Power Steering Problem + new urs4 Owner
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 7
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From: Seattle, WA
Power Steering Problem + new urs4 Owner
Hello All,
I just bought my first urs4 yesterday. Its a 1992. But I bought it with a problem. The guy I bought it from said one of his power steering hoses failed and blew apart. He had it replaced after that there was a slight shudder when you turned the wheel. When i drove it home and to school the next day the "BRAKE" light came on in the dash intermitintly so I knew that something was wrong with the hydrolic system. I thought that maybe there was just air in the system from the blown hose so I proceeded to bleed the system by jacking it up and turing the wheels back and forth to lock 10 times then putting the car back down and tried to turn it on and turn the wheel the shudder has increased and is much louder. Does anyone have any ideas? is it safe to drive? and Is my power steering pump damaged?
I just bought my first urs4 yesterday. Its a 1992. But I bought it with a problem. The guy I bought it from said one of his power steering hoses failed and blew apart. He had it replaced after that there was a slight shudder when you turned the wheel. When i drove it home and to school the next day the "BRAKE" light came on in the dash intermitintly so I knew that something was wrong with the hydrolic system. I thought that maybe there was just air in the system from the blown hose so I proceeded to bleed the system by jacking it up and turing the wheels back and forth to lock 10 times then putting the car back down and tried to turn it on and turn the wheel the shudder has increased and is much louder. Does anyone have any ideas? is it safe to drive? and Is my power steering pump damaged?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Feb 2001
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The power steering pump is a dual channel pump and also serves to pressurize the power brake assist system. You might be out of fluid (did you check the reservoir with the green cap between the windshield washer reservoir and the coolant expansion tank?). You might want to start by reading THIS
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 618
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From: Knoxville, TN
Taking the car to Carl will probably save you lots of head scratching and time. If you wanted to jump in and try to fix things on your own, where are you going to start? Do you just start replacing parts trying to outguess what is wrong? If the PO truly meant PS hose, there is only one from the pump to the steering rack that carries pressure. It does sound like that hose was rebuilt without the restrictor that dampens the pump pulses, and a replacement is needed to fix the steering issue.
The front of the pump is a higher pressure section for the power brake hydraulic pressure. Four different items can cause that "BRAKE" light to come on-the parking brake I am sure you know, the hydraulic reservoir level and the brake reservoir level, and a pressure sensor on the hydraulic boost servo.
The power brake system is not a luxury on this car, it is necessary to stop the car, so don't mess around too long before you get that sorted out.
The steering jerkiness is caused by pump pulses and makes driving difficult but it is not harming the pump.
The front of the pump is a higher pressure section for the power brake hydraulic pressure. Four different items can cause that "BRAKE" light to come on-the parking brake I am sure you know, the hydraulic reservoir level and the brake reservoir level, and a pressure sensor on the hydraulic boost servo.
The power brake system is not a luxury on this car, it is necessary to stop the car, so don't mess around too long before you get that sorted out.
The steering jerkiness is caused by pump pulses and makes driving difficult but it is not harming the pump.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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I'm sure you have checked this, but how about the brake fluid level? If anywhere near the bottom, the level sensor can be set off with change in road.
On occasion my emergency brake was not set to the lowest off position, and it would flicker the brake light sensor when driving.
Not unusual for these cars to have the brake warning light come on for 20 sec before when you first start the car <-- if this was not the case ignore.
On occasion my emergency brake was not set to the lowest off position, and it would flicker the brake light sensor when driving.
Not unusual for these cars to have the brake warning light come on for 20 sec before when you first start the car <-- if this was not the case ignore.
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Thread Starter
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 7
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From: Seattle, WA
A update.
Carl replaced the PS pump but it didn't fix the problem he topped off the brake fluid fixing that light problem and he put in a new serpentine belt. He said it might be the that hose still or the rack but ive been too busy to really invesitage more. Then last week the a drain got plugged up in my cowling and flooded my car (its been just pouring in seattle) Ecu is fine but i had to pull out the carpet.... and its drying out now only took me around 8 -10 hours I don't really recall ha. I miss driving it already.
Carl replaced the PS pump but it didn't fix the problem he topped off the brake fluid fixing that light problem and he put in a new serpentine belt. He said it might be the that hose still or the rack but ive been too busy to really invesitage more. Then last week the a drain got plugged up in my cowling and flooded my car (its been just pouring in seattle) Ecu is fine but i had to pull out the carpet.... and its drying out now only took me around 8 -10 hours I don't really recall ha. I miss driving it already.
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AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 618
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From: Knoxville, TN
Maybe you should check on getting your money back, all except for topping off the brake fluid. You or Carl should be able to tell if the power steering hose has been rebuilt or if it is a factory part. There have been many reports about rebuilt hoses having this pulsing problem. You might find a good used one in the marketplace on audifans.com by searching or contacting those who are parting out cars.
Listen, much of this stuff is in the owners manual in the glove box. You are not going to be led by the hand here to check the brake fluid level when you have a light.
Sorry to hear you learned about the plenum drain the hard way, but at least the ECU survived.
Listen, much of this stuff is in the owners manual in the glove box. You are not going to be led by the hand here to check the brake fluid level when you have a light.
Sorry to hear you learned about the plenum drain the hard way, but at least the ECU survived.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 18,801
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Reiteration: Clear your cowl drains or your ECU will die.
A update....Then last week the a drain got plugged up in my cowling and flooded my car (its been just pouring in seattle) Ecu is fine but i had to pull out the carpet.... and its drying out now only took me around 8 -10 hours I don't really recall ha. I miss driving it already.
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...ght=cowl+drain