Power steering failure

[PipRS6]

Hi all. My power steering just went on my C5 RS6. Very noisy and heavy steering followed by the noise stopping but total loss of power steering, very very heavy steering.
Thought the pump had gone but checked the reservoir and it's empty. What's the most likely place for a leak? Please don't say rack!! They're an engine out job right?

[simonpoulton]

Apparently there is one bolt that's the trouble maker for the rack but it has been done without engine out.

Take it there are no puddles on the drive? Have you had the undertray off to see if you have any fluid on those? There are a couple of lines coming down the nearside front, just behind the bumper that might be worth checking. They head on up to a simple cooling circuit on the front / power steering pump if I can remember correctly.

[Ben_r1]

Isn’t everything an engine out job? I’m surprised the engine mounts aren’t on wing nuts.

Refill and check where it’s leaking from, if you’ve lost the entire reservoir either it’s a minor leak you been missing for a while or you’ve blown a hose and dumped the lot?

[Weiß-sechs]

If worst case it is the rack then there are garages around that can swap out this for a recon unit without the dreaded engine pull.
When my rack failed I used a VAG specialist near to me and they knew how to change it without the labour intensive engine out scenario.
Make the checks mentioned previously but it's not total doom & gloom if you have to have a recon rack.
Good luck.

[PipRS6]

Isn’t everything an engine out job? I’m surprised the engine mounts aren’t on wing nuts.

Refill and check where it’s leaking from, if you’ve lost the entire reservoir either it’s a minor leak you been missing for a while or you’ve blown a hose and dumped the lot?

Unfortunately I've been away all week so I haven't had a chance to look yet. But I will do this weekend. The way it went from making a little bit of noise to full blown loss of all fluid in about half a mile makes me think its a blown hose. Fingers crossed I am right!!

[Nobby]

Should hopefully be easy to spot - standard fluid has a slight green tinge to it, not the usual red for most PAS fluid. Pump is on N/S of engine bay. Only holds about a litre though.