Power Steering Pump Dead?

[afrdzak]

A few days ago one morning I turn on the car, start moving out of the driveway and notice that I had no more power steering. There's was (and still has) full fluid in the reservoir. I was two hours from home so I had no choice but to drive it in it's current state. On my drive home the PS would return intermittently, but for the most part my forearms got a pretty good work-out specially at slower speeds. I'm hoping only the pump is dead and the new one arrives tomorrow, but based on these symptoms should I be concerned it's something else, eg. steering rack?

[MikTip]

Considering no one ever changes the power steering oil....its probably need to be flushed with new oil.

[afrdzak]

Really? Just the fluid?

I should have added that I have a 3.0L and there are no noises coming out of the pump.

[afrdzak]

I flushed the fluid on Saturday and I'm still getting the same symptoms - "sloppy", intermittent power steering.

[travrach]

Take the fill cap off and have someone start the car, does the fluid go down some?

[afrdzak]

No, it doesn't. It also doesn't move or swirl when turning the wheel completely from left to right and vice versa.

[fR3ZNO]

Have you tried checking the boots on the ends of the tie rods? Poke a little hole in the boot with a pin and if fluid comes out you might be in need of a new or used rack.
But I would investigate the pump issue a little more since a pump is much cheaper and easier to replace than a steering rack. Ask me how I know...

[travrach]

No, it doesn't. It also doesn't move or swirl when turning the wheel completely from left to right and vice versa.

^Then looks like you need a pump. Just make sure the belt is not slipping and the pulley is not cracked, so with car running make sure that the pump shaft is indeed spinning. If it is; do the pump.

[afrdzak]

Ok, I'll replace it this weekend. It has been spinning freely up-to-date and no issues with the pulley or belt.

I'll also check the boot.

[afrdzak]

^Then looks like you need a pump. Just make sure the belt is not slipping and the pulley is not cracked, so with car running make sure that the pump shaft is indeed spinning. If it is; do the pump.

Question, if I successfully flushed the PS fluid doesn't that mean the pump works ok?

[JEENYUS]

i'll be honest here... it's safe to say you will have to replace a majority of the power steering components during the life of a 3.0. it's the number one things that fails. mine started with the reservoir and then the pump and now the rack...

[travrach]

Question, if I successfully flushed the PS fluid doesn't that mean the pump works ok?

Well you may have just sucked out the reservoir, so not really a flush. If no fluid is moving in the reservoir with the car running and you checked what I mentioned above the pump it bad.

EDIT: or did you pull a hose and run the car to flush?

[afrdzak]

I pulled a hose and ran the car perform the flush.

[travrach]

^And you had good flow?

[afrdzak]

Yep. I followed the DYI that's on here somewhere.

[afrdzak]

Ok, so I replaced the reservoir and pump and now getting foam in the reservoir and noise from the pump. I checked the hoses and they seem ok, but I will check again after I take a short break. I also poked a hole in the boot, but nothing came out (i tried pushing the boot back after taking off the clip, but the boot wouldn't budge).

[adampad]

It's common for the filters in the ps reservoir to get clogged. Just order a whole new reservoir. If it gets really clogged (and it will get worse eventually) it will start shooting ps fluid out.

Mine became clogged after I had the pump changed.

[afrdzak]

Update: I realized I didn't have enough fluid in the reservoir when I initially filled it up. I filled it up and bled the air out for awhile and I now have power steering again! However, I'm getting a little bit of whaling noise when turning and I'm guessing it's either because I still have air in he system or it's not air tight.

Talks for helping me through this folks. Just glad it wasn't the steering rack.

[afrdzak]

So after about six days I still have the groaning noise when turning. I can hear the noise and feel the resistance when turning at a stop. Inaudible while driving. I don't think it's coming from the pump. My fluid levels are good and I've checked the hoses. Ideas?

[travrach]

^Do you still have any foam built up after turning back and forth a number of times? And how low was it after pump replacement?

[afrdzak]

No, no foam. Just above the reservoir filter. Are you thinking that I might have destroyed the pump?

[Lornnn]

Did you go ahead and do this DIY?

[afrdzak]

Yep

[travrach]

No, no foam. Just above the reservoir filter. Are you thinking that I might have destroyed the pump?

Yes, slight concern, pump can get damaged without proper fluid.
However, this hose http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...Pump/ES437091/
Can also have cracks that are very hard to notice, and can allow air to get into pump. Did you replace that hose by chance?

[afrdzak]

I haven't replaced it, but it's worth a try. Found it half that price on europarts.