Travel Assist is an assistive driving technology that enhances the driving experience for Volkswagen owners. Travel Assist takes control of certain parts of driving, such as staying in a lane and maintaining the same speed. This useful feature isn't necessary to use but can provide a nice break for drivers traveling long distances. But what if you get the message, "Travel Assist Not Available"? What's wrong, and what can you do to fix it?
Travel assist not available message highlights
- Common reasons:faulty steering wheel, bad ACC units
- How to fix:replace the steering wheel under TSB in dealership
- Possible consequences:ACC functions won't be working
- Priority level:Low
- Can you drive?Yes
- DIY repair:Impossible
- Repair price range:$0-$1,000
What is Travel Assist?
Travel Assist is a Volkswagen assistive driving technology that takes partial control of the vehicle to improve the driving experience. The system works by combining adaptive cruise control and lane assist.
The adaptive cruise control helps your car maintain a certain speed and distance from other cars. It allows you to set a maximum speed, which the car will automatically keep itself moving at. The system can also adjust the vehicle's speed as needed to keep it from getting too close to other cars.
Lane assist makes adjustments to the steering wheel to keep the car in its lane. If the car starts to move too far out of its lane, the system warns the driver.
Lane assist and adaptive cruise control work together to make travel assist a useful safety feature for long trips. This allows the car to stay in its lane while keeping a safe speed.
You should note that travel assist isn't a self-driving technology by any means. It only works as long as the driver's hands are on the steering wheel. This guarantees that the driver remains alert and ready to act in emergencies, while still offering a more comfortable drive.
You don't need travel assist for normal driving, but it's certainly useful to have. If you're eager to use travel assist again, you'll have to know what could be wrong first.
What Causes the "Travel Assist Not Available" Warning?
As we mentioned earlier, travel assist relies on two systems to work. A single problem with one of those systems can put travel assist offline. This means that we need to look at the problems that can make adaptive cruise control and lane assist stop working normally.
- Front Camera
The front camera is a common reason why the travel assist system might stop working. The front camera is used by the lane assist system to read lane markings on the road. There's a big problem with this front camera, however. It tends to malfunction when it gets too hot, and these cameras use a lot of power, so they get hot often.
In most VW models, the front camera is mounted on the rearview mirror, or directly on the windscreen, so it gets hot in direct sunlight. Once the front camera overheats, it malfunctions and shuts down. This is temporary though. The camera will usually start back up once it's cooled down.
The front camera is necessary for the lane assist to work, and the lane assist makes up half of the travel assist system. This means that the travel assist won't work if the front camera is down.
- Dirty Sensors
Your car relies on sensors to detect and understand the road around it. Assistive driving technologies like travel assist can't work without functioning sensors, which your Volkswagen has a lot of. The annoying thing about sensors is that they tend to get dirty, and sensors don't like getting dirty. Once they get covered with dirt, they lose their ability to see, and the associated system will go offline.
Both the lane assist and the adaptive cruise control require sensors to work. A dirty sensor in any of the two systems will result in the travel assist not being able to work.
- Malfunctioning Sensors
Sensors don't just get dirty, they can also break down. Some sensors are sensitive to vibrations and impact, while others, like the front camera, are sensitive to heat. Once a sensor takes enough abuse, it might malfunction completely. This happens commonly after collisions. It's also likely to happen if you regularly drive in tough conditions, like on dirt roads, or even off-roading.
- Steering Wheel Sensor
Another very common reason why your travel assist isn't available could be a problem with the steering wheel sensor. Travel assist takes partial control of the steering wheel to keep the car within lanes while driving. Of course, the car makes use of another sensor to detect the position of the steering wheel, so that it can safely adjust its position. If the steering sensor is faulty, then travel assist won't turn on.
How to Fix "Travel Assist Not Available" in Volkswagen?
When travel assist isn't available, you'll need to keep control of your car's speed and lane centering on your own. This isn't a big deal for some people, but you'll also have to deal with the warning chime. Depending on your Volkswagen, the sound might be bearable, but some VWs have a loud, obnoxious "bong" noise that you have to put up with.
Whether it's to get your assistive driving back or get rid of the annoying chime, you'll need to fix the cause of the underlying problem.
1) Clean the Sensors
If your sensors are dirty, you'll need to clean them. The total number and positions of the sensors in your car will depend on the model that you have. Your owner's manual should give you a good idea of where your car's sensors are.
Generally, your car should have a front camera located on the rearview mirror. The front sensor should be located on the grille, behind the VW emblem. The rear camera should be above the rear license plate.
You don't need anything special to clean your sensors. A microfiber cloth, water, and some car shampoo will do the trick. Simply clean the sensors with the shampoo, and make sure to dry them thoroughly with the cloth.
2) Replace the Sensors
Sometimes even a good cleaning won't save your sensors. If they're malfunctioning you'll need to have them replaced. Identifying which sensor is malfunctioning is a tricky process. If you don't have experience replacing sensors, you can get it done by a mechanic or Volkswagen dealership. They'll be able to locate the faulty sensor and replace it for you.
3) Replace the Steering Module
A faulty steering sensor is more difficult to replace than the other sensors. This is because the sensor is part of the steering module, located inside the steering column. It's difficult to access and requires quite a bit of knowledge and work.
If you're not confident in replacing the steering module yourself, you can get your car over to a dealership. They'll be able to get the appropriate part for you. They'll also perform the replacement for you.
4) Get a Windshield Shade
A windshield shade, or car sunshade, is a great way to prevent your car's interior from getting too hot. This will keep your front camera cool and extend its operating life. Windshield shades are particularly useful if your car is often parked in direct sunlight.
Apart from protecting your front camera, windshield shades have some other benefits as well. They block out the heat of the sun, keeping your car's interior from becoming boiling hot while it's parked. They also keep out UV rays, protecting your car's interior leathers and plastics from fading and degrading.
Can You Drive With "Travel Assist Not Available"?
When travel assist isn't available, you could be left to wonder whether your car's driving will be compromised. Fortunately, it's still safe to drive when this message comes up. You won't be able to use travel assist's assistive driving features, however. This will leave you fully responsible for operating the car.
An issue to note is that this error will cause the car to occasionally emit a warning chime. In some Volkswagen, the chime is a bearable sound. In others though, the sound is loud and jarring. Many drivers have admitted to being startled by the sound, so you should keep that in mind and be wary when driving with this message displayed.
Bottom Line
"Travel assist not available" is a warning that lets you know that your car's assistive driving technology is unavailable. Usually, this is because of a dirty sensor, or an overheating front camera. Sometimes, it might be a result of a bad sensor. In this case, you'll need to have the offending sensor replaced before the system can be used again.
Driving without travel assist is an inconvenience at worst. You can try to get it working again by cleaning your sensors or taking your car to a mechanic.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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