noisy power steering in colder weather at startup

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mike_n - 12 Sep 2008 14:50 GMT

i have an a4 2.8 quatro - 1997. as the weather gets colder at night,
down to 50deg f or so, the power steering pump makes a growling sound
for the first few minutes of driving when i turn. the further i turn,
the more the noise. after a few minutes, the noise is gone. i am
assuming that the fluid is getting less viscous as it is being pushed
around. does anyone know if this is a case for replacing the fluid
(which has never been done) or do i need a new pump?

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TonyJ - 12 Sep 2008 20:13 GMT

> i have an a4 2.8 quatro - 1997. as the weather gets colder at night,
> down to 50deg f or so, the power steering pump makes a growling sound
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> (which has never been done) or do i need a new pump?
>

Have you checked the PS fluid level? If it is low try to top it up and
there may be air in the system. Try to purge the air by turning the
steering wheel several times from one extreme to the other while stopped
and the engine running.

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mike_n - 15 Sep 2008 14:49 GMT

> > i have an a4 2.8 quatro - 1997. as the weather gets colder at night,
> > down to 50deg f or so, the power steering pump makes a growling sound
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> steering wheel several times from one extreme to the other while stopped
> and the engine running.

i checked the fluid level and it is OK. The noise occurs only when
the outside temp is below 50 and in the first few minutes of driving.
In warmer weather or after the car has ran for a while, there is no
noise.

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Mike - 15 Sep 2008 20:49 GMT

>>> i have an a4 2.8 quatro - 1997. as the weather gets colder at night,
>>> down to 50deg f or so, the power steering pump makes a growling sound
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> In warmer weather or after the car has ran for a while, there is no
> noise.

Is the steering heavier when the pump is making the noise?

Mike

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dave AKA vwdoc1 - 16 Sep 2008 00:43 GMT

Has the fluid been changed recently? Maybe it needs to be flushed out and
new synthetic mineral oil installed.
JMHO

Signature

later,
(One out of many daves)

>>>> i have an a4 2.8 quatro - 1997. as the weather gets colder at night,
>>>> down to 50deg f or so, the power steering pump makes a growling sound
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Mike

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mike_n - 16 Sep 2008 14:33 GMT

On Sep 15, 7:43 pm, "dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nos...@pleasehotmail.com>
wrote:

> Has the fluid been changed recently? Maybe it needs to be flushed out and
> new synthetic mineral oil installed.
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

i have never changed the fluid at all - it is at least 8 years old.
the steering doesn't get heavier when I hear the noise but I can feel
the noise thru the steering wheel. whatever the cause is, it is
definitely providing some feedback thru the wheel.

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Karl - 29 Nov 2008 23:59 GMT

At the moment I am experiencing the same problem with noisy col
start-up. I recently had to change the oil and put in generic fluid
Since the oil change it has been noisy. The previous post "Syntheti
Mineral Oil" is interesting. I have never heard of this. The dip stic
indicates top up with mineral oil. Does anyone know the desired oil t
use. I think this may be key

--
Kar

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dave AKA vwdoc1 - 30 Nov 2008 13:11 GMT

http://www.blauparts.com/categories.asp?cat=476

Sometimes it depends on which year Audi you have, but I would say go with
the synthetic with any year that you have. ;-)
http://www.blauparts.com/audi/audi_fluid/audi_hydraulic_fluid.shtml#mixaudipower
steeringfluid
"All 1990 - on Audi models have come filled from the factory with the
synthetic CHF 11S Audi hydraulic fluid (G002000). Please Note: Never mix
generic hydraulic fluid or other fluid with the CHF 7.1 or CHF 11S Audi
hydraulic fluid (G002000). If you or someone else did, flush the Audi
hydraulic fluid as described below."

Now are you sure it is the P/S pump making the noise?

> At the moment I am experiencing the same problem with noisy cold
> start-up. I recently had to change the oil and put in generic fluid.
> Since the oil change it has been noisy. The previous post "Synthetic
> Mineral Oil" is interesting. I have never heard of this. The dip stick
> indicates top up with mineral oil. Does anyone know the desired oil to
> use. I think this may be key.

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