I bought the car about 6 weeks ago with 89,000 miles. The PS pump was replaced about 3 months before I bought the car. The car was rarely driven the last few months by the PO.

A few days after I bought the car the PS starting moaning and groaning loud. My mechanic sucked the PS fluid out and refilled and that fixed it for about a month. It's started again. Before I go further, I'm thinking of flushing it again. Thinking there's still some crap in the fluid.

I see 2 methods for flushing, one where you remove the resevoir and flush (doesn't seem much room on my car to get the resevoir out on my car) and one where you disconnect the hose at the radiator. Which method is best? Is either waybetter than just sucking out the fluid from the resevoir several times and running the engine after each top off?

Thanks

You NEVER need to flush the PS fluid on an audi, its mineral oil, meaning it will evaporate over time. So it moaning just means its low on fluid. What you need to do is remove the cap top it off, then with the engine running turn the wheel lock to lock several times over to aerate the fluid. You should see lots of bubbles, when the bubbles stop then you can put the cap back on.

The fluid level is a little over the top mark.

If its still moaning do what i just said and aerate it, if it still happens after doing that for a long time then you need a new PS pump.

One thing I forgot to mention is that it doesn't do it all the time, but most of the time. While driving the the car, it can come and go. Because of this, I was thinking there was some debris left from the PS pump replacement a few months ago.

The fluid level has never been low.

I'll try the aerating thing now.

If there is a leakage somewhere - pipes, pump itself - it starts getting air into the liquid, the air is the reason of howling. It disappears while driving (does the same as auditech79 said), but returns back after being parked for some time.

You have to inspect to whole system for leaks and potentially replace the pump ($200 for the new one or $40 for repair kit).

I just checked my records the pump was replaced a year ago.

I aerated turning the wheel back and forth with the top off for about 10 minutes. The froth is still there. I let the car sit while the bubbles cleared & after a short drive the noise and bubbles come back.

How long should I try aereating before I take it to a mechanic to inspect the whole system?

The fluid is brown in color and looks like there's air in it.

You know a month ago my mechanic sucked the fluid out a few times and poured new fluid in. The fluid was clear, looked like mineral oil. This cleared the problem for awhile.

hey! The fuild should be clear and look like a mineral oil. NOT BROWN!

it is recommended to lift up the front (so wheels may move freely) while aerating

How long should I need to aereate? 10 minutes didn't do it.

Does driving harm the system with air in it? If I can't get the air out, it will probably be next week before I can get it to my wrench.

As I know (guys please correct me), driving with the air in the pump (completely no liquid) will break the pump. I was driving for 3-4 weeks with this sound, periodically adding the liquid.

I'd make sure I have the correct fluid in - Pentosin.
Bleeding the system provides there are no bubles (all are harmful) in the fluid.
Flush it.
Low lever as high level are bad.

Fill forever-lasts forever is a part of the common myth.
Only diamonds last forever

Each time I suck some fluid out and replace it with new the noise goes away for awhile. The fluid is still not quite clear yet.

CanI flush the system by sucking out the resevoir, refilling it runing theengine and turning the wheel untill the fluid is clear?

I've read 2 tech articles on flushing the PS, one where you remove the resevoir & the return line and another where you remove the line at the radiator. Both seem a little scary if I run the fluid out with the engine.

I fill more comfortable sucking and refilling if that will do the job.

Also so I can't find a fluid leak. Seems there would be one if air was getting in the system from a leak.

Thanks for the help.

What kind of fluid are you using? I have a really good feeling your not using the right stuff.

Auditexh my car is doing the samething when i makes turns can i get the ps fluid at autozone or does it have to come from the dealer

You can ONLY use the factory fluid or the Pentosin fluid from ecstuning, other fluids will damage the PS pump.

ok thanks how often does it usually evaporate meaning the time it does?

My wrench used Valvoline. It was clear in a gallon jug. It didn't say mineral oil, I asked if it was a mineral oil base and he said yes.

Parts stores around here don't seem to have it and didn't feel like driving to the dealership. Ordered synthetic from Pelican Parts, will be here tomorrow.

ORIGINAL: paaudia6

ok thanks how often does it usually evaporate meaning the time it does?


I usually have to top it off every 10k working on cars at the dealer, so i would giveit a quick check every 5k.

As for the Valvoline stuff, get that out of there ASAP.

Pelicam listed Febi and Pentosin for my car. I ordered 2 lt of Febi.

auditech can i get it from a VW dealer its closer to my house if yes what should i ask for?

Febi is the exact same thing as the Pentosin so you can use that too.

That's good, Febi is 5 bucks cheaper.

You may have a hose that is coming apart internally causing the scren in the reservoir to keep getting plugged. Or as you said, debris from the bad pump still in the system. I would try removing the reservoir and cleaning the screens in the bottom with some brake clean.

What I can see of the screen from lookng in looks clean.

I flusheda liter and a half of Febi through the system sucking it out with a turkey baster. Should I mention that to my wife?

The fluid is a good clear green color. After about a half hour of bleeding with the front wheels off the ground, I'm still getting air in the system. I'm thinking there's a leak. There's no drips under the car.

Is there a power steering stop leak additive that is safe for our cars?

I think theres another finer screen under that one with the large holes. On the 3.0l there is also a restrictor fitting on the hose that is on the rearward side of the reservoir. Sometimes they get clogged. It can be identifyed by twocrimp clamps on the outside of the hose near the reservoir. You can cut those clamps off and pull the restrictor out with some plyars. Also if you have a leak between the reservoir and the pump you may be sucking air into the system. You wont see signs of major leaking but rather small about of ps fluid caked on the lines.

i was wondering to if i could go to the vw dealership and get there ps fluid for my car if i need it. the closes audi dealer ship to me is 100 miles north and 93 miles south but vw is 13 miles down the road.

I think you've nailed it. There is some fluid on the 2 lines coming from the bottom of the resevoir. Mostly the larger front line. Like it's weeping.
I don't know if I'm up to removing the stuff around it to be able to pull the resevoir out. I've read the tech article but it looks like I have more componets around the resevoir than described in the article.

i was wondering to if i could go to the vw dealership and get there ps fluid for my car if i need it. the closes audi dealer ship to me is 100 miles north and 93 miles south but vw is 13 miles down the road.
Same stuff. The bottle will probably even have the audi logo on it among other. What the hells a skoda.
I think you've nailed it. There is some fluid on the 2 lines coming from the bottom of the resevoir. Mostly the larger front line. Like it's weeping.
I don't know if I'm up to removing the stuff around it to be able to pull the resevoir out. I've read the tech article but it looks like I have more componets around the resevoir than described in the article.




If you take all those connectors off that plastic bracket you will get a better look at those lines. You can even take the plastic part thats connected to the metal bracket off. Ive never removed anything else to get the reservoir off.

Well, I think if done all I can do unless there's some other suggestions.
Got the resevoir out. Screens are clean, cut off enough of the hoses to put new hose clamps. Still getting tiny bubbles. Just like before.
May be time for the mechanic. Must be a small leak somewhere. I'm going to try a new thread to see if anyone knows of a stop leak for our cars.
I'll let you know the outcome. Thanks

IMHO do not use any STOP leak stuff!!! It fills small holes as sealer INCLUDING regular/needed holes.

What I'd recommend to do (if there are no drops around the tank) - remove the engine cover, locate you pump and carefully look around its body. There are several potential places: 1. the pump consists of two halfs - look the place they are connected. 2. two pipes (in/out) 3. staffing-box, glad on its shaft

I had a feeling stop leak would not be recommended. The pump was replaced 1 year ago but no mention of hoses.

I too have a 2003 A4 3.0 with a moaning pump. Has anyone else removed the restrictor as dankhound suggested above? Should I remove it completelyor just clean it and reinstall? I'm considering a magnefine filter to try to trap some of the debris in the system.