So i was driving my car one day ('98 A4 1.8T Quattro) and as i pull into my driveway my steering gets real tight and i'm putting some muscle into it to get it to turn. The steering was fine when i was driving it at regular speeds so i was confused. I pulled it out and took it for a little test spin and found that if i am at a stand still it is extremely hard to turn the wheel but if i push in the clutch and give it some gas it loosens up. Is my pump going or is there a different problem.

P.S. Fluid has been the same level for a month now so its not a leak... i don't think.

HELP!!

 

It's the pump. Is there any sound while turning?

 

what fluid do you have? that would be a cheap thing to start with - try replacing the fluid with the correct fluid from audi/VW dealer

it should be green and thin

 

No theres no whining while turning but during normal driving around 30mph sometimes itll start this thumping whine (best way to describe it) but it comes and goes and has nothing to do with turning.

I bought the car from a rich guy who had it serviced at audi all its life and he had all the fluids replaced a month before I bought it wich would be 3 months ago.

 

I changed my power steering pump and replaced all my fluid and it fixed it in my 98. Same exact problem with the giving it gas and what not.

 

Sounds like it's the pump.

 

Ok takin it to get a brake job done next week so i'll tell my polack mechanic to take a look at it. How much did u pay to replace your pump gen2roller?

 

Im hearing high pitched scrapping or whining noises. It seems to be coming from the power steering pump but not sure. I recently had the timing belt done and that included all the pulleys, tensioners, water pump, etc... done.

Mine makes noise without turning the wheel. I hate to drop 300 on a new pump an have the same issues.

 

...I'm gonna jump on this knowledge boat.

My problem concerns left and only left turns. If I crank the steering wheel over even as little as 1/2 turn it makes a WOO WOO WOO WOO that sounds like air being blow over a bottle. Fluid was a tad low, but I filled that up awhile ago after I first heard the noise. Now its becoming more frequent. It seems to happen most when its cold in the morning, but it happens in plenty of other situations.

My A/C just kicked it this summer and I dont want to loose power steering. (Though an adjustment might be nice. I've always found the steering to be too assisted and created a floaty feel. Is there an aftermarket pump or an adjustment that can be made to tighten up my feedback? Would shedding the pump be a terrible mistake when it comes time to parallel park?)

 

You use the correct CHF-11s fluid? If not then just run it 'til it breaks.... I've heard power steering pumps whine for years without failing, though.