Grinding sound when turning steering wheel (even while stationary)

[rgaufman]

I recorded what it looks and sounds like here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADWnk6ZxL_4

The sound subsides when going above 10mph or so but present always when turning at low speeds or when stationary.

I checked the hydraulic fluid and the level was just under the "low" mark, I topped it up with genuine Audi hydraulics fluid but it made no difference.

Any ideas, suggestions? - The car was fine earlier today, I stopped at a light, felt like a weird tremble in the car and the steering felt a bit weird pulling away, since then it has been making this horrible grinding sound when turning the wheel :(

[Quattro kev]

Sounds like your powersteering pump may be on its way out the door. You could have a clogged p/s line, leaking fluid, or maybe just air in the system from having the fluid low. After you top off your fluid leave the cap of the reservoir and turn the wheels from side to side. Stationary of course and try to bleed some air out of it.

[rgaufman]

Thank you for the fast reply, doesn't seem to make a difference turning the wheel with the cap off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxXJkCx_57Q - I tried to turn to full left and full right lock a few times without any change and driving around a little after the top off, no change :(

Can I do anything else to try to bleed or unblock the system or is it a trip to the mechanic for me? -- I suppose the car has done 125k miles so it could also be on its way out too.

[CyberPMG]

If you've topped the fluid off and you're still getting a grinding noise, the power steering pump is done and needs to be replaced.

[rgaufman]

How much does that normally go for with labour? (just a ball park figure)

[CyberPMG]

A new one seems to be about the same price as a remanufactured one: Clicky click

Have no idea how much time is involved in replacing it (and refilling with fresh power steering fluid).

[Quattro kev]

Change the pump yourself I've never done one but it sits right under the alternator, pull that sucker out and replace the pump. The lines being clogged is the most highly unlikely just giving you what could be. I would definitely start with a pump

[rgaufman]

You guys were wrong. There was nothing wrong with the pump or the steering system at all.

As I pulled up into the garage, the guy said he knows what's wrong just from the sound. As he explained to me in broken Russian, it is a pulley belt that goes from the generator, it is supposed to be loose when the car is in idle but my belt is stuck so the generator is working overtime because of it - he then opened the bonnet and said: "yep, just like I thought".

It ran to £110 including labour to replace the belt. The noise is gone and the car drives like a dream :D

[CyberPMG]

Glad it was just the tensioner. I would have thought if the bearings went on it (like it did for me), that it would be generating a noise all the time regardless of turning the wheel. Hearing a noise when only turning the wheel will lead many towards low power steering fluid or the pump itself.

[rgaufman]

Glad it was just the tensioner. I would have thought if the bearings went on it (like it did for me), that it would be generating a noise all the time regardless of turning the wheel. Hearing a noise when only turning the wheel will lead many towards low power steering fluid or the pump itself.

Ah, maybe I should have mentioned that, there was a slight increase in idle noise, especially when driving and then putting the car in neutral while it was rolling, it was only really audible if the music was off. But yeh, happy it was just that! -- Thank you for the input :)

[SlickFix]

I've never heard that kind of noise before on a B6. And it certainly didn't sound like the typical power steering pump "moan" when it's low on fluid, or when they're air in the fluid.

I'd hang onto your Russian mechanic for dear life. He sounds like a good man!