Hi folks, it's been a while. My 1.6tdi has a list of issues since last time I drove it. My wife uses it to travel to work only, about 300mi round trip every time. Even if there was a wheel missing she wouldn't know the difference. 

 

I got in it the other day and the first thing I noticed when pulling out a junction and especially in this car park at Heathrow airport where you have to drive up in circles for 4 floors, how heavy the stearing wheel was. Small adjustments on a straight road you can move it with a finger but past 90° it gets really heavy.

 

I also have a 1.6 petrol roomster and that has a pulsing sensation when I turn the wheel but it's light as a feather throught all motions. 

 

It has done 120K

I never replacement the power steering fluid. 

The fluid is all there.

Tire pressure is spot on.

No warning lights.

Battery is a few years old and never had an issue starting, it has been hooked up to a trickle charger as well.

 

Where do I start? 

 

Thanks.

 

Ps. Yes I know how I have to turn the wheel when moving only etc etc. 

Edited 8 June, 20223 yr by Bertie90

Had this happen and it was the pump on its way out - changing the fluid wouldn’t hurt, also check the battery - if it’s not holding a good charge it could be a symptom, though by the sounds of it I would hazard a guess it is the pump throwing a wobbly. 
 

I was fortunate and grabbed a pump off a scrap fabia, same part number and low mileage - was about £25, £90 fitted with fluid change (this was about 5 years ago and local benevolent scrappy & mechanic)

A simple voltage check will confirm if the battery is tired and also if the alternator is charging properly.

Changing the fluid is a placebo measure since the power steering would still work with chip fat in it for a time.

However I do agree that it's most likely to be a failing pump unit.

Checking the battery is cheap, quick and easy and your hands don't get too dirty so it'd be first on my list (but then the battery is one of my hobbyhorses, for good reason).

 

Checking the pump is another subject and second step after fully confirming battery and and charging system and all connections are good and fully working.

 

Flush clean and changing the fluid depending on its how old and dirty will help a bit but will not overcome a system with other problems but it will help in itself and provide some preventative maintenance.  If changing the pump I'd have thought you'd want the pump internals clean and as much else of the system clean and with clean fresh fluid to do the job in a better fashion.

 

Edited 8 June, 20223 yr by nta16

I just did a battery test. 

 

At idle with Ac on and DRL was 14V. 

 

With everything turned on, radio, ac, defrosters, fogs etc 13.1V

 

There is a hissing sound coming from the alternator area. Can this be connected to the AC fans going up and down in speed, sometimes stopping all together then blasting, like a pulsing effect?

 

3 hours ago, Bertie90 said:

My 1.6tdi has a list of issues since last time I drove it. My wife uses it to travel to work only, about 300mi round trip every time. Even if there was a wheel missing she wouldn't know the difference.

 

Where do I start? 

 

Divorce.

10 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Divorce.

not over a diesel and a car that looks like a shoe 😂