Garage has sodded up the power steering!

[sunbeam alpine]

My wife has an Audi A5 as a company car. Last week it went in for a service, and when she collected it she was told that there was a problem with the power steering pump and it would have to be replaced.

I had a look under the bonnet, but couldn't see anything obviously wrong. Before it went into the garage we weren't aware of any problem at all - steering was perfect, and the garage floor was bone dry.

I took the car to the garage today as my wife had an important meeting. When I collected it I drove about 10 km and went back to the garage. The steering is very notchy (it has always been super smooth), and you feel the power steering as it engages, which you never did before.

The reaction when I went back to the garage was either that the pump needed to "loosen up" as it was new (although they couldn't answer my question why we didn't experience the same when the whole car was new). They also suggested that the old pump was producing too much pressure - thus making the steering too smooth! They also said that the old pump was pissing out fluid everywhere, but went very quiet when I asked why there isn't a single drop on our garage floor.

We've not used this garage before - we used to use the VW garage here in the village, but Leaseplan changed their policy in January and it now has to go to a "real" Audi garage.

The repair was carried out under warranty as the car is only a bit more than a year old, so I guess Audi pay for it. I'm wondering -

a) Whether it was necessary - the car drove and steered fine, with no obvious leaks. When I queried this with the garage they got a bit angry and suggested that the warranty would be void if their suggested repairs weren't carried out.

b) Whether I should go to another Audi garage to have it checked out.

c) Whether I should contact Leaseplan to suggest they investigate/ask to see the defective parts.

I've luckily never experinced this before at any garage, so would appreciate comments/suggestions.

[Dodsy]

Sounds broken to me. I had company cars for many years and had a few moments like this when the garage managed to break something. As its a lease car just leave it at the garage as its clearly not safe to drive and tell the lease company to send you another loan car while yours is fixed.

Chances are the lease company will make the garage supply the loaner and you can guarantee as soon as its costing them money they will fix the problem in seconds.

[sunbeam alpine]

Dodsy said:

Sounds broken to me. I had company cars for many years and had a few moments like this when the garage managed to break something. As its a lease car just leave it at the garage as its clearly not safe to drive and tell the lease company to send you another loan car while yours is fixed.

Chances are the lease company will make the garage supply the loaner and you can guarantee as soon as its costing them money they will fix the problem in seconds.

Sounds broken NOW to me as well, but the garage says not.

It didn't seem to be broken before they fitted the new pump!

[Dodsy]

sunbeam alpine said:

Sounds broken NOW to me as well, but the garage says not.

It didn't seem to be broken before they fitted the new pump!

Ask them to give you a test drive right now on one they have in stock...steering will be smooth... they will then have to fix yours

[williamp]

check the level. I bet they refilled it but forgot to bleed the system, so its taking in air, and running low.

On older cars, you remove the cap and, with the engine running turn the wheel full lock to full lock to expel the air, whilst adding more. Dont overfill. New cars might be different...

[sunbeam alpine]

Dodsy said:

sunbeam alpine said:

Sounds broken NOW to me as well, but the garage says not.

It didn't seem to be broken before they fitted the new pump!

Ask them to give you a test drive right now on one they have in stock...steering will be smooth... they will then have to fix yours

I asked that, they refused.

[Johnboy Mac]

I'd advise you get your wife to report the problem to the Audi dealer and if she gets no satisfaction from them, report the fault to Leaseplan. Actually she could refuse to drive the car and ask Leaseplan to supply another car until the problem is sorted. If there is an actual fault, the problem is Leaseplan's, not your wife's.

[muley]

When SWMO took our company car to the fleet-approved garages she used to get a fantastic amount of utter crap.. ..it's broken so needs to be fixed. I could write a book on all the things that have been stuffed up by 'professional' garages over the years..

[Superhoop]

sunbeam alpine said:

I asked that, they refused.

Funny that. If they were so confident that they're all like that, they would have let you test another car to prove it - the fact that they wouldn't let you suggests that they don't think it's right either

[sunbeam alpine]

Superhoop said:

sunbeam alpine said:

I asked that, they refused.

Funny that. If they were so confident that they're all like that, they would have let you test another car to prove it - the fact that they wouldn't let you suggests that they don't think it's right either

I agree. They did send out one of their mechanics in ours and then in another one, and he said he couldn't feel any difference.

I don't think it's dangerous - it drives and steers OK - just is not at all smooth. I'll maybe take it for a long run tomorrow - she prefers my car anyway - and see if it improves.

Will certainly not be going back to that garage again!

[Johnboy Mac]

Superhoop said:

sunbeam alpine said:

I asked that, they refused.

Funny that. If they were so confident that they're all like that, they would have let you test another car to prove it - the fact that they wouldn't let you suggests that they don't think it's right either

Understandable, as the lessee (beit the emplyee or company) is not making the complaint.

Edited by Johnboy Mac on Thursday 3rd May 18:55

[sunbeam alpine]

williamp said:

check the level. I bet they refilled it but forgot to bleed the system, so its taking in air, and running low.

On older cars, you remove the cap and, with the engine running turn the wheel full lock to full lock to expel the air, whilst adding more. Dont overfill. New cars might be different...

I questioned this - as I'm used to working on my own cars. They assured me the system had been bled.

Is it normal that the steering fluid reservoir gets so hot that it burns your hand? The ones on my cars don't (they do get warm).

[sunbeam alpine]

Johnboy Mac said:

Superhoop said:

sunbeam alpine said:

I asked that, they refused.

Funny that. If they were so confident that they're all like that, they would have let you test another car to prove it - the fact that they wouldn't let you suggests that they don't think it's right either

Understandable, as the lessee (beit the emplyee or company) is not making the complaint.

Edited by Johnboy Mac on Thursday 3rd May 18:55

I wouldn't have minded this so much if they were consistent.

My wife should have signed a form to approve the work (as it is her company car). The garage didn't mind me signing the form in her place to approve the work though...

[Otispunkmeyer]

So the A5 still has a power steering pump and actuates hydraulically? I thought all new cars had electric assistance now?

[A9XXC]

"Is it normal that the steering fluid reservoir gets so hot that it burns your hand?"

No!