Power steering problems - boiling fluid?

[adampad]

I've recently ran into more power steering problems and wanted to get some thoughts on it before I take it to a mechanic. The car was getting progressively "whinier" to the point its embarrassing. It spits fluid out and it's very hot too. Yes it has Audi's fluid in it.

I bleed the system and things felt great and smooth with no whining for a few miles but within 30 miles it was starting to get loud again.

So straight to the point....what is most likely causing it?

A: air in the system
B: bad pump
C: bad rack
D: other



A little more history on my PS problems. Back in the winter the car I had the PS pump replaced, I also had one of the those hard plastic PS hoses replaced since I broke it trying to flush the system. Car had worked perfectly until recently.

[gottaBdope]

If it's boiling, my vote's on PS cooler...know if it's still existent? I'm not 100%, but I'd imagine hotter fluid gets thinner...and if it's literally boiling, then possibly forming air bubbles...but I'm just spit-balling here.

My only experience is my never ending quest to fix my PS system. Learning a lot about it every time I have to fix something.

[rollerton]

If it's whining, like in front of the engine where the pump is then it's the pump. If it's sort of 'groaning' like a whale dying, then it's the rack typically.
If you've bled the system and ALL the bad symptoms and noise go away, but then comes back after a while then you have an air leak in the system somewhere. You're sure the fluid is *boiling* and not just getting lots of bubbles in it? An air leak will cause the fluid to get bubbles and very sort of frothy. Looking in the reservoir it might look like it's boiling. If it actually IS boiling...then...don't know what to tell you, you'll have to start with the pump at least!

[gottaBdope]

^concur.

[travrach]

OP, is it a 1.8t or 3.0?

[adampad]

It's a 3.0.

The fluid is very hot and it is coming out the top once I park the car. With the cap off there are tons of movement of the fluid.

[JEENYUS]

It's a 3.0.

The fluid is very hot and it is coming out the top once I park the car. With the cap off there are tons of movement of the fluid.

i had this same problem. it is most likely your reservoir. i replaced mine along with a tube and it solved the issue.

[travrach]

You sure it's not air? It maybe hard to judge the temp. but air will create noise and seem like movement, easy fix:
Check this out- http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ring-Noise-Fix

Just a idea

[adampad]

i had this same problem. it is most likely your reservoir. i replaced mine along with a tube and it solved the issue.

Dumb question... Is the reservoir where you fill the fluid or the thing below it that's tougher to get to? Which did you replace?

[adampad]

You sure it's not air? It maybe hard to judge the temp. but air will create noise and seem like movement, easy fix:
Check this out- http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ring-Noise-Fix

Just a idea

That thread was the beginning of all my problems. I wish I had never seen it. I had a little whine in the winter when it was cold, but nothing major.I decided to change that hose clamp last winter and the hose was impossible to get off. I had to cut/scrape it off. Once I finally replaced it, my pump magically died. But before I had the pump replaced I tried to flush the system and broke one of the hard plastic lines. Meanwhile my battery died while I was working on the car and I had my headlight off to get to the PS lines and that led to my headlights staying on all the time and my rearview nav thing not working. I finally fixed that by changing the settings with bag-com.

Anyway...this car is frustrating the hell out of me.

[JEENYUS]

Dumb question... Is the reservoir where you fill the fluid or the thing below it that's tougher to get to? Which did you replace?

where you fill it up. the part is not that expensive and the install is fairly easy, but i would see if someone could help you with it.

[gottaBdope]

Anyway...this car is frustrating the hell out of me.

Join my club man. Especially when it comes to power steering.

[JEENYUS]

Join my club man. Especially when it comes to power steering.

and especially with the 3.0...

[gottaBdope]

lol

[diagnosticator]

The PS plumbing is most likely sucking air into the system on the suction side of the pump somewhere, between the reservoir and the suction port on the pump, from a loose hose clamp or cracked reservoir, etc. That is the only way the PS fluid can get air mixed with the fluid after bleeding the system with the reservoir filled correctly. Air in the fluid will make the pump make that wining noise, and cause fluid to overflow the reservoir after turning the engine off also. The PS fluid is normally hot after driving for awhile, but it is very unlikely the fluid is boiling. The reason the fluid overflows, is because when the pump stops, the air bubbles mixed with the fluid, expand and force the fluid level to increase enough to overflow from the reservoir.

[adampad]

Ok I just took the car to a mechanic and they think the pump is pumping too much and will have to be replaced. Is there some sort of valve that controls the PS pressure? And if so will the pump have to come off to get to it?

I just upload this video to show what is happening: http://youtu.be/utkdZ4X6avQ

[diagnosticator]

The steering rack is always under pressure. There is no part of the rack that is subject to low enough pressure to suck air into the hydraulic system with the engine running. That can only happen on the suction side of the pump, or through the pump drive shaft seal. Likewise, a faulty coolant pump cannot cause a leak except at the pump drive shaft seal itself.

[nsprosty]

That thread was the beginning of all my problems. I wish I had never seen it. I had a little whine in the winter when it was cold, but nothing major.I decided to change that hose clamp last winter and the hose was impossible to get off. I had to cut/scrape it off. Once I finally replaced it, my pump magically died. But before I had the pump replaced I tried to flush the system and broke one of the hard plastic lines. Meanwhile my battery died while I was working on the car and I had my headlight off to get to the PS lines and that led to my headlights staying on all the time and my rearview nav thing not working. I finally fixed that by changing the settings with bag-com.

Anyway...this car is frustrating the hell out of me.

a little late now but why did you remove any hoses when you were doing that diy on the hose clamp? I did mine almost a year ago and have never had another problem with my PS. It will still squeal a little when I hit the locks but thats it and that is normal for a 9 year old pump.