jmirandes

My allroad is making a very strange noise related to the power steering and/or the belt pulleys but it only does it while cold and during the morning. As soon as I have travelled about 100 meters it all goes away; at lunchtime, there are no noises. My S4 has not made any noise in two years. It is plain strange.
Has anybody had this happen to them? Is it critical?

Any info will be greatly appreciated,

thanks in advance,


javier mirandes
san juan, puerto rico
00 S4
01 allroad

madjmonkee

dunno, just take it to the dealer my friend. . .

Dutch8griffin

if that's it, it's happened to me before....

darenjpdx

I have an exhaust-type noise that's loud and very obvious for the first few minutes (perhaps 1/2 mile or so) when started first thing in the morning. Sounds like I need a new muffler, but it seems to be coming from the engine bay. I've never heard anyone talk about this on the forum, but I've been assuming it's normal. Who knows.

Paul3.2A4avant

If you hear a "groaning" noise when you tug on the steering wheel, you're low on power steering fluid and may have a leak. My A4 needed a new power steering pump when I experienced this.(It only made the noise in the morning) My Passat has a slow leak they can't find. I just add a little fluid every month to avoid paying another $60 for them to tell me they can't find the leak. If you add fluid yourself, only use Audi/VW "mineral" power steering fluid from a dealer.

LMDA1

I get the same noise. Sounds like a loud pump, goes away after a while.

Dion

Just about all powersteering systems do this. Holding them hard on lock for any period of time is usually advised against. I think the manual even says something about this, but don't hold me to it!

A4 to Allroad to TT

It goes away before I make it to the freeway and I don't hear it again until the next morning.

jmirandes

The noise is not related to the exhaust systems nor does it happen when turning lock-to-lock (which you shouldn't do for too long); it comes on as soon as the allroad is turned on in the morning and it goes away in about 5 minutes (or less) of warm-up time. However, if you drive it before it goes away, as soon as you turn the wheel (even slightly), you also get some rubbish feedback from the power steering system. The funny thing is that once warm, it does not do it for the rest of the day. Got an appointment in two weeks, in the meantine, 5-minute warmup is mandatory!

Thanks for the comments!

drz

We get the same thing and thought it might be
the suspension firming up (the reverse of the
attention-getting release you get when unloading
or letting it sit after driving).

D.