Hello all,

I have been having a strange sound lately on my 2000 A6 2.7T. Going through couple of websites, i have narrowed it down to power steering pump cavitation. So I ve removed the old PS fluid(suction) and replaced with pentosin chf 11s. but the sound still remains, how long will it take for the sound to go away? I didnt do a second (remove/refill) process because i think i dont have enough PS fluid left. So i ordered another bottle. still waiting on that.

Meanwhile I wanted to know if I am right. Also when I turn the engine off with the PS reservoir cap off, I can see a lot of fuzzing and overflow of the PS reservoir. I m guessing air is entering from somewhere, I have to check that too.

These are the links of some videos i ve taken, Can you guys take a look and let me know if it is really air in the power steering system or something else.

Video of engine turned on with PS reservoir cap off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiy1Ae8lKoU

Video showing the sound the car makes when i turn the steering wheel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siCt3PP4v6o

 

Did a complete PS fluid flush. The whine decreased but the rattle still remains. Also I can see a slight pulley shake sometimes when the rattle occurs. when there is not shake there is not rattle. why is the pulley shaking?? A bad pump or lose bolts or some thing else?

 

check to make sure the pump is down tight and the pulley is on tight. You might also have a bent/warped pulley.

how many miles and when was the last time the timing belt/components were done? you have to loosen the PS pump and push it up out of the way to get the waterpump out (just a thought).

Finally, if there was air in your PS system you may have damaged the pump. The fluid keeps the bearings lubricated and any air in the system at all can cause some damage. make sure you completely bleed the PS system of air. front of the car up, car running, turn the wheel slowly from lock to lock about 15 times. check for bubbles in the fluid reservoir. repeat until no bubbles.

 

You used the wrong fluid

Should have used G4000 from Audi it has been formulated to reduce the cavitation...."Reduce" they say.

Do it again?

Then replace all of your clamps double up on them. make sure they are tight. you should not have anymore of the ear clamps on because they loosen and leak. It was not a good idea to put them on there in the first place... AUDI are you listening!

I used non-perforated Stainless Steel Clamps. I got them at westmarine they are used on boats. Very good and you can crank on them without marring the hose. Non-perforated have ridges instead of slots. see the photo.



Also check the lines where they enter the pump. The hoses are attached with a banjo bolts and each bolt has two crush washers on either side that fail over time. Happening to me right now! they are torqued not just tightened but you can snug them a bit. I'll have to get back to you on the Torq specs. Or you can check your bently manual if you have one they're in there.

 

It has 164k on it, dont know when the last timing belt was done as I ve bought it at 142k a year back. I have done what you said 02A6Beau, did a bleed with wheels up and turn lock to lock about 15 times. Bubbles where still present at the end. So tried it some more times, but its still there. But i ve noticed when it was up on the jacks that the steering was a bit hard to turn with wheels of the ground. With the engine running, the effort needed to turn the steering was same as the effort needed when the engine is off. So I got the car down and took it around a small spin and as I suspected there was no power steering, none at all. So is this a sign of a Bad pump or something worse?

@jackmup I have replaced the clamp on the hose which goes to the PS pump, also the ones on the reservoir, with similar clamps to what you have shown. but the air is still leaking in from somewhere. But as i mentioned above since I lost all power steering there is something much worse than a leak now.

If the cost of repair is high, then I m thinking to sell the car. Anyone for parts?

 

Why discarding the car if you can just replace the pump?

 

HI all,

I dropped the car at a local midas for an oil change and asked him to confirm about the pump failing. He said the pump is bad and quoted 650$ for parts and labor.

Is there a DIY for replacing the pump, i ve searched around but couldnt find. I did a fuel pump and filter replacement and a CV boot replacement my self. so thats the technical exp i have. will changing the PS pump be too big a task for me? Any DIY links will be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

You should be able to do it
I don't think there's a DIY per se, but use your better judgement and common sense.
Suck out the fluid, remove the top and front covers, loosen the pulley, remove the belt, remove the pulley, remove the lines, pinch or "cork" them, unbolt the pump.
Install pump, install the lines, install pulley, install belt, tighten pulley, fill her up to "cold", start the car, move wheels side to side to side slowly to bleed it, button up go for a ride, let it cool off, top off if necessary.
How hard could it be?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppxIcWZtE7w

Different model, but starting from 2:01 you have several instances where you can see how the PS Pump is bolted on and the feed-return lines.