Having just spent £250 on a new thermostat and alternator, I took my car for a 140 mile drive on monday - and all was fine so I was pleased that my car was finally running 100%. However, I've just used it again and now when I turn the steering at low speed (5mph or less) I get a clonking/groaning noise coming from the front right wheel area under the bonnet while I'm moving the steering wheel. It only happens at low speed so out on the open road it's fine.

The car still heads pretty much straight if I let go of the steering, but it does return to centre from the left quite strongly, and turning left feels a bit heavier than turning right.

The power steering fluid level is definitely OK.

Here's a video I recorded of it happening. http://youtu.be/bIg_KhWvHBs

EDIT: At first I thought it was the power steering but after some suggestions it could be a broken spring I've now added some pictures on page 2.

Edited 20 December, 201114 yr by OU51

PAS rack? What are the fluid levels like?

Edited 14 December, 201114 yr by mbames

Hmm could be PAS related. You reminded me that after I had the car off-road for a few weeks in the summer (I temporarily had a company car), the steering felt quite heavy at low speed. I thought at the time it was maybe just felt different compared to my company car but it actually went away once I started using it again.

It's cold, dark and raining now but I'll check the steering fluid level in the morning. Thanks.

P.S. Is the power steering pump quite high up in the engine bay? The noise sounded like it was coming from above my right knee sort of area. It made the noise when turning right or left but the noise came from the same place both times.

Hmm could be PAS related. You reminded me that after I had the car off-road for a few weeks in the summer (I temporarily had a company car), the steering felt quite heavy at low speed. I thought at the time it was maybe just felt different compared to my company car but it actually went away once I started using it again.

It's cold, dark and raining now but I'll check the steering fluid level in the morning. Thanks.

P.S. Is the power steering pump quite high up in the engine bay? The noise sounded like it was coming from above my right knee sort of area. It made the noise when turning right or left but the noise came from the same place both times.

On the TDI the PAS pump is at the front of the engine at the top near to the rad on the drivers side (UK).

Did the noise sound like it was in the car, or the engine area?

Definitely in the engine area. First I thought I might have a flat tyre then wondered if the front mud flaps I'd recently fitted were rubbing. It was from around the front right wheel area but little higher up maybe.

The more I think about it, it must be steering related rather than suspension or whatever, because it only happens when the steering wheel is turned.

Easy enough to have a look and see if the tyre has been rubbing on anything in the wheel arch related area.

I wonder if a seal on your rack has failed and it might be leaking fluid into one of the gaiters.

Thanks for your help on this. I'll have a quick look tomorrow.

I bought this car as a cheap runaround, and didn't expect it to be perfect, but I've had plenty of other cars that were all of a similar age and mileage (i.e. under 80k), but none have quite felt as close to falling apart as this one does!

I won't be spending any more money on it now, and either this latest issue will right itself or I'll just drive it into the ground. No point trying to polish a turd as they say.

As a general rule the Octy is a reasonably strong and reliable motor. My diesel is on a 2001 plate with just over 191k and still going strong. No PAS issues on mine yet - touch wood!

Give your car a bit of love and she will show it back to you.

Thanks for your help on this. I'll have a quick look tomorrow.

I bought this car as a cheap runaround, and didn't expect it to be perfect, but I've had plenty of other cars that were all of a similar age and mileage (i.e. under 80k), but none have quite felt as close to falling apart as this one does!

I won't be spending any more money on it now, and either this latest issue will right itself or I'll just drive it into the ground. No point trying to polish a turd as they say.

You are very keen to assume you have a turd. The issue you describe could happen to any car. Ok you are a little unlucky, fact of buying a second hand car. The Octy is a great car and is very well built and reliable.

Not a good idea to expect the issue to right itself. Could be a simple top up of PAS fluid or a possible drive shaft joint as that can make a clunking noise, certainly on full lock turning.

As mentioned give it some love....

As mentioned give it some love....

But not tooooo much love.

adult warning:

Edited 14 December, 201114 yr by mbames

drive shaft i would check

But not tooooo much love.

adult warning:

Ha Ha that is great...

he certainly knows how to fill up a tank....

Ha Ha that is great...

he certainly knows how to fill up a tank....

Should never run out of fuel; just keep a supply of gentleman's reading material in the boot...

I'd guess you have a broken front spring. Both my vRS's and my toledo have had exactly the same problem. The spring rusted through at the top and moving round on it's mount. That is why it does it when the wheel is turned.

Sounds kind of like a clonk/low twanging sound.

AFAIK, you can check by having a look under the bonnet. If there isn't much of a gap between the strut top and the car body, the spring is broken. There should be a gap of maybe 7mm or so.

Edited 14 December, 201114 yr by rk696

I'd guess you have a broken front spring. Both my vRS's and my toledo have had exactly the same problem. The spring rusted through at the top and moving round on it's mount.

Sounds kind of like a clonk/low twanging sound.

Yep that is actually at good one to consider.. Might also explain why your steering got stiffer as the top suspension bearing seizes it makes the turning stiffer and puts stress on the coil spring. Eventually the coil spring will break. Not uncommon to see this.

Either that or the top mount on the suspension strut is knackered, mine made a clonking noise when turning. Ended up getting the whole suspension replaced with coilovers but then it was over 100k old.

I'd guess you have a broken front spring...

+1

Open bonnet and check that the gap between the spring caps and the turret is the same. If one of the spring caps is sitting down on the turret, then the spring on that side is broken.

Thanks everyone. I don't want to jump the gun but I don't think it is the suspension. I've recorded a video of it this morning which I'm uploading to youtube. It'll be done in about 45 minutes then I'll post it here.

I checked fluid levels - wasn't really sure which was which but I checked the clear plastic one nearest the windscreen and the black plastic one in front of that. They were both OK.

The noise only seems to happen at low speed. Yesterday I thought it was only after a certain amount of lock was applied but if you see the video (below) it seems the faster I turn the steering wheel then the worse it sounds. Also driving along the road normally I can't hear it. I think it may be related to engine revs - if I give it more revs it doesn't seem as bad.

I had a new alternator fitted very recently - could it be the belt is too loose?

Anyway I think after I post the video someone will recognise the sound...

Here's the video - the sounds is clearest at 20 seconds in.

http://youtu.be/bIg_KhWvHBs

Notice also that right at the end (1min 15) it isn't as bad - possible due to higher revs?

Sounds more like a clicking than a clonking, probably steering rack rather than spring or topmount. Does the steering feel any different?

It's probably a little deeper sounding in real life. I'd say probably "creaking/groaning" is the best description.

It's easy to get paranoid and imagine the steering feels different, but I don't think it's changed. It's no lighter or heavier, but I can feel some vibration through the floor/steering wheel when it's making the noise.

Final point is that it changed overnight which is weird. I last used it go to a drive-thru Mcdonalds in the pouring rain and it was fine all they way there and back again. But then I drove off yesterday and it was doing it - this is why I initially thought maybe the tyre had gone down.

Edit: and the faster I turn the steering the louder it seems to make it

Edited 15 December, 201114 yr by OU51

Still think it's the front spring TBH..

Can you get someone to turn the wheel while you're looking under the bonnet?

Check level of your power steering fluid. If you lost it then your steering rack will make noise every time you turn your wheel.

I'll be able to get someone to turn the wheel while I look under the bonnet etc next week when I go home for xmas. I probably won't be using it until then.

I'd guess you have a broken front spring. Both my vRS's and my toledo have had exactly the same problem. The spring rusted through at the top and moving round on it's mount. That is why it does it when the wheel is turned.

Sounds kind of like a clonk/low twanging sound.

AFAIK, you can check by having a look under the bonnet. If there isn't much of a gap between the strut top and the car body, the spring is broken. There should be a gap of maybe 7mm or so.

Yep that is actually at good one to consider.. Might also explain why your steering got stiffer as the top suspension bearing seizes it makes the turning stiffer and puts stress on the coil spring. Eventually the coil spring will break. Not uncommon to see this.

Just had another go in the car. I'm starting to come round to the "broken spring" way of thinking.

The car doesn't exactly pull to the right, but the steering returns to the centre (after steering to the left) pretty strongly and at low speed it feels slightly heavier to turn right than left. Also the noise does seem to be coming from the top mount area (drivers side). So, I've taken some photos - not sure if they are any use? The top mount gap seems the same both sides...

Drivers side (where the noise is coming from)

Passenger side

Tried to get a photo of the spring itself

Without wanting to complicate things, when I first got the car and posted a photo on here several people said that the front ride height was too high. The drivers side spring had the yellow and purple dots that apparently all VRS's should have, but I couldn't see anything on the passenger side spring (although it is dirty). At the time I didn't know why someone would have just changed one spring but now I'm wondering if the passenger side spring broke in the past as was "fixed" on the cheap with the wrong type of spring?