Wrong power steering fluid

**Gtiracer** · 20-02-2008,01:26 PM

Hi, Ive only had my passat about a week and someone has been using the wrong fluid in it and now the level is really low and steering is making an awful noise, a few people have told me the fluid should be green but its actually red inside, What should i do, i rang up the dealers and they tried to book me in for it to get fixed but to be honest i dont trust dealers.

What is the maximum that can go wrong

its a 98 passat 1.8 20v

**Peter D** · 21-02-2008,12:47 PM

The Header Tank for the servo has a fluid part number on it probably G000 or 002. This should be green New part number G004 000 M2 If red has been used then the seals tend to swell in the rack and tears thus loosing fluid into the rack gaters. This could be very expensive. Did you buy it from a dealer ?? Regards Peter

**Gtiracer** · 22-02-2008,12:57 PM

a very small indepedent dealer who sells cars from his house.

on the receipt

'No warranty implied or given' because car value is quite low

**tyreman1** · 23-02-2008,11:33 PM

If he`s a dealer he cant just do away with your right by writing no warranty on a piece of paper...if its going to be expensive either ask him for your money back or at least contribute towards the repairs...dave

**Gtiracer** · 26-02-2008,01:15 PM

Originally Posted by tyreman1

If he`s a dealer he cant just do away with your right by writing no warranty on a piece of paper...if its going to be expensive either ask him for your money back or at least contribute towards the repairs...dave

But is he legally oblidged to actually do anything about it?

he could just claim

'Wasn;'t like it when you bought it, you inspected it' Sold as seen or something like that

**pablopeebles** · 17-03-2008,02:39 PM

Automatic transmission fluid would be fine to use,... thats red too

**Peter D** · 17-03-2008,04:19 PM

So is tomato sauce but you can't use that. I have asked the OP to read the Numbers off the steering sevo tank and for the colour of the top but he appears reluctant to tell us. Regards Peter

**pablopeebles** · 17-03-2008,04:54 PM

i was mearly making a point that it dont make a difference what colour the fluid is... but ATF is what i use and it does the job fine...

**Gtiracer** · 19-03-2008,03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Peter D

So is tomato sauce but you can't use that. I have asked the OP to read the Numbers off the steering sevo tank and for the colour of the top but he appears reluctant to tell us. Regards Peter

Sorry, didn't mean to ignore you just missed your question, most of the writing has worn away from the top of the tanker so can't actually read anything that was there

**Peter D** · 19-03-2008,05:02 PM

The Passat Vag service bullitin states G 000 002 (Green) Note NLA new number G004 000 M2 ( Green )

Strict warning on the bulletin. Do not use ATF

G004 000 M2 is a A special synthetic oil based hydraulic fluid ATF is a mineral oil Red. The mineral content causes the seals to swell and the tear letting fluid out into the gaters and eventually blowing them off and failure.

Old audi 80 had a red steering fluid

Have you got a green cap on the reservoir bottle. ??

Regards Peter