Ok i made a huge mistake and put about 1/4 qt of dot 4 fluid in my power steering. Don't ask me what I was thinking, just grabbed the wrong bottle. Well I drove about 15 miles and my power steering started making a whine when I turned the wheel. The fluid was bubbling and overflowed out of the reservoir. So i jacked it up and loosened the supply and return hose from the reservoir and let them drain. I filled up with proper fluid and still have the whining sound. Could I have messed up the pump that quick? Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

Oh I have a 97 A4 2.8 2wd

 

I believe that draining and filling like that takes a few times since there will still be fluid in the rack and elsewhere. I'd suggest do it a few times with proper fluid (what did you use that's proper?) and if that doesn't help, I'd say you're pretty screwed.

 

I used the fluid from the dealer. Could I have messed up the rack as well? Is there a more efficient way of draining it?

 

I think what you might have done is stress the pump enough to start sucking air through either the return fluid hose seal or the inlet pipe for the reservoir.

I would replace the 2 collapsible washers that seal what Audi calls the "banjo bolt." It is located on top of the pump. I would also replace the o-ring in the inlet pipe for the fluid reservoir. These are the two most common places for the pump to suck in air when the pump is stressed. Also check the hose clamp for the inlet pipe.

Hopefully you did not push your pump over the edge, but it just might be time for a new pump after that little accident haha.

If you buy a new pump they will come with the 2 washers and the o ring (most likely pre-installed)

 

FIXED- well here is what i did. I took the pump off and made sure I drained every bit of fluid out of the system. reinstalled with new washers. filled it up started the car and turned the wheel side to side with the resovoir cap off. pretty much had no sound after a minute. had a guy i know use an evacuator and we sucked all the fluid out, filled it up, sucked it out and filled it up again. fixed everything for under $50. very cheap lesson to use the correct fluid!

 

i have the same problem, but i did use the right power steering fluid... (CHF 7.1)... but i think the fluid isn't getting to its destination.. Is there a place in the pump that there might be a clog forming..

 

while taking it apart i didn't see where a clog could occur. are you losing fluid, is it bubbling?

 

i did see some bubbling, what does that indicate????

 

it indicates air