whining from power steering

[Frey7190]

So recently I saw that my reserve for Power Steering was getting low (not extremely low, but it read "LOW" on the dip stick.. Ever since I notice my car makes this whining noise when I turn the wheels under 15mph! I know I have bald tires, but that shouldn't really be the problem...


ALSO where can i buy Power Steering fluid.. Since this car doesn't take normal everyday P/S fluid... it takes hydraulic mineral oil. Where can I buy that!? Kragen and Autozone only sell Hydraulic fluid for like jacks and stuff.. Is this a stealership part!?!?

[Boosted3.0]

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[Frey7190]

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gave up after like 2 min of looking b/c the darn thing kept telling me to "wait XX seconds before continuing" so I figured it wouldnt hurt to ask, and it wouldnt both a nice AZer to quickly explain to me the issue

[monkey323i]

check for PS leak.

your PS fluid shouldn't be in low.

[A4_Joe]

yeah you should check for leak & if you don't find the leak add p/s fluid

[jessefrank]

Mine did the exact same thing. It wasn't even that low. Had to buy some from ECS (nothing local) and it dosen't whine (or leak). Any VW/Audi dealer should have it or just order off line.

[Hamotee]

Dealer is your best bet. It was around $17 for a 1L bottle though. Some people have recently reported using non Audi P/S fluid without any problems. Like everyone else said, try to find the leak. Pray that it is not from the rack (Its very expensive).

[vdubstreets]

It was around $17 for a 1L bottle though.

damn i wish it was liek 28 after my discount at my audi dealer.

you can also use this , im not sure if autozone carries it

[Hamotee]

damn i wish it was liek 28 after my discount at my audi dealer.

you can also use this , im not sure if autozone carries it

$28?? That is insane. Was it made of baby seal tears and unicorn horns?

[afozzie40]

I have been topped off by my dealer for free before. my dealer is the shiz

[Frey7190]

well its strange because it as at "normal" on the dip stick and when I took it to my dealer to have the front bushings replaced.. Also they did a tire alignment. Since then when I checked the fluid level it reads "LOW" and it whines when you turn the wheel under 15mph or so. If I put it on the ramps today, what area should I look around for leaks..(ex where is the steering rack)

THANKS

[J-jizzle]

NAPA carries this if you have one in your area, I did not see it at Advance Auto Parts or Autozone. It was 22 dollars for me.

[Hamotee]

This is for B5, but it will give you an idea of where the rack is.

[A4_Joe]

Because p/s is at MIN mark that doesn't always mean it's always leaking. It could be either bad PDI or when you get the car service nobody check of the condition of the p/s level.

P/S level change if the vehicle is cold or at operating temp. When the vehicle is warm up it should be 3mm higher.

If you guys are having P/S noise concern follow this step
1. Check the level of P/S when the vehicle been sitting for about 2 hrs or more.
2. If the level is at MIN or below check for leak
3. If no leak is found, Add p/s fluid to MAX. level
4. Drive the vehicle to warm up the car & the P/S fluid
5. After test drive let the vehicle sit for about 1-2 minute then open the p/s reservior *If you see a bubble forming when you crack open the reservior, the noise was cause by AIR due to P/S level being to low*
6. At this point let the vehicle sit for another 2 hrs so fluid could cool down & settle. Check the level again & top it off to MAX.

This should help little bit with p/s noise concern & remember on a cold day little noise is normal.

[Dylan]

i just had this problem too - just got some prestone p/s fluid (<$10), topped it up, problem solved.

it's not the hydraulic mineral oil stuff, but still solved the problem.

[bmags88]

I just had that problem. I was leaking PS fluid and kept having to re-fill it. Aparently I needed a new motor mount.

[jriddle11]

Mine started making that noise about 2 months ago (under warranty) went to the dealership and they topped it off for free for me. Then last week the noise back (again they topped me off for free) and now they need to find the leak. My car has been at the dealership for two days and they cant find the leak. My car is now out of warranty but since the car was brought in while under warrenty they think they can get it fixed under warranty, but they need to find the leak. Could it not be leaking and just using up more fluid? Any assistance would be great.

[lookaught]

Mine started making that noise about 2 months ago (under warranty) went to the dealership and they topped it off for free for me. Then last week the noise back (again they topped me off for free) and now they need to find the leak. My car has been at the dealership for two days and they cant find the leak. My car is now out of warranty but since the car was brought in while under warrenty they think they can get it fixed under warranty, but they need to find the leak. Could it not be leaking and just using up more fluid? Any assistance would be great.

Tell them to take the clamps off the tie rod boots and look in them. That's where fluid collects if a seal fails near the inner tie rod. If you have an alignment done and they use a lot of heat on the rods to get them un-siezed it can eff the seals. Why would I know this? Because it happened to me and I had to replace the rack... $$$ The worst part is that there is really no way to prove that they messed it up. In my case it "curiously" started leaking badly out of both sides immediately after the alignment. Coincidence?

[lookaught]

I just had that problem. I was leaking PS fluid and kept having to re-fill it. Aparently I needed a new motor mount.

How is your motor mount affecting your PS fluid level?

[jriddle11]

Tell them to take the clamps off the tie rod boots and look in them. That's where fluid collects if a seal fails near the inner tie rod. If you have an alignment done and they use a lot of heat on the rods to get them un-siezed it can eff the seals. Why would I know this? Because it happened to me and I had to replace the rack... $$$ The worst part is that there is really no way to prove that they messed it up. In my case it "curiously" started leaking badly out of both sides immediately after the alignment. Coincidence?

Thanks, I had them do that and nothing. The first time I brought the car in the the fluid was really low, so the conclusion they came to is that I had air in the fluid and that caused the noise to come back.

by the way I was born in Pittsburgh and am originally from Oakmont and would like to say GO STEELERS!

[EBG 18T]

i just had this problem too - just got some prestone p/s fluid (<$10), topped it up, problem solved.

it's not the hydraulic mineral oil stuff, but still solved the problem.

you might want to get the ps flushed and refilled with the proper ps fluid. otherwise good luck.

[Boston_USP_327]

i had the same issue... had the dealer look at it during a oil change... needed a new rack. big $$$. luckily i am still under warranty and it was done free of charge, but it would have cost me close to $1800 parts labor and alignment... that is from a cheap dealership who only chafges me $52 for a oil change... good luck, hope its something minor