a4audi4fun

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

NB03A4

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.

akoustic

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

RiskyB6

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.

K04-S4

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.

RiskyB6

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

RiskyB6

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!