I have a 99 Audi A6 Quattro 2.8 and my power steering went out. I'm not sure if it's the pump because there is fluid everywhere by the reservoir but there is still fluid in it. The steering is still very hard. I took off the return line and plugged it and tried turning it and at center the steering was hard but as you turned farther it got easier like it was working. but than got hard again when back at center. the fluid flowed out of the return line so the line is not plugged. I'm not sure what is wrong. Maybe a broken line? would that take out the steering? or is the pump bad?

 

Are there any leaks at the steering rack itself? Look at the boots that cover the inner tie rod ends. If not, then it sounds like either a bad pump or a bad line near the pump. WIthout seeing it, that is as far as we can go. The pump is easy to replace (famous last words). SOme of the lines are, some are a bit more work.

Good luck,

Bob

 

I did not see any leaks by the places you described. I reflushed the system and when I started the car to see if I could find a new leak I kept the cap off the reservoir and it bubbled like it was boiling, so maybe pressure forced the fluid out of the cap to make the fluid go everywhere around the reservoir? but no fluid was leaking anywhere. The steering was easy to turn but it made a real bad whining noise.

Is there a step by step for replacing the pump? I searched and couldn't find one. I looked and it seemed like you had to remove a lot to get at the pump but maybe I am wrong?

 

p/s sys clamps & hoses leak air into the sys ... thus whining & bubbles.