Please Need Help With A4

[Ryanhasadd]

ok, I was an idiot, thinking that the fluid for the clutch was low. so i accidently added dot 4 brake fluid to the power steering a few days ago. stupid thing to do... but now i am 200 miles from home with a whining power steering pump. I need to know what type of fluid I need for the power steering pump in my 96 audi A4 quattro. It says somthing about mineral oil. Can you pick this up at a local autoparts store or does it have to come from the dealership? there is no audi dealership where i am at but there is a VW dealership. I firgure i can drain the power steering and just re-fill with the correct fluid. PLEASE HELP. Thanks...RYAN

[Badger61]

Audi spec hydraulic oil should be available from VW dealer, it will also have the Audi stamp on it.Try and get as much out of the system as possible by unhooking the return pipe, fill with the new fluid and with the front wheels off the ground turn the steering lock to lock 10 times to bleed the system, this should be done with engine off.

[Ryanhasadd]

well I may have made a mistake. I did just as you asked, but the car was not jacked up off the ground and i had the engine running a for about 15 to 20 seconds. I replaced the fluid with the audi mineral oil but it is still whining. I think i have fired the pump. How hard is it to replace them? do you think I should do it again with the car jacked up in the air and the engine off?

[Badger61]

I would flush it again and bleed first, if the steering assistance is still ok you may be able to save the pump, give it a few days of use then reasess

[pootles111]

Totally agree with the previous comments! just go and bleed the system again before you go thinking about replacing any pumps. You will no doubt find that when you have correctly blead and recharged the system that all will be fine.

Fluid is a lot cheaper so just buy enough to fill twice and use the excess to fully flushthe pump systemthrough