The other day my friend brought over his VagCom lead and we set about adjusting the Power Steering's level of assistance (following a guide on this forum).

For the record my car was set at 4 (out of 5) when we checked it, and then we went about testing it at 1 (omg it's so light at 1!) and then set it to 5 (which is supposed to be the heaviest/least assisted.

I was wondering what level your cars are set at from factory?

The ones I have done (I think all vRS fabias) have been set at 2 from the factory, and I have changed them to 3, all noticing a distinct improvement in feel / weight.

I don't know for sure, but I think my vRS has had it's steering adjusted at some point.. Or this may just back up that the vRS's are set one heavier from the factory then the other specs.

I think this because my vRS is notably heavier than my Elegance was.

So I think ya probably both right!

That said though, it had anti hijack enabled when I bought it.. which I'm sure the previous owner wouldn't have done so has to have been the original buyer... but then, he's supposed to have bought the demonstrator just before it went on demo so maybe the dealer set anti hi-jack for test drive purposes?

Edited 8 June, 201016 yr by Rob.

thats a cool feature and thankyou for sharing it. I may change mine to experiment on what feels best

IS it changeable on all models (namely a 2001 1.4), or just the vRS?

It's changeable on all models, I recall that it is done through altering the coding of the control unit.

I'd really like this doing to my car!!

It feels far too light to me currently...

I believe the first owner was a woman so maybe she

asked for it to be set by stealer for highest assist before delivery ?

( I'm not implying anything here ladies. Just saying that she may have...)

I just find that when I occasionally indulge

in some higher speed driving

I find it very unsettling and twitchy at those speeds.

Also, when the car starts the usual front wheel understeer and drifts out wide (easily done with my tyres :( )

the wheel just suddenly feels like its not attached to the steering anymore while it's sliding.

There's no feel at all and the steering is suddenly very, very light.

Gotta get a rarb, that might help to balance out the handling a bit.

But I think stiffening up the steering may also help as well. :wonder:

Edited 8 June, 201016 yr by grr666

My mediocre 2002 100bhp tdi was set at 4 when we checked, I was quite suprized.

So I've set it to 5, and it's made a slight difference, but still not quite heavy enough for my liking.

Interesting to hear that the VRS' that you've seen have all been set to 2, surely that must be a mistake (given that 1 is absolutely horrible feeling when I tried it out!)

I'd like mine adjusted a bit heavier, more road - steering feel is good!

Think the dealer tried to do it but it got cleared and to standard weight, will see if I can get it altered somewhere.

I'd really like this doing to my car!!

It feels far too light to me currently...

Well definatly grab hold of a VAgcom lead and give it a go. Only takes 30seconds.

It won't make your car handle any better (sorry this is just physics and a crappy VAG chassis), but it will go someway of improving the feel

Thanks to Jason, he changed my vRS at Castle Combe from '2' as it was set, to '3' and the steering is much more to my liking now. Good balance of weight on the move, and just enough power assistance for parking. If I had Vagcom I would probably try setting '4' too and see what that was like.

Definitely improves the feel though

I wonder if setting a heavier weight may very slightly increase MPG, and decrease wear on the power steering components.

Can't see how, it only changes parameters in the motor control, it's nothing physical.

Oh ace! this is making me want to get a VagCom now! just means i have to buy a PC, unless anyone knows of one MAC compatible? :yes:

ahh that's interesting, i didn't realize you could adjust the power steering assistance level, the only thing i ever looked at on mine was the steering angle sensor thing when the power steering pump packed up

Of three of my mates, they all feel heavier or lighter than each other, none are the same.

Matt

Mine was set at 4, just changed to 5 and will test drive in a bit. I can only assume the adjustable assistance level is intended to adjust for other factors in different model cars such as different engine weights (the 1.4mpi being a relatively light aluminium lump compared to the diesels) and tyre widths.

Interesting - I didn't know about this. When the rack on my 2004vRS was replaced recently I thought it was slightly lighter afterwards - didn't know it could be changed...

I know it's not a Fabia, or even on the same platform, but I'm guessing there are simularities anyway.

Does anyone know if this can be done on the 6n2 Polos? Namely the GTi models?

Oh ace! this is making me want to get a VagCom now! just means i have to buy a PC, unless anyone knows of one MAC compatible? :yes:

I use VMWare Fusion 4.0 (£38) on my Macbook Pro and can confirm compatibility with a 58 plate octavia and on my older VMWare version Seat Altea, Seat Ibiza, and VW Passat....

I changed mine to 4 but might go for 5.

It was set to 1! Very light!

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Just changed mine from 2 - 5. Made a difference but not as much as I was expecting. Can still full lock with very little effort but can just about feel the difference overall when driving.

Oh ace! this is making me want to get a VagCom now! just means i have to buy a PC, unless anyone knows of one MAC compatible? :yes:

It runs fine in a VMware Windows VM on my macbook, probably your best bet.

Cheers

Patrick

Does anyone know if the new (2011) Octavia VRS steering can be adjusted with vagcom?