Power steering pump problem

**Brennane21** · 21-04-2017,10:58 PM

Evening all. My wife s A4 2.0tdi(143ps) 2010 with 103k miles has been diagnosed by her mechanic with a faulty power steering pump. This was his initial diagnosis and he subsequently confirmed this with Audi computer. My concern is (I m not a mechanic) there was no classic p.a.s pump problems like screeching when turning wheels or steering feeling heavy when turning. With the bonnet up there is a noise coming from alternator region(pulley?) and when driving there is a whine which sounds like a bearing noise. This whine stays regardless of speed. It s an expensive fix if it's the pump so would like to be certain mechanic got it right. Thanks in advance

**Crasher** · 22-04-2017,12:39 AM

Woooohh, how can the diagnostics monitor a fully hydraulic non diagnistic connected system? Only an electro hydraulic (Polo 9N) or fully electric system (A4 type 8K 2013>) can perform diagnostics and fully electric systems don't have a pump! The optional (rare) servotronic system has some electronic control but single wire and no feedback

**Brennane21** · 22-04-2017,01:08 AM

Good night to you Crasher, and thanks for your interest. As I mentioned I have little or no mechanical knowledge so your reply left me scratching my head a bit. Could a power steering pump be bunched and yet not show any of the classic symptoms? Thanks again, Eoin

**rowdy-999** · 22-04-2017,09:26 AM

I would take it elsewhere.
Does the noise increase when the steering is under load? A/C on?
Sounds more like a pulley, idler or tensioner issue.

**Brennane21** · 22-04-2017,02:32 PM

Originally Posted by rowdy-999

I would take it elsewhere.
Does the noise increase when the steering is under load? A/C on?
Sounds more like a pulley, idler or tensioner issue.

Thanks Ian. He heard a whine I described above when driving the car and diagnosed pump problem. Audi laptop confirmed this allegedly. No, noise does not increase when steering under load.

**zollaf** · 22-04-2017,04:04 PM

be lovely to know what code the whine generated ?

**Mario** · 23-04-2017,11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Brennane21

Good night to you Crasher, and thanks for your interest. As I mentioned I have little or no mechanical knowledge so your reply left me scratching my head a bit. Could a power steering pump be bunched and yet not show any of the classic symptoms? Thanks again, Eoin

What crasher is saying is that the power steering pump in your car has no electrics, so it is 100% impossible for the computer to show a power steering fault. Basically the machanic is talking a load of crap. Take it to somewhere with more knowledge / a better mechanic.

**Brennane21** · 24-04-2017,02:33 PM

Cheers Ben, again apologies for any lack of technical know-how. That makes sense now. Wife spoke to mechanic this morning. He said bearings were gone in the pump. Would that not cause screeching in steering or heaviness in turning wheel? There were none of those symptoms. Going to get a second opinion this evening. Thanks again, Eoin

**Crasher** · 24-04-2017,04:54 PM

Power steering pump failure on VAG vehicles is extremely rare, I think I have done two in the last 10 years and one was on an ancient Audi Coupe 20v.

**Brennane21** · 25-04-2017,11:33 PM

Anyway lads I got a second opinion on the whining noise and has been diagnosed as a wheel bearing in the front of car. So much for first mechanic! Thanks for the support.