audi a6 steering feels springy

firefly08

Steering feels funny in my A6 over the last few days. When I steer while driving I feel more resistance than usual, then when I let go it wants to straighten up with much more force than usual (that's what I mean by 'springy'). If I pull over and leave the engine running, and test the steering, it feels normal - no springiness.

There's a lot of melting snow where I am and it tends to build up in the wheel arches, get compressed, and end up quite hard. So I thought that was the problem (wheel pressing against packed snow) but after removing all the snow I can find in there it's still the same. One of my tires is ever so slightly low but not what you'd call flat.

Any ideas what this could be?

It's a 1998 A6 Quattro 2.8 30v.

I've also been having an intermittent idling issue lately where the engine cuts out instead of idling, no idea if that's related to this though. Engine light is not coming on.

Plug

It could be a shock maybe.

firefly08

Is there anything I can do to check that? From pushing down on the front wings of the car, the suspension seems normal.

The problem is somewhat intermittent - yesterday it was fine when it was cold, then as the engine warmed up the problem came back. This morning the problem was there straight away from cold.

I'm beginning to think there's just a loss of power in the power steering and the 'springiness' I feel is just the natural tendency of the wheels to straighten up, with less resistance from the steering system.

Any other ideas?

Plug

Im way off the mark. Its a problem only with the steering system then. Is the fluid low? It could be leaking or the pump or rack could be broke. Does it make a kind of screeching sound like a high pitched sound when you steer?

firefly08

Nope, no noises that I can hear. I will check the fluid level as soon as I get a chance.

Tropheus

It may be worth checking the alignment. Start with the easy stuff.

firefly08

OK, checked the fluid, and it is low. It's around the min. mark, so presumably 'within spec' but I will top it right up and see what difference that makes.

I did discover a noise, but only when the wheel is locked full left or full right, and I keep a little pressure on it - then the pump makes a noise like it's straining a bit, and the engine stutters slightly for a brief moment. But in normal steering there is no noise that I can hear.

Tropheus

A power steering noise on full lock is normal in my experience. Engine stuttering isn't though.

Plug

firefly08 wrote: »

OK, checked the fluid, and it is low. It's around the min. mark, so presumably 'within spec' but I will top it right up and see what difference that makes.

I did discover a noise, but only when the wheel is locked full left or full right, and I keep a little pressure on it - then the pump makes a noise like it's straining a bit, and the engine stutters slightly for a brief moment. But in normal steering there is no noise that I can hear.

Ah thats normal. It could be air in the fluid. You'll have to put it on a lift and get it checked out by a mechanic.

firefly08

Topped up the power steering fluid, and the problem is exactly the same. Drove a few miles, no change.

So I'll take it to a mechanic and get it looked at.