strange noise at startup?

[new audi guy]

ok, i've got a 2004 A6 s line chipped with APR 74,000 miles now. had it a year now... absolutely love the car.

since the colder weather blew in every morning at startup and until car warms up there's this strange sound coming from engine or belts... its kind of a low pitched sound that sounds like something's not lubricated...

it changes in pitch according to acceleration and when i turn steering wheel sometimes....


any idea what i'm looking for here? should i not be driving it till i get this fixed?

i do need to do the 75k service timing belts etc, so I will get this fixed as well

appreciate any thoughts!~

[EinSchnellAudi]

power steering pump possibly. if you turm your wheel to full lock left or right does it get considerably louder?

[Hugh@EuropaParts]

is it only on startup and turns off suddently once car is warm? If so, secondary air pump. Ignore until it throws a code, could take years. In very basic terms it's a choke.

[new audi guy]

Its only when the car is cold in the morning... once engine warms up it goes away. I guess it could be two different issues at once. The sound is kind of like if you've ever seen a washing machine get the load spinning lopsided and it starts making a rhythmic lurching sound. and it speeds up a bit when the RPM's increase

It doesn't seem to get dramatically worse when steering wheel is locked out though....

I tried to take a short video of it.. but not sure its audible in this clip.

[j_sonel]

Check your steering fluid levels.

[skiroad'r]

Its only when the car is cold in the morning... once engine warms up it goes away. I guess it could be two different issues at once. The sound is kind of like if you've ever seen a washing machine get the load spinning lopsided and it starts making a rhythmic lurching sound. and it speeds up a bit when the RPM's increase

It doesn't seem to get dramatically worse when steering wheel is locked out though....

I tried to take a short video of it.. but not sure its audible in this clip.

I couldn't hear anything, but if secondary air pump, it will sound like a table saw.

[patrick23]

x2^^

if it doesn't sound like it a table saw (mine does lol) it's probably the power steering- check fluid- sometimes all you have to do is add a small amount and the sound goes away instantly

[pismojeff]

yeah, does not sound like secondary air pump. I just had mine replaced. did not make noise based on turning the steering wheel...

[new audi guy]

Thanks for all the replies! i checked power steering fluid and its very low. doh. should have thought of that myself.


Should i drain it all out or just top off?

[EinSchnellAudi]

flush the whole thing. Cant hurt right?

Here is a little diy for yourself to use if you decide to go that route
http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articl...r/psflush.html

[skiroad'r]

Glad you got it sorted out, now you have to figure out why it lost fluid.