Power Steering problem????

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simong

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Hi Guys, I'm new on here, so go easy if this has been mentioned before, I certainly can't find it if it has.

I've got a 2000 (V) S3 with 35k miles and it's developed a terrible noise from the Power Steering pump. The noise is only evident when the pump is working (wheels turned when stationary or moving) and get's worse when the throttle is used at the same time. The resevoir is at Max if the car is left for a period of time before checking. If the car is started and then stopped upon checking the resevoir again it is full of bubbles, much like washing up liquid but green. Has anybody seen this before or any idea where I should start looking for problems? It's booked into Audi on Thursday but I'd like to avoid a dealer visit if possible as I they usually tip me upside down for cash everytime I visit! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Any help would be appreciated.

Jim.
 
I take it your not loosing fluid? Power steering systems usually foam up if air is getting into they system. I would have a look at the pipes and see if you can see any leaks, failing that I guess it could be the seals on the pump. I wouldn't bother with taking it to a dealer, any garage could sort the problem cheaper.
 
I was thinking it was air. I can't see any leaks and like I said the resevoir is full. The problem with normal garages is they will have a problem getting the mineral oil that is used in the system. I guess I'll just wait and see, it's a real shame though as apart from this the car is perfect!!
 
yes, agree with khufu's comments - unless you have a money tree (!!!) go to a local trusted garage or an independant VAG specialist - you'll save loads.

I just can't believe the prices stealers charge and I really ask myself do you get a better job.......maybe, maybe not

all depends on what needs to be done.....
 
My car (97 1.8t, 70K miles) has a slight leak from the power steering pump which produces the symptoms you describe - it gets progressively noisier and noisier as it loses fluid until it's topped up again. Audi quoted something ridiculous like £350 for a new pump inc. fitting, however topping it up from time to time seems to do the trick just as well.

I'll get round to sorting it eventually... when the leak gets really bad! PAS pumps are £85 + VAT at German & Swedish. No idea how long they'd take to fit though.
 
Thanks for the advice, I think that as it's booked in anyway I'll let the stealer have a look and quote me and then see how it goes from there. I'll let you know how the car gets on this Thursday night.
 
Well, took it up to Audi this afternoon. The tech took one look (at the top of the engine with a torch???) and said, I've never seen that before and then he said, it'll be the pump and it will have probably damaged the rack, or it'll be the rack and it'll have damaged the pump. Either way, he says, your better to replace both. Checked the costs, 9 hours labour all in plus parts, coming to £1400+vat!!! Spoke to my local Audi specialist, told me it would be 4 hours labour (max) and original Audi parts from ECP would be cheaper. The gotcha for me though was that Audi weren't even gonna check the car before replacing expensive parts, the Audi specialist said that the last time they had a rack problem that Audi said was going to cost £1100+vat to fix they replaced a 12p seal and the rack was fine again!!! I've kinda lost my faith in the dealer after this, are they all out to make cash in this *very* blatant manner?? Needless to say it's booked into the specialist on Friday. I'll let you all know how I get on.
 
Classic Audi dealer, replace parts first, ask questions later. They really can only deal with company car & warranty business. You're far better off with a specialist who'll put the effort in to find out what the real problem is.
 
I've said before on here about the palava I went through when my steering rack had to be replaced. Autotechnik in Southampton did the work and were so apologetic about the fact that they could only get a replacement rack from Audi dealer, then once fitted the steering starts turning on its own and making horrible noises like it was possessed.
Autotechnik check everything and all looks fine so it has to be faulty rack.
Southampton Audi are having none of it and insist they inspect the car. Then then find a slight leak in the pump and say this the cause. Autotechnik try to explain to Audi how an Audi steering setup works and that there is no way on earth a leaking pump could produce these symptoms. Audi say they won't do anything about it until the pump is changed. Autotechnik finally get them to agree that if Audi change the pump and it doesn't fix the problem then they'll put it back how it was FOC. Surprise surprise, pump changed, problem still there, Audi now say it must be a faulty rack, no sh*t sherlock!
Now if I was an unsuspecting punter Audi would have billed me the £350+ for a new pump regardless. That just seems to be their philosophy, replace expensive parts until the problem goes away rather than ascertain what could be causing it first. I've got to believe Soton Audi are just paricularly bad, I'm sure there are good Audi dealers somewhere, but the more I read on this forum, the more I'm convinced to go back to VW.
 
sounds like the tech was probably an apprentice, the powersteering racks are quite uncommon and we have had pumps screaming out very loud and they have never damaged the racks!

it sounds to me, from what you have described that the pump may have lost its effiency, causing the bubbles from an internal fault. i recommend if you want to save money and not get a huge bill that you get the powersteering pump replaced, as andymac will tell you i get a little annoyed when you lot slag off main dealers because i work for one, but i can tell you that we are not all like that!!!!!

i wonder what he was looking at with his torch there is not really alot you can see from the top, as the pump is at the bottom.
 
As said before, you will get good and bad dealers. I have nothing but praise for the one I use (Sinclair Audi in Swansea) so I think we should stop tarring them all with the same brush!
 
sorry guys, think I may have explained wrong, I myself have had very /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/swear.gif experiences with Audi (I seem to be lucky like that) but I have also had good ones, Plymouth Audi are great (when you can get through to them) as are Reading Audi - especially the service manager Mark, my problem however is with Aston Green Audi (mainly due to silly quotes I've received for unnecessary work) and Audi UK for the quality of there products are there unwillingness to do anything when a product is out of warranty, which I know from friend is not the attitude you get from BMW or Merc. I also know my dad has owned his lexus from new for 7 years and had absolutly nothing other than the standard servicing and pads / tyres changed.

again rant for now over, I just can't wait to see what Audi's CEO replies with.

ps please correct spelling and grammer as you read as I'm too tired to type the correct words.
 
Youll love this one then AndyMac...

I asked Epsom (driftbridge) Audi to see if they could replcae my struts / shocks. They turned around and said ...wait for it..you will laugh...Sorry Sir we dont replace struts /shocks as they never need replacing. I fell over laughing.
 
I'm just glad that there are great Audi/VW independents out there, or I would have ditched the Audi a long time ago.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry Sir we dont replace struts /shocks as they never need replacing. I fell over laughing.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummm just like their infinite life water pumps (according to foolish).
Oh no I mentioned the water pumps AGAIN!
Sorry, case closed.
 
today i replaced a water pump on a high milage a3 1.8 20v, it had done 160,000 miles, i spoke to the customer, and he told me that the car had never needed a water pump to that date, it did have full service history with us. now the case is closed!
 
[ QUOTE ]
today i replaced a water pump on a high milage a3 1.8 20v, it had done 160,000 miles, i spoke to the customer, and he told me that the car had never needed a water pump to that date, it did have full service history with us. now the case is closed!

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL. Just because you had one car in with a good water pump, doesn't mean that this problem doesn't exist with other vehicles.

Oops, just crowbarred that case open.
 
160k is not really "lasts forever" though now is it?
That customer's obviously got money to burn if he's still getting FASH at 160k
 
And just think he would have wasted all of that £35 unnecessarily.
Foolish, you're the one still dancing on the minefield, why do you insist on getting the last word?
 
Just to update everyone:

The tech that looked at it was in his late 40's and was their most senior chap.

The independant has looked at the car now (hurrah someone who looks!) and they have discovered that there is a cooling pipe running along the front of the engine bay for the PAS fluid, this has become corroded and is leaking (only under pressure - hence no obvious leaks). The part is only available from Audi and is around £40, the total will be around £120 all in as it's a bit fiddly to replace. Needless to say Audi is not going to be used again as I have no confidence in them. I'll have the car back on Monday /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif

Thanks for all your help guys, sorry if I've kicked up a hornets nest. I can however tell you, I run the BMW car club in Scotland (boo hiss I hear you say) BMW dealers are just as bad, it is very rare to find a good one, but they are out there and it is worth searching as the good ones are *really* good, I assume the same applies for Audi.
 
Thanks for getting back to us. Sounds like you should keep going to your independant garage!

This is a good one to remember if someone else has a similar prob.
 
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