Power steering leak, unusal ???

[CoupeWannabeS2]

Hi everyone, just hoping for a bit of input...

... was driving the car (its an ABY) when a stange noise began when turning the steering wheel - a sort of whining. Then the autocheck kept displaying the (!) symbol, and the brake pedal felt a little light. Not the best set of symptoms to occur then you have just told your passengers how reliable the S2 is !

After getting the car home and having a look under bonnet, there was a lot of green power steering fluid coming out. There was some on the underside of the bonnet, all over the top of the reservoir and the screw top and the wires for the sensor. Firstly are the braking and power steering systems linked, or have I got several problems to sort ?

Im thinking that the leak might be coming from the screw cap, and the electrical connector on top. I had a quick search of the forum but couldn't see anyone else who had suffered this fate.

The car always displays the (!) symbol about 10 seconds after starting it, but it then goes out and all is well, could this have anything to do with the problem?

Finally, can you buy just the cap, with the float sensor without needing the whole reservoir?

[s2dude]

I had this problem on my old S2 so I bought a new cap and fitted it and it made no difference.

you say the screw on top of the pump is leaking?

On mine I replaced the bomb (which was weak) which didnt sort it.... and then the screw in the pump (it was weeping constantly) ,bled the system and topped up with audi green hydraulic fluid and it was cured after that.

link

The noise sounds like air in the system, but how it got there is the thing.


if I was you I would try replacing the screw and top up and bleed the system (5 turns of the steering lock to lock) and see how it goes from there?

THis goes into more detail

[CoupeWannabeS2]

Thanks for the comments S2dude.

The leak I have is from the reservoir area - and the screw cap that you open to fill up the reservoir. The steering pump itself is completely dry, so I thinking the leak is the green screw cap with the float attached.

[s2dude]

Thanks for the comments S2dude.

The leak I have is from the reservoir area - and the screw cap that you open to fill up the reservoir. The steering pump itself is completely dry, so I thinking the leak is the green screw cap with the float attached.

Ahh, in that case disregard the info to the screw!
I knew you meant the top up lead was leaking but I thought the screw also leaked.

it cost £15 for a new lid w float so its worth doing.
make sure you use only green audi hydraulic fluid, fill it to the correct level and bleed it.

[CoupeWannabeS2]

Thanks for the advice, I take it that you can only buy the lid and float from a dealership?

In respect of bleeding the system, is it correct that you start the car and go from full lock to the opposite lock about 5 times ?

Also just wondering if this is done with the car on the ground, or if you need to put it up on axle stands ? I seem to remember something about needing to be off the ground.

[s2dude]

Yes.
Lid and float is dealership only. Steering turn from lock to lock 5 times to bleed the system (right > left > right > left > right!). Make sure the fluid is right to the top of the inner mesh marker.

I've done it with the car on the ground several times. makes no difference.
But the risk is putting flat spots on expensive tyres. I used to push teh car gently forward and backwards while making the lock ot lock turns hence keeping the tyres moving slightly and preventing wear patches.
hth

[CoupeWannabeS2]

Thanks for all your help S2dude, much appreciated. I'll let you know how I get on once I have got the part.