Hi all. I'm new to Audi. Just bought my son this vehicle and after driving it for a while, I am finding that there is a steering fluid leak some place around the power steering pump. I took it on a 600 mile ride to check out the car and found that the steering fluid level was low (whining like a stuck pig). I popped off the plastic cover that covers the pump and belt and it was covered in fluid. I read on the forum to replace the Audi crimped hose connector that connects to the right side of the pump (if you are looking into the engine compartment) with a #8 hose clamp and tighten it down. I did this. I popped off the cover today and there is fluid on the inside of the cover, but not as much and it seems to be on the side that the high pressure connection is. Not sure if the belt is spraying excess fluid to that side as well. I don't see any leaks on the hoses from the reservoir lines. I'm just not sure where to look for the leak. No issues with the steering that I can tell. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

There are several "crimped" connections on the power steering hoses on these cars. My A8 has them all over the place and about every damned one of them is wet around that area due to slow leaks. You may have to jack it up and get under it to trace any more leaky hoses to the rack. But if the pump is still making noise, even with it full of fluid, there could still be a little air in the fluid that make take a little time to dissipate or the pump seals could be damaged from the lack of fluid and will whine a little about it until it is replaced or rebuilt.

 

Hi. I have no noise or whine in the pump since I re-filled it the first time. But I still have fluid near the pump after driving it. I'll try to put up a photo later.