I just experienced a massive loss of power steering fluid. It seemed to happen suddenly, while driving. All of a sudden I lost all power-assist on the steering (didn't hit anything or run over anything -- the entire drive was uneventful). I could still steer but it required quite a bit of effort. Got home and found there was no PS fluid in the reservoir. I went and got some fluid and put it in. Starting the car, the fluid just seemed to flow right out. This is no small leak. Looking for the top of the engine and the bottom of the engine (with belly pan off), I can't seem to see exactly where the leak is coming from. From where all the fluid it, it seems to be flowing out from the front of the engine, not from an area near the steering rack. it's not coming from the reservoir itself, either.

What could have ruptured so catastrophically seemingly with out cause or provocation?

I can only think that is it a hose somewhere, that I unfortunately would have to remove everything to replace. I can't see it being the PS pump since if that went, it wouldn't seem to lose so much fluid so rapidly, and not from the steering rack (since all the fluid is elsewhere).

Is this assessment reasonable? Or could the pump leak so badly?

Further, given that the car was driven a some miles home, after losing power assist, is the PS Pump now ruined and need to be replaced anyway (along with whatever else is actually leaking)? The car now has about 105k miles.

What do you think?

 

oil cooler line

 

I'm not sure I understand this, probably because I don't know how PS fluid is routed in the car. Are you saying that power steering fluid goes to the oil cooler, or is there a separate "oil cooler" for power steering fluid, and that the power steering fluid line to goes to or from this cooler could be damaged?

Is there a picture somewhere where I could see this laid out? Thanks.

 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/102263/rs4_ic.jpg"></center><p>in the pic, the PS oil cooler line is dangling on the garage floor on the driver side. It mounts in front of the radiator.

You could have picked up road debris that could have punctured the line or the rubber hose.

 

Power steering fluid cooler line (15) is at the front of the radiator.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/56080/power_steering_oil_circulation.jpg">

 

Thanks guys, I don't always have the time to give explicit instruction.

 

...yhey were helpful.

Hopefully that is where the problem lies. I'll try to get at it today.

 

Does anyone have tips on replacing the PS fluid return hose on a 2004 allroad (2.7T)? (#2 in the diagram above)

The factory hose clamp on the return line failed and spewed PS fluid all over my allroad's underside. I fixed it temporarily with a $1 hose clamp, but the hose itself is cracked and needs replacement. Only problem is I can't find the other end of it! Presumably its attached to the rack somewhere and I have to get at it through the wheel well? Are there instructions on how to gain access to the rack and the associated hoses?

FWIW, I have a new found respect for audi mechanics. Did the driver side valve cover gasket this afternoon. lots of fun...