MBailey

My 2004 Cayenne TT refuses to start. The screen is red and says Steering Faulty and beeps. The shifter is locked. Car had to be put in neutral from below to be towed. Since ignition wont come on diagnostics cannot be run. Tech thought it might be ignition switch but changing that did not work. He is out of ideas and car has been dead since Thurs. Need some serious HELP!!
No luck with search...

ltc

Please define "refuses to start".

Does it turn over but engine won't start/run?
Has the battery been replaced?
With key 'On', if you step on the brake, do you hear/feel a 'click' on the gear selector assembly?

What is working inside the vehicle? Climate control, audio, windows, keyless entry, etc?

Based on initial description, it sounded like a dead/dying battery.

MBailey

Battery was tested and was good. The starter does not come on when you turn the key. Nothing happens. I will check on other items and reply again.

MBailey

Key on. Radio works Climate control does not. There is no clicking sound when you hit the brakes. The brake pedal is very hard. If you press the gear button a loud click can be heard in the gear assembly but yu cannot move the shifter.

ltc

Immobilized, IP cluster, definitely needs to be connected to a PIWIS to find which module(s) are gone.

MBailey

Thanks Lewis! If can turn ignition how do you connect to computer?

ltc

PIWIS connects to the car via the standard interface.
There are many modules/interfaces in the vehicle which are supplied direct from the battery (not switched battery), by design.

If you can drag the Cayenne to someone who has a PIWIS, you should be able to determine why the car will not crank and go from there.

Was there anything leading up to this failure, or did it just drop in its tracks.

MBailey

Thanks Lewis! It just dropped in its tracks. Unfortunately, dealer closed in my town. Nearest dealer is 200mi. I do have a Durametric on a laptop. Tech want to try to bypass something to get ignition on to run it. If that doesnt work and I cant find anyone who has seen this fault before car may have to be towed 200mi...

ltc

Do you have servotronic steering option?

Based on what you've described, my best (wild ***) guess is that the vehicle experienced a steering fault and determined it to be worth of putting the Cayenne into a 'safe' state.

I've don't recall seeing anything like this before, sorry.

MBailey

No, I dont have the servotronic steering. Thanks !

s4for5

I would not let anybody "bypass" anything.
That could get really costly really fast.
You need to get the beast to a qualified dealer in my opinion.
Sign up for AAA and get that bad boy towed fast as you can for an accurate diagnosis.

ltc

IIRC, AAA has a tow radius of 100 miles, after which you pay per mile.

If you have anyone in your region with a trailer, that might be an option

s4for5

even paying .50 mile is only 50.00 for the tow, worth it

medtech

Rent a U-haul w/ a car trailer...

Andy E.

+1

Taking the chance to incorrectly mount the inoperable truck on a rent-a-trailer and haul it 200 miles to a dealer definitely does not make any sense, especially since you'll be taking a day off to do this.