Hello fellow Audi owners,

I replaced my power steering pump about 6 months ago. Since doing the replacement, I keep having issues. once every 15 start ups or so (from a cold start), my power steering is working overtime. It is extremely easy for me to turn the wheel (almost to the point where i can turn with my pinkie finger). I am wondering if there is something wrong with the pump. seems to be working to hard. But like i said. this is only once every week or so.

Has anyone experienced this issue? And if so... is this damaging my pump slowly but surely?

 

There should be an over-pressure return valve built into your pump and this is most likely not working correctly. Did you install the pump yourself or have it done? If you had it done, take it back. They should replace it under warranty. If you replaced it yourself, same story but you get to do the work.

Bob

 

An easy check to do would be to check the hoses that run into and out. One of my hoses kept coming off, It made a pretty loud opperating noise when it started up cold. I had to replace the clamp. Just my two cents. Good luck.

 

Isnt there an 'overdrive' thing for the Audi? Parking Assist or something like that? Saw a mod to disable it once...

 

Midniteoyl,

Yes, there is a park assist feature on most A6s. It is a pressure limiting device on the steering rack. It allows for close to little finger steering, but not quite, at least on my car. There IS the possibility that twinturbosixer's rack has started working properly, once every 15 start ups, now that he has a new pump installled, but he doesn't seem to think this is normal operation. There IS a write up over on AudiWorld on how to determine if you have this feature and how to disable it. In fact, that's a pretty good place to start - disable the park assist module by pulling the relay and see if the problem goes away. Good idea!!!

twinturbosixer - give it a try and let us know if that makes the issue go away. Let me know if you need help.

Bob

 

Thanks bob... thought maybe I was going nuts trying to remember through the haze that is my mind....

 

Mines the same way. Super easy to steer in the morning. Always has, ever since I bought it in 06.