3 Power Steering Pumps in 3 years?

[danky]

As I was driving home tonight, I suddenly heard a whine from the engine bay and a loss in power steering.

First thing I thought is "WTF, another 1?!".

Luckily I was 2 seconds from home and parked it and shut it off asap. Popped the hood and checked the fluid which looked completely fine. Next I looked under the car for any leaks and didn't see any.

So once again, I have no idea what is going on, but this happened last time which resulted in a new power steering pump. First time was definitely cause of doing donuts in the snow (or I assume it is). I had it replaced with a cheap one which may have been the reason for the failure. Second one happened randomly while driving home, no donuts that winter, no spin outs, nothing indicative of a pump failure. It actually started to act up on a straight away. I got this replaced with a ZF ( i believe) replacement.

Tonight, turned left onto the main road, was driving straight for about .2 miles and suddenly/randomly started. No power steering when turning onto my street or driveway.

So my questions are...

1) WTF.
2) Has anyone else had this issue?

3) Thank you for letting me vent.

Side note, my window regulator has failed me 3 times in the last 3 years too lol.

[gcoy]

This is very strange... Sounds like your pump(s) are burning up. Are all of the PS lines open, free, clear?

My guess is that you have a circulation issue

[danky]

How do I check that? It's been really cold here the past few days, and it sat untouched for about 9 days from xmas through 1/3 while I was on vacation.

[crc]

As I was driving home tonight, I suddenly heard a whine from the engine bay and a loss in power steering.

First thing I thought is "WTF, another 1?!".

Luckily I was 2 seconds from home and parked it and shut it off asap. Popped the hood and checked the fluid which looked completely fine. Next I looked under the car for any leaks and didn't see any.

So once again, I have no idea what is going on, but this happened last time which resulted in a new power steering pump. First time was definitely cause of doing donuts in the snow (or I assume it is). I had it replaced with a cheap one which may have been the reason for the failure. Second one happened randomly while driving home, no donuts that winter, no spin outs, nothing indicative of a pump failure. It actually started to act up on a straight away. I got this replaced with a ZF ( i believe) replacement.

Tonight, turned left onto the main road, was driving straight for about .2 miles and suddenly/randomly started. No power steering when turning onto my street or driveway.

So my questions are...

1) WTF.
2) Has anyone else had this issue?

3) Thank you for letting me vent.

Side note, my window regulator has failed me 3 times in the last 3 years too lol.

I had this and went through a new rack and pump before realising it was the internal ribs of the sleeve that connect the pump to the timing chain mechanism that were stripping. Only a few were stripped though, so when we replaced the pump it re-engaged OK. Then a couple of months later another tooth stripped.

Part 11 here.

Fix ended up being less than $100, but I'd spent two grand.

[crc]

Here is the original thread with another member finding the same thing

I had this and went through a new rack and pump before realising it was the internal ribs of the sleeve that connect the pump to the timing chain mechanism that were stripping. Only a few were stripped though, so when we replaced the pump it re-engaged OK. Then a couple of months later another tooth stripped.

Part 11 here.

Fix ended up being less than $100, but I'd spent two grand.

[danky]

Thanks CRC.

I also smelled the fluid and it smells burnt. But it's still greenish. I have a video that I'll upload here. It sounds AWFUL.

Is it still okay to drive, or will it burn out the pump (assuming Part 11 is what I need as well)

[danky]

Here it is:

https://youtu.be/NQ5tQFZb5V4

And here is last years. They sound similar, but also different.

https://youtu.be/OxGuvll7rDg

[crc]

Here it is:

https://youtu.be/NQ5tQFZb5V4

And here is last years. They sound similar, but also different.

https://youtu.be/OxGuvll7rDg

So the sound isn't quite the same as mine, but it's not far off. It's a horrible sound.

So you have had NO fluid loss?
After shutting the motor down straight after are there bubbles in the fluid?
Can you get the car up on stands at the front, idle it and go lock to lock, is there bubbles in the fluid then?
Have you cleaned the filter at the bottom of the reservoir?
Do you still have the first pump that failed? Was it cracked open and checked?

I've had pumps lose prime before. The procedure for priming is in this article towards the end (fire for a minute, rest, then fire up again, 1/2 lock to lock, rest, then fire up, full lock to lock etc). This also details how to flush + clean the filter. I never did the full flush with the plastic lines, I used to just use an extractor to empty the reservoir.

TBH my money is still on the sleeve stripping. Esp if my last question above returned a pump that was AOK. Missing the sleeve stripping is easy easy easy - you actually need to look inside it to confirm. No mechanic would know to do that. Or very few!

[danky]

thanks ctc for your help thus far!

So you have had NO fluid loss? No fluid loss. I checked last night and it's just under max.
After shutting the motor down straight after are there bubbles in the fluid? I did not see bubbles last night when I turned it off (was a little dark though) but didn't see them when I restarted the car last night
Can you get the car up on stands at the front, idle it and go lock to lock, is there bubbles in the fluid then? I don't have stands unfortunately. Just ramps which wouldn't allow me to turn the wheel.
Have you cleaned the filter at the bottom of the reservoir? I have not done this.
Do you still have the first pump that failed? Was it cracked open and checked? I do not have the first pump to look at unfortunately.

I started the car up this morning and there was a glimmer of hope. I can turn the wheel a little with no resistance and then it makes a loud screeching sound when I get too far and I lose power steering.

Based on the fact I don't have stands, do you think I can just do it on the ground, idle, go lock to lock etc to see if there are bubbles (are bubbles good or bad?). I can also trying to clean the reservoir and the priming tonight when I get home.

Thanks again.

[Crusty128]

thanks ctc for your help thus far!

So you have had NO fluid loss? No fluid loss. I checked last night and it's just under max.
After shutting the motor down straight after are there bubbles in the fluid? I did not see bubbles last night when I turned it off (was a little dark though) but didn't see them when I restarted the car last night
Can you get the car up on stands at the front, idle it and go lock to lock, is there bubbles in the fluid then? I don't have stands unfortunately. Just ramps which wouldn't allow me to turn the wheel.
Have you cleaned the filter at the bottom of the reservoir? I have not done this.
Do you still have the first pump that failed? Was it cracked open and checked? I do not have the first pump to look at unfortunately.

I started the car up this morning and there was a glimmer of hope. I can turn the wheel a little with no resistance and then it makes a loud screeching sound when I get too far and I lose power steering.

Based on the fact I don't have stands, do you think I can just do it on the ground, idle, go lock to lock etc to see if there are bubbles (are bubbles good or bad?). I can also trying to clean the reservoir and the priming tonight when I get home.

Thanks again.

Listen,

I had exactly the same problems as yours, except that I also noticed that my speedo was going crazy above 70mph. The needle in the speedomater gage was then fluttering between 70 and 80mph, and the faster I was going the crazier it was....

Soooo, all in a sudden I realized why I was always losing Power Steering. It's because we have adaptative power assist: the faster you go the firmer the steering is.
But guess what, if my speedo was wrong and not precise, it's because I had a randomly faulty ABS sensor (no lights in the dash). Then if ABS sensor is sometimes bad ---» your PS is acting weird. Sometimes it's ON, sometimes it's off...

So to resume:

I had a PS pump replaced for nothing, an expensive relay under the dash (Servotronic Steering Control Relay 638) for nothing, and then I saw my speedo acting weird over 70mph so I decided to have it fixed because it must had something to do with my random PS failures and BOOOOOOOOOOM: problem solved with a new abs sensor!!

So at this point, you may try two other things:
1/ see if your speedo doesn't go crazy above any speeds (please choose a straight line ;-) )
2/if not, try a new servotronic relay (I work at Audi dealer, and many techs told me that they have ever seen some faulty ones acting like this. Unfortunately, I can tell you that this thing is not refundable 'cause it's electronic. So if you need one, tell me, i replaced mine and it wasn't the problem for me)


Hope this helps

[danky]

I just started up the car after getting home from work.

I noticed that, it was acting pretty quietly until I turn the wheel a certain direction then it would hit a wall and can't turn further (didn't force the turn) with a loud buzzing type noise. I also noticed my check engine light was blinking.

[danky]

Well it now is a very quiet noise with no power steering lol.

I'll just have to drive it to the garage and have them look. Luckily there is a warranty on the part, not going to get around the labor though.

[crc]

Well it now is a very quiet noise with no power steering lol.

I'll just have to drive it to the garage and have them look. Luckily there is a warranty on the part, not going to get around the labor though.

I hope it's the sleeve! Good luck mate let us know how it goes

[SquiddyB6S4]

For what it's worth, the owner's manual for this car states that you should not keep the steering wheel turned to full lock for more than 15 seconds. Many recommend not to get to full lock ever, if possible. Just before full lock, most power steering pumps go into over pressure mode, and you can hear it happen as the IACV or electronic throttle plate opens extra to supply the extra power.

Also, there is a TSB out for maintenance of the PS fluid level - add 10mm to the level on the PS dipstick.

And finally, Audi says this is a lifetime fluid. For anyone else out there reading this who may or may not have had a PS issue yet, there is no such thing as a lifetime fluid. If you want moving parts to last, you must change their lubricant(s) out regularly.

[FormulaElement]

And finally, Audi says this is a lifetime fluid. For anyone else out there reading this who may or may not have had a PS issue yet, there is no such thing as a lifetime fluid. If you want moving parts to last, you must change their lubricant(s) out regularly.

This! Please everyone change the fluid of your transmission, power steering, and brake fluid on a regular schedule. After having a clogged power steering rack at 125k miles i can tell you that it is definitely worth it to change the power steering fluid vs having to deal with the pain of installing a new power steering rack.

[danky]

Somewhat good news.

The sleeve, (Both male and female) lost teeth so they are going to be replacing both of them.

The bad news is they said the timing chain teeth look to be a little rounded (not sure if that's the male or female sleeve) which would result in that whole time chain service costing like $7k.

I think I'd rather blow a pump every year than throw $7k right now lol.

I'll keep everyone in the loop.

[danky]

Tech was putting on the on the new sleeve, and tested with the timing chain to see if there was any play (after telling me the other day the teeth looked rounded.

Welp, worst possible outcome. He says there is slack and if they put it all together, there is a chance the power steering won't even work. Of course the recommendation was to do the timing chain which would run me roughly $7k.

I am just in shock and at a complete loss as to what I should do. Wasn't expecting any timing issues this early with no start up rattle, or other issues.

Any advice from anyone?

[crc]

Can you get him to take photos of the supposed rounded teeth and post them here?

[danky]

Video:

https://youtu.be/sKRPJyhqs_Q