PAS gets very hard after a bit of driving!

[S3KO4]

Hi everyone, I am inquiring about my brothers A3, which he bought recently everything seems ok apart from his steering wheel, it is ok in the first hour of driving but after a while the steering gets very hard, harder than non PAS cars, (normal drive & high speed) I have checked the fluid but it raises some alarm, the colour is red not green. Do you guys think this could be the problem? could it be the case that someone before us have serviced it with the wrong fluid?

Or is it more serious, steering pump or the rack?

car is A3 2002 tdi.

 

[S3 Andy]

Sounds like fluid or pump to me... I've read somewhere that using the likes of halfords ps fluid can **** the rack/pump??

 

[S3KO4]

Cheers, mate for the info, I hope it just the case of the fluid nothing else.

 

[s3dave]

it should be green mineral based i think

 

[S3KO4]

Well guys I have replaced the fluid today just removed the return hose to the pump and turned it a few times, it does feel better, however it still get very hard at times, I am getting a bit annoyed now. can anyone help more please? does it sound more like the rack? if it helps it gets hard mainly with the left turn!!!