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Im really struggling with my new purchase ..... 2003 Audi RS6.

I did a previous post regarding a whining noise '' I think its the power steering pump mainly, or maybe A/C or a tensioner! Noise appears to be passenger side front area! Could be wrong....

Power steering is quite heavy orthough saying that I know its a 2003 car and wouldn't be as light as a modern car!

My question this time is:

Is there any way of telling myself if its the power steering or the dreaded Cavitation?

Noise differences, symptoms? When the noise accurs etc....

Whining noise rises with the revs almost like a supercharger noise but not quite.

Gears change fine (apart from when in Reverse and limp home mode shows its ugly head) Believed so far to be the F125 SWITCH.

If I'm a tad repetative with my questions, I'm just needing help and knowledge, I'm disabled and need advice - Yes I brought a C5 RS6 as my daily .... (binned of Motability LOL)

Regards Phill

Since it’s a car you’ve just bought, I would get the ATF replaced and the strainer renewed (important to get the rights trainer with the short pickup pipe). If the ATF is low or the cavitation is being caused by starvation then you’ll soon damage the box.

If it’s coming from somewhere else the you need to figure out where. Could just be belt noise?

My money is on the PS pump, its a very pronounced whine as you are describing, changes with RPM. When you hit the lock/steering stops the noise should also change. Have you looked in the reservoir with a torch when the engine is running? I recommend the PS fluid is 10mm above max fill line, engine off. Visual inspection of the PS hoses and connectors where possible is advisable, if there are leaks air can get in. If you can confirm 100% what type of fluid is in the PS system, get it flushed and replaced with the correct type e.g. G 004000M2, or Pentosin CHF11S - its important that the correct flush/fill procedure is followed!

Where abouts are you located mate.
It may be that one of us is close by and be in a position to help.
My money is on the power steering pump or wrong size of filter or wrong size o ring on the filter.

I have had all three problems and sounds like the issues you have.

Are you losing any power steering fluid ?
Mine also screamed through loss of fluid due to burst power steering hoses.

Right.... In the boot hatch behind the rear lights hiding away I found this....
This must be what previous owner used as it states hydraulic and power steering applications..

Any thoughts?

steve2003rs6 wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 14, 2022 8:49 am

Where abouts are you located mate.
It may be that one of us is close by and be in a position to help.
My money is on the power steering pump or wrong size of filter or wrong size o ring on the filter.

I have had all three problems and sounds like the issues you have.

Are you losing any power steering fluid ?
Mine also screamed through loss of fluid due to burst power steering hoses.

Isle of Wight ...

I've just replaced Power Steering pump etc and Aircon Compressor.

But suggest you flush the power steeering fluid through first in case that solves your problem.

Here are the parts I used:

A/C Drier https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265083629662? 1
( From Germany he's got a few left and will ship to UK ,Good luck finding one of these elewhere, only other one I found was in US and he wouldn't ship )

A/C compressor https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401004966562Power steeering pump https://www.autodoc.co.uk/trw/2199904

PAS Fluid https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382614235079 (we used 5 litres incl flush)

ECP Red antifree ( cheaper than ECP direct) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194525763783
Power steering pump TRW https://www.autodoc.co.uk/trw/2199904

Tensioner https://www.autodoc.co.uk/febi-bilstein/1885544

Bearing https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175357896829 ( Note it was better than the one from Auto Doc which went in the bin, but debatable if its any better than the original with 80,000 miles)

Guide Pulley can't remeber which one ( about £20) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/spares-search ... 32+0066+10


A/C is working beutifully - power steering now fully functional. .MOT booked for later this week

Hope this helps - Good luck

Capt Ric wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 14, 2022 10:40 pm

I've just replaced Power Steering pump etc and Aircon Compressor.

But suggest you flush the power steeering fluid through first in case that solves your problem.

Here are the parts I used:

A/C Drier https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265083629662? 1
( From Germany he's got a few left and will ship to UK ,Good luck finding one of these elewhere, only other one I found was in US and he wouldn't ship )

A/C compressor https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401004966562Power steeering pump https://www.autodoc.co.uk/trw/2199904

PAS Fluid https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382614235079 (we used 5 litres incl flush)

ECP Red antifree ( cheaper than ECP direct) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194525763783
Power steering pump TRW https://www.autodoc.co.uk/trw/2199904

Tensioner https://www.autodoc.co.uk/febi-bilstein/1885544

Bearing https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175357896829 ( Note it was better than the one from Auto Doc which went in the bin, but debatable if its any better than the original with 80,000 miles)

Guide Pulley can't remeber which one ( about £20) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/spares-search ... 32+0066+10


A/C is working beutifully - power steering now fully functional. .MOT booked for later this week

Hope this helps - Good luck

Thank you. Any ideas where to get replacement power steering hoses? might do them aswell.

Forgot to mention, you probably want to change the aux belt and tensioner as well ( I had that done last year, so wasn't on my list)