and I specifiy the cold/warm psi I want. I think the overinflation leads to premature wear and perhaps this increases their tire business.
For years everytime I have brought any of our vehicles in for service they nearly always come back with overinflated tires...I now leave a note for them to adjust only if needed and I specifiy the cold/warm psi I want. I think the overinflation leads to premature wear and perhaps this increases their tire business.
01-31-2019, 06:51 AM
#130
AudiWorld Senior Member
I generally check it regularly, but for some reason this time I just blanked out on the fact that someone else touched the vehicle and could have "tempered' with my tire pressure. I do miss direct TPMS so I can see the current tire pressure and tire temperature in the vehicle, that was so helpful and I would have caught it immediately. Instead I was wondering for the last month or so, why I can't seem to be able to keep it in the lane, and why it feels like it's riding on rubber bands.
