two auto questions in one.

"treesmakewater" (baym) 10/06/2014 at 22:02 • Filed to: Audi life, what's wrong now, diagnosis

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I drive a 2000 Audi A6 Quattro and over the weekend two things happened to it. Sorry in advanced for how long #1. Is

Index:

1. Power steering

2. Suspension/axel

1. There was a big temperature drop and my power steering began to whine. I bought a quart of mineral hydrolic fluid (blueish color) and did a semi-flush (didn't have the tools at home to do a real one). The first couple of times I bledd the system, the tank became filled with a tan, smelly liquid, and eventually turned to the black I was expecting. After doing this my power steering pump whines while the engine is cold. Any opposed know what the tan liquid was, and/or any recommended action?

2. My front end seems to shake (somewhat like it is out of alignment , but it does not pull) between 55mph and 75mph and it starts to smooth out and is not noticeable after about 83-85mph. Any idea what it might be before I take it to a shop?

Have my car's better looking, faster and roomierroomier big brother for your time.

Dsscats > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:05

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#2 is most likely the wheels need balancing. Possibly alignment or bushings.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:07

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Your wheel wobble is down to your wheel balance rather than alignment. Always most noticeable between 60 and 80mph on my experience! Check for the little weights on the inside of your alloys and feel for any sticky where one may have come off. RE: power steering - I'm not sure, sorry.

Spaceball-Two > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:10

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#2 is likely bushings. My B6 had the same issue.

#1. ?

treesmakewater > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 10/06/2014 at 22:11

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I will check for wheel weights in the morning, if I don't see anything missing I guess I can take it to my alignment shop just to double check.

Hopefully someone here knows about the power steering, that smelly tan fluid has me worried.

treesmakewater > Spaceball-Two 10/06/2014 at 22:14

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Would it be bushings if the power steering whines without the wheel even moving?

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:15

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You should check how the P/S lines route on the C5 platform. If they go directly to the steering rack from the pump, then you may have something going on with the rack (seals). Does the wheel feel sloppy?

If it goes to a cooler, is it a separate cooler or integrated with the radiator/something else? You may have an internal leak if it's integrated, and that's really not a good idea to have mixed fluids.

Also, does VW call for mineral fluid for P/S on B5/C5 Audis? Using the wrong fluid can cause seal damage (and necessitate steering rack replacement)

And your wheel wobble is most likely an out of balance wheel. Any tire shop can help with that.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:15

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Someone will be with you shortly, I'm sure. The Opponerds are fairly numerous.

Spaceball-Two > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:17

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I don't believe so.

treesmakewater > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 10/06/2014 at 22:24

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im not sure about the routing, I will have to check tomorrow. And yes, they call for the mineral fluid (sadly, that stuff is pricey )

treesmakewater > Spaceball-Two 10/06/2014 at 22:25

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well bushings are out then :/

NonDriftingS13 > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:25

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If it whines without even moving the wheel, my best guess would be the pump or some component in the pump going bad. I don't know much about Audis though so take it for what it's worth.

E92M3 > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:26

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1. The whine is the PS pump. If it whines after putting new fluid in it's likely near the end of its life. The tan fluid is probably assembly grease (assuming this was the first time it was ever changed) used to protect the parts from corrosion or rust during transport to the plant. Some power steering systems are manufactured by a supplier elsewhere, and transported to the plant that assembles the car. Sometimes this means 30 days on the ocean (which will corrode anything not protected).

2. Sounds like a tire that's out of balance.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:27

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Are you sure your steering is supposed to use the bluish pentosin chf-11s fluid? Maybe someone put in the wrong stuff? I'm not an Audi persper so I don't know. I do know that I have replaced pumps on Audi stuff from around that time. I doubt the fluid is your issue, it was probably caused by a pump on its last leg. Even if the tan fluid was the wrong type it usually mixes just fine with the pentosin and doesn't cause any issues.

As for the vibration, check balance and bushings.

Spaceball-Two > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:27

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The thing about Audi ownership is they're fun to drive but a bitch to maintain.

treesmakewater > Spaceball-Two 10/06/2014 at 22:29

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And able (as long as they don't break) able to be driven comfortably for long periods of time.

treesmakewater > E92M3 10/06/2014 at 22:31

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im not entirely sure if this was the first time flushed, but I will assume that it was. I'm probably going to do another flush soon to be sure

treesmakewater > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/06/2014 at 22:32

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the fluid was tan, but after a few flushes it was black. I got the dealer to run my Vin and they said it needed mineral hydrolic, so I got it from them (had no luck with local stores)

Spaceball-Two > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 22:33

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Yes. How many miles do you have on it? Around 120K they need a "refresh". I put $1500 into mine last week.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 23:05

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Maybe the blue stuff and tan stuff didn't like each other and made black. See what your owner's manual says, sometimes dealer's parts systems are off, especially with fluids. Or the fluid changes with certain years or lots of other things. I'm still betting on pump.

treesmakewater > Spaceball-Two 10/06/2014 at 23:06

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$1500? Sounds like my upcoming timing belt and CV boot job.

Mine has 124K

EL_ULY > treesmakewater 10/06/2014 at 23:34

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I own a 1999 A6 Avant Quattro. Any vibration issue is usually a wheel and tire issue. The frint suspension does wear a bit quick.I bought and installed a 10 pcs front suspention kit. As for the pump, if the fluid is topped of and it is still making noise, it's time to replace it.

treesmakewater > EL_ULY 10/06/2014 at 23:38

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where did you find the kit? I'm going to flush my fluid one more time to be sure

EL_ULY > treesmakewater 10/07/2014 at 00:09

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ebay

It will do nothing if you have a bad wheel or tire

treesmakewater > EL_ULY 10/07/2014 at 00:23

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i have to find a reasonable tire shop now (the last place I tried told me that my front calipers were bad on my Tacoma when they were new, I checked them myself and nothing was wrong)

Hmm eBay, never bought any non interior parts off io there (I love scrappers that take interior out and put it on eBay :D)

EL_ULY > treesmakewater 10/07/2014 at 00:37

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my kit turned out well and has 2 year warranty.

treesmakewater > EL_ULY 10/07/2014 at 00:41

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According to FCP euro, my year model has two different kits depending on chassis number (with a $900 price difference) time to do some reasearch

Spaceball-Two > treesmakewater 10/07/2014 at 11:51

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I needed new seals, engine temp. sensor, a full tune before winter and host of little things.

treesmakewater > Spaceball-Two 10/07/2014 at 12:00

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ahh, thankfully the only seal that is starting to go us my valve cover gasket (only one). Sometimes I want to buy some junker car just to practice repairs on, I'm getting to know my mechanic too well