Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Hello all,

Happy 2012!!

A couple months ago I decided to take my car off the market because its too awesome to sell. At that time, my steering pump was 6mths old and purred as it should have.

Prior to my replacing it, the thing howled at low rev and got ever so louder when I turned the wheel and the fluid became pure foam. So embarassing. People stare!!!

So now, people are starring again. I refuse to believe it needs yet another pump. I've had it flushed, of course, but to no avail. Fluid is at the correct level, howls full-time. Such an unnecessary noise for such an otherwise perfect condition car!

Please help! All advice is greatly appreciated!

Detail: 3.0 Q, 2005 B6 saloon

What I've read so far:
- rack & pinion need replacement
- do another pump
- alternator pulley is not spinning freely enough
- need new tensioner

Thanks for your input!!

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Dude, sorry to hear about your issues. I have the same car and I replaced the steering rack last year. Is your car leaking any steering fluid? Are you having to top up the fluid?

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Really appreciate it man...so lame...I live downtown too so I'm always driving around pedestrians lol

No fluid leakage/seepage bud, just noise and foam...

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

looks like a really small air leak that gets some air in the system. verify that everything is properly tighten.

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Thanks a lot, I am bringing my car in today and will make sure it gets tested for this. In the meantime, I really appreciate brainstorming on possible causes! Are there common sites for these airleaks??

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Hey Andrew,

Let me know what the issue was. I have the same car and I'm quite curious. I hope it turns out to be something minor, good luck bro!

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

On my 2005 A4 when they replaced the steering rack under CPO warranty, I was told to come back in a week so they could replace a weeping hose connected to the power steering reservoir. That part was backordered. I think with the temperature fluctuations in our engine bays anywhere there is a clamp onto a plastic fitting becomes a weak point as the plastic becomes more brittle over time.

My 1998 A4 also had the power steering reservoir replaced under CPO - makes me think the reservoir is one of the weak points of that system.

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

No kidding... Would you happen to have a copy of the recall docs?

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

...apologies, I misread and saw 'recall', when in fact you said "warranty"...

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

I joined this forum just for this reason. I have a 2003 A4 3.0L and had this problem last winter. Had the fluid flushed and still had the whining amd moaning sound. Weather got warm and it went away to the point I forgot about it till the first cold day this past fall. My local Audi guys said it was my power steering pump which I replaced, got a little better for awhile and now is worse then ever. Now you can hardly turn the wheel first thing in the morning starting out and then again down the road when I have to make my first turn. It's fine after that for turning but still have the noise. Not as bad if it is warmer out which seems to be plus 6 one day and minus 20 the next lately here in New Brunswick.....lol

I'm not sure if the original postes was all the time or just cold weather like mine. Any ideas for it happening in the cold only? Any help greatly appreciated before I go back to my local guys.

Thanks

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Saw an anectdotal note somewhere to top the power steering fluid up to the top of the MAX letters, rather than the level line that is underneath it. Seemed to help in my case. YMMV

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Thanks. My service guys read that as well and topped it up and it's not leaking. It seems weird that in warm weather it works fine though, no noise and no stiffness.

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

my 97 camry did the same thing... I just filled it to the MAX line and problem solved...

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

I'll try the MAX-fill suggestion, but doubt it will be much remedy. If the manufacturer specifies that a properly working system uses a particular level of fluid, building pressure to alleviate noise is probably asking for trouble in the LR. As it stands right now, a steering rack is way too expensive locally and I'll be replacing the pump again but from a different supplier. Last summer there were mornings and nights (up north) well below 10*C where the initially replaced pump did not make noise... I've yet to make a connection between ambient temperature and the pump, noting only an observation that the colder the weather - the worse the howling. Will let you all know how this goes in a week or so.

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Guys... this is common. You have an air leak on the return low pressure side of the PS System. Hence no loss of fluid but constant cavitation inside the pump causing the loud whining and foaming fluid. This is especially noticeable in cold weather as the fluid is thicker which helps create a stronger vacuum to pull air into the system through the weak connection.

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

thanks for the feedback Greg! I'll get the line inspected asap...

Re: Steering system issue...noisier than a chainsaw i tell you.
 

Well - I've replaced the pump with a better quality unit that I got from New Brunswick and the problem appears to have been solved!