VW Touareg Power Steering issue

[youngricharduk]

Hi,

Anyone idea what the following issue may be?

I have a 2008 VW Touareg 2.5 tdi which has been back an forward to the garage with no success, the issue is the power steering has suddenly started going stiff at different times. The issue started in the snow a few weeks ago, the power steering will normally be stiff on start up then all of a sudden it goes slack again or not at all. This is the reason the garage are having difficulty diagnosing the fault. There is no warning lights and the fault comes and goes, it seems to be worse in the wet weather but we are not 100% on this yet. The only other thing is it seemed to start happening after I tried locking the diff in the snow just to try it out.

Any ideas appreciated

[Mr2Mike]

Possibly a sticking pressure relief valve in the pump.

[stevieturbo]

Could be a PAS issue...could be a front diff issue...could be any mechanical joint within the steering too.

Only someone looking at it whilst the problem is there will sort it...and if intermittent, yes that will be a bit of a nightmare.

[youngricharduk]

Thanks for replies the problem seems to be getting more permanent now, which may help it be diagnosed next time it in the garage. Is there anyway to tell if there's an issue with the diff?

[It's fixable...]

Is there any squealing when the steering is heavy?

My PAS can feel heavy on start up because the PAS pump drive belt has become damp overnight and slips a bit until it warms up, thus the PAS pump is not being driven properly.

Doesn't always squeal mind you, so unless I already knew what the issue was I might be scratching my head...

[youngricharduk]

It's fixable... said:

Is there any squealing when the steering is heavy?

My PAS can feel heavy on start up because the PAS pump drive belt has become damp overnight and slips a bit until it warms up, thus the PAS pump is not being driven properly.

Doesn't always squeal mind you, so unless I already knew what the issue was I might be scratching my head...

Thanks for the reply
No there is no squealing at all. There must be some power steering as assume it would be un driveable otherwise. At least the problem now seems to be there all the time so when it goes back to garage Thursday they might be able to diagnose. Sods law will probably mean it goes light again on journey to garage.

[normalbloke]

youngricharduk said:

It's fixable... said:

Is there any squealing when the steering is heavy?

My PAS can feel heavy on start up because the PAS pump drive belt has become damp overnight and slips a bit until it warms up, thus the PAS pump is not being driven properly.

Doesn't always squeal mind you, so unless I already knew what the issue was I might be scratching my head...

Thanks for the reply
No there is no squealing at all. There must be some power steering as assume it would be un driveable otherwise. At least the problem now seems to be there all the time so when it goes back to garage Thursday they might be able to diagnose. Sods law will probably mean it goes light again on journey to garage.

Aren't these engines gear driven, with a Gates coupling between the alt and power steering pump? If so,when were the Gates coupling last replaced, as they have a habit of stripping if neglected.

[Bennachie]

I assume the fluid is topped off to the correct level and is not contaminated........ VW use their own stuff not standard ATF

[E-bmw]

Bennachie said:

I assume the fluid is topped off to the correct level and is not contaminated........ VW use their own stuff not standard ATF

Except it isn't their own, they will (of course) tell you it is & sell you it at a premium but it is CHF11S like many electro-hydraulic ones are now.

CHF11S is manufactured by many oil/fluid manufacturers such as Comma/Opie/Triple QX/Wynns etc

Edited by E-bmw on Wednesday 7th February 12:28

[Mr2Mike]

normalbloke said:

Aren't these engines gear driven, with a Gates coupling between the alt and power steering pump? If so,when were the Gates coupling last replaced, as they have a habit of stripping if neglected.

Very good point and I'm pretty sure you are correct about the coupling on this engine. It's basically a small loop of timing belt material.

EDIT: Just checked, the coupling drives the aircon compressor via the power steering pump, but the PS pump itself is gear driven so a coupling failure couldn't cause this.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Wednesday 7th February 16:53

[youngricharduk]

Just to close this thread. The car went into VW specialist yesterday (after been to umpteen other garages) and he fixed fault within the hour. He took the wheel arch away and the wires were all corroded and black so he replaced the wires and even had a spare connector lying around from a 3.2 that fit so it virtually a factory fit job. So only cost couple hours labour and nothing for the part.

So annoying when we told original garage what we thought it was based on internet forums and how it occurred only in wet conditions, even auto electricians was blaming the PS pump.

Again thanks for the replies

[1991pam]

I have the same issue and was told it required a new steering rack which was installed today and you guessed it, didn’t solve the problem. The mechanic is going to try a new sensor and pump. I raised about the electrical wiring but because I’m a girl, what would I know, he said it wouldn’t be that. So frustrating when I have read quite a few people saying it’s simply a faulty wire.

[youngricharduk]

1991pam said:

I have the same issue and was told it required a new steering rack which was installed today and you guessed it, didn’t solve the problem. The mechanic is going to try a new sensor and pump. I raised about the electrical wiring but because I’m a girl, what would I know, he said it wouldn’t be that. So frustrating when I have read quite a few people saying it’s simply a faulty wire.

So frustrating if that's the case, by coincidence I sold it yesterday and I had no further issues with the power steering once the corroded wires were replaced. Hope you get it sorted.