loud whine noise Power steering?

[marquiliuss]

Ok i have an ugly noise from around my power steering. Perfectly sound before. NOISES AFTER. I did have the car valet'd. Im over the frustrating thoughts of if it was taken for a spin.
I have the same sound symptoms as ttuned audi in thread Strange Noise from engine,
BUT, i do not follow the same visual symptoms of low Power steering fluid...I indicate over MAX. Steering is still strong, the noise is just terrible though. I did read in the book with the car pg236 "When engine is running, never hold the steering wheel turned all the way for more than 15 seconds. The power steering pump will overheat hydraulic fluid.likely to damage p/s system.
I little to never park with the wheels cocked, certainly not to the stops. Does this actually happen to people? Did it just happen to me?
Most replies to the previous mentioned thread suggested low P/S fluid causes this sound, so since my levels are okay, is mine cooked/soon to be cooked?


Like I said, I have a little over MAX level P/S fluid, The coolant level is just bordering MIN. Oil is on point.
Also discovered leak, dripped out drain hole front left, plastic "protective plate".-- POWER STEERING FLUID

Please, help before I have to sell my soul to pay off the Dealership Fatcat'$ maintenance garage.

[Guitarmageddon]

Ok i have an ugly noise from around my power steering. Perfectly sound before. NOISES AFTER. I did have the car valet'd. Im over the frustrating thoughts of if it was taken for a spin.
I have the same sound symptoms as ttuned audi in thread Strange Noise from engine,
BUT, i do not follow the same visual symptoms of low Power steering fluid...I indicate over MAX. Steering is still strong, the noise is just terrible though. I did read in the book with the car pg236 "When engine is running, never hold the steering wheel turned all the way for more than 15 seconds. The power steering pump will overheat hydraulic fluid.likely to damage p/s system.
I little to never park with the wheels cocked, certainly not to the stops. Does this actually happen to people? Did it just happen to me?
Most replies to the previous mentioned thread suggested low P/S fluid causes this sound, so since my levels are okay, is mine cooked/soon to be cooked?


Like I said, I have a little over MAX level P/S fluid, The coolant level is just bordering MIN. Oil is on point.
Also discovered leak, dripped out drain hole front left, plastic "protective plate".-- POWER STEERING FLUID

Please, help before I have to sell my soul to pay off the Dealership Fatcat'$ maintenance garage.

I had my A4 the whole time I lived in Southern California and the temps never got below the high 40's. But in the winter of 2010 when I was driving cross country to chicago and had it in the cold for the first time, until the car was warned up, any time the wheel was turned in any way it would squeal and squeak on me. I attribute that to cold PS fluid (ambient temps 10's and 20's F) unless Im wrong. Never had it again until the next winter

[marquiliuss]

I'm in South Florida, had it here for 6 months now, problem just came

[QIKRNU]

Check your ribbed belt (the one that drives the power steering pump, alternator, etc).

[2.0P]

I recently encountered the same symptoms.
- regular fluid levels
- belt does not seem to be squeeling
- dirty steering noise
Any advise to resolve this?

[RPMtech147]

Just some knowledge for you guys....Not all 'power steering whines' are caused by the power steering pump. Any of the pulleys/components on the motor can cause a wine, well in this case you only have an alternator and tensioner, and the compressor that is shaft is driven as well as the PS pump. Ive had 2 specific instances on 2 different cars that I swear had noisy ps pumps. Both vehicles, installed new ps pump, same noise, installed another pump, same freakin noise. Then I pulled out my stethoscope and pin-pointed the actual noise. One car it was the water pump bearing and on the other it was the AC compressor. Strange things happen in the world of bearings sometimes.

Now on a actual noisy pump the only thing I think you can do is replace with a new pump. I've never had any luck with bleeding or flushing get rid of pump noise.

Now I will tell you when I had the front of my car off when I installed my new compressor I had to drain the PS fluid. I first used red-line synthetic power steering to fill it and the pump was noisy untill i sucked it all out put pentosin in it instead.

[audi49]

You said you have a leak. Make sure your ps fluid is 10mm above the full line. This is per audi tsb.

[FulhamFTW]

I literally just got the whining noise tonight. Car was perfect, then I pull out of a gas station and all the sudden the noise is fairly pronounced. It's significant at idle and gets louder if I turn the steering wheel or rev the engine a bit. At higher rpm's it's not noticeable at all. I also still have power steering, but that noise is annoying.

[FulhamFTW]

So, after checking my fluid level and finding it was beyond low, I grabbed some more fluid and filled her up. The sound decreased in volume but was still there. Called a local audi specialist here and he recommend the crank/kill method with the resevoir cap off. Did that a few times and noticed bubbles in resevoir. I did it a few more times for good measure and the sound is gone now. Bullet dodged there

[SlickFix]

Good job, Fulham! You should probably keep an eye on that fluid over the next week or so, to make sure that you don't have a leak somewhere.

[audi49]

So, after checking my fluid level and finding it was beyond low, I grabbed some more fluid and filled her up. The sound decreased in volume but was still there. Called a local audi specialist here and he recommend the crank/kill method with the resevoir cap off. Did that a few times and noticed bubbles in resevoir. I did it a few more times for good measure and the sound is gone now. Bullet dodged there

Just checking... you know that you're supposed to fill it to 10mm OVER max. (Per TSB from Audi). That would give you a bit more margin, if not already done.

[FulhamFTW]

Good job, Fulham! You should probably keep an eye on that fluid over the next week or so, to make sure that you don't have a leak somewhere.

Yeah, I diefinitely need to keep and eye on it. I couldn't see a leak anywhere just looking at it. If there is a leak, it must be pretty small.

Just checking... you know that you're supposed to fill it to 10mm OVER max. (Per TSB from Audi). That would give you a bit more margin, if not already done.

Yeah, actually I over filled it a bit on accident and then read that it's supposed to be that way, so it worked out. I'm just glad it wasn't too serious, as I'm about to drive from KC to Michigan at the end if the month.