***SUPER- DAY OLD - NOOB question***
I just bought a used 1997 A4 Quatro today (THIS is my FIRST EURO IMPORT, done with the CIVICs after getting my car stolen and stripped) and after driving from Queens back to NJ, My steering wheel got all stiff and kinda figured the fluids were running low, so I had a buddy of mine drop some extra fluid for me, while waiting I noticed that under the car fluid were leaking...after refilling the steering wheel fluid, I relized that it was still leaking, cuz it ran low once again....but after about 20 mins...the squeeking went away and was able to drive the car home the rest of the way fine....
1. Q: Is this normal if the car was sitting in the auction lot for a while???
2. Q: Can I change the oil myself like any regular domestic? Anything tricky or diff???....gonna attempt it 1st thing tomorrow...
3. Q: My tape deck (yes, tape deck) has reset to SAFEMODE how to I get it out of it?? I don't got the code...is there a universal code or way to reset it??
-THANKS GUYS I APPRECIATE IT!!

 

Welcome..
1. Its never " normal" to have leaks
2. Sure you can change the oil yourself.. Nothing srange about it other than removing the belly pan (if yours still has one) and using fully synthetic oil and updated oil filter from Audi (if its a 1.8t)
3. If you dont have your radio code (found in owners manual) try calling a dealer and giving them your vin# and they can look it up.. or get an aftermarket unit.

Also - your new best friend: https://www.audiforums.com/search.asp for stuff you want to know.

 

Thanks alot...now I got something to start with....

 

Find out where the leak is coming from.

No the leak didn't develop by sitting at auction. It was being auctioned because it was leaking.

The audi takes special PS fluid. Pentosin 11S. Do not use off the shelf stuff or transmission fluid. It will screw up your steering rack. Drain the system, find the leak, repair and fill with the correct fluid.

 

Hey 076...

I'm new too but I had the same problem. My steering fluid was low and seemed to deplete after I'd filled it up. I checked the hydraulic hose attached to the reservoir tank for the P/S fluid and found out it had stiffened and cracked due to aging. Had that replaced and now no more leaks.

If you're not familiar with it, bring it to a VW/Audi mechanic and ask them to check the hose if its cracked (usually, if its stiff and has oily residue it means its leaked).

Hope this helped.

 

As David9999 said use VW/Audi power steering fluid. You
can buy it at a VW dealer.