<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/quattroa4/DSC02259.jpg">
I was just checking my oil and my power streering fluid today when i noticed that there is a black cap missing from the right pipe in the picture. Can someone tell me what those pipes do and is it bad that i am missing a cap. I am heading to the dealer tomorow to buy a new coolant temp. sensor and maybe ill buy the cap while i am there.
Also, the reason why i was checking my power steering fluid is because i have been loosing some for a while now. I went through 1 bottle of Pentosin in the last year or so. I just bought one like 2 or 3 months ago and this is the third time have to fill it up again. It seems that it doesnt fully leak out. It goes to just a hair below minimum line, but it makes a big difference when you turn the wheel. While turning i hear a wierd grinding noise and i right away know its the power steering fluid. I add some and the sound goes away and turning feels better. It doesnt happen gradually, it seems it happens one day to another.
Is my power steering starting to go? Or am i Leaking from a hose or something? Anyone have experiences with this and what were the results?
TIA

 

a/c

 

Well.. check the hoses.. if the hoses are fine.. u might have a leak in your power steering rack. it happend to me before and it was pretty pricey to fix. I think they will change it under warranty if you have a warranty.

 

a busted power steering rack seal. had to replace the entire rack. hope that is'nt whats wrong with u. the way i dentified that was because i was'nt seeing any fluid on the ground but was losing fluid by the bottle more and more each day

 

pull off the belly pan and see if you find any oil on it. If you do, check the lines leading to the p/s pump form the reservoir and the p/s cooler.

If you don't see any there, pull the driver's side wheel and pull the plastic access panel to take a gander at the 2 lines leading to the p/s rack and see if they're oily.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/21175/dscf0022.jpg">

Not sure what engine you have, but if it's a V6, check the p/s line that goes over the pass side valve cover as well.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/21175/dscf0027.jpg">

If you don't see any oil, put the front end up on jack stands and have someone turn the wheel from lock to lock. If your boots to the rack are coated in oil, then your p/s rack is shot.
this is what mine looked like when I pulled it out:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/21175/dscf0031.jpg">
Notice that the boot is covered in oil, and yet I never found a hole... but both sides were covered!

When your p/s fluid goes dry, were you doing a good amoutn of sharp (like parking manuevering) turns? That's when I lost all my fluid (getting in and out of my driveway and pulling into a parkingspot at work) and it turned out my rack was shot.

I jsut did the R&amp;R of the rack and the one p/s hose the weekend after memorial day, so do a search for it and lemme know if you have any questions.

and the hose/cap you're talking about is your a/c lines like everyone else said. get a replacement cap at the dealer.

 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/21175/dscf0022.jpg"></center><p>is your boot sagging like this cuz it's full of PS fluid?, when mine was shot, it was just leaking all over the place, cuz i had a punture in my boot. but i was just curious about this picture. i think the fluid might actually have soaked into the rubber causing it to get all greasy.

 

it wasn't full of fluid that I could tell, but didn't look either honestly... it probably was. IT's also all disfigured cuz I pushed it out of the way (tre is out if you didn't notice) to get a clear shot at the p/s lines.

I'm not sure if I had a pin hole or what, but I do know that was the source of my leaking.

 

after nursing it along with extra fluid, i think i'm through.

i have chipmunks running in the pump (or somewhere) and am loosing fluid out of the rack and pinion.

does anyone have a diy link for replacing all this?

i took a look at the rack, and damn, do they have to jamb everything up the ***?

if anyone has info, i'd really appreciate the help or thoughts on the '98 audi A4, 2.8L

thanks,
dom