Need Power Steering Help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 5
Need Power Steering Help
Hey everyone. I have a 96 coupe A4. I was driving for a couple of miles and pulled into a parking lot. While trying to turn, I realized that I had no power steering. I shut off the engine to check the level of the power steering fluid and it was where it should be, at the hot mark on the cap. One thing I did noticed is that the steering fluid wasn't churning in the reservoir like other cars I had. Could this mean that I need a new power steering pump? I also noticed that if my car is in park or neutral and I give it some gas, the power steering would work.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 5
Just went for a drive and now the powersteering is working again. I did squeeze the hose connected to the reservoir a couple of times. Maybe it was a little clogged by some contaminant and I need to drain and refill the fluid or could my powersteering pump be going?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Certainly can't hurt to flush out the old fluid as it wouldn't cost a lot to do. Is the fluid clear or black?
It's possible that one of the hoses is collapsing or coming apart inside. Block the flow of the PS fluid and it will seem like the pump is not working. Are the hoses original to the car?
It's possible that one of the hoses is collapsing or coming apart inside. Block the flow of the PS fluid and it will seem like the pump is not working. Are the hoses original to the car?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Sounds a bit like my '96....I would be driving along and lose power steering when I made a left turn...then it would come back on. Decided the internal seals within the steering rack had failed, so I replaced the rack and replaced the pump, and hoses to the rack all at the same time. Problem solved.
And FYI...if you need to change the rack to pump hoses....the replacement hose is different from the OEM hose and routes differently. Took me several attempts and a few phone calls to find this out....I was going crazy trying to get the new hose to fit the same way as the one I took off.
Again just FYI...just in case.
And FYI...if you need to change the rack to pump hoses....the replacement hose is different from the OEM hose and routes differently. Took me several attempts and a few phone calls to find this out....I was going crazy trying to get the new hose to fit the same way as the one I took off.
Again just FYI...just in case.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 648
Likes: 6
From: weems va
I had my share of problems on my 93 with power steering. The 1st thing i would do like c4 cruiser suggested is change fluid. If you can use a jar to see what it looks like. You can go the turkey baster route change a pint or more at a time run it some and repeat till you have mostly new fluid. No need to buy high dollar fluid until you know if that will work. I ended up changing pump and 1 hose. The cold weather will bring it on also.
