So my car just started making this lovely sound, well it used to make this sound but it was intermittent and went away for a while. Now it's back and louder than ever!

It's just a constant whine, almost a supercharger-ish whine... The whine is at IDLE, but it also gets louder with acceleration through the gears.

When sitting at idle, if I turn the steering wheel it gets much freakier (louder)

I looked it up a bit on google and it seems some people with the same whine, it was their serpentine belt tensioner? What do y'all think? I don't have much time to dig into my motor Monday-Thursday due to working night shift and all.

Any help much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It sounds cool and all, I just tell people I am supercharged so I don't embarrass myself. But it would be nice to fix it too

Here is a video I took, sorry for the poor quality, but I think the sound comes through.

1998 A4 Engine Whine - YouTube

 

Sounds like power steering might be low... did you think to check that?

 

Gotta be a clue....

Check your power steering fluid, it's probably low. If it's not low, the pump is giving up on you. The noise in the video is definitely your power steering pump.

 

just out of curiosity did the car sit for a few weeks without you starting it? kind of a specific situation, but when my car was down for a few weeks for engine and suspension maintenance the power steering pump was screaming at me upon first startup. fluid was full and clean, i just cycled the wheel back and forth and let it run int he driveway for ~20 min and it went away. never heard from it again.

But seeing as how its been a recurring problem for you check your fluid. if its full, look into a new pump. if you really dont want a new pump, look up the procedure for flushing the power steering system and pray for the best.

 

power steering needs fluid or the pump is giving out

 

I know this is shocking but,

power steering fluid was almost dry, picked up some pentosin chf11s (cfh?)

21.99 a liter, seemed expensive but the noise is gone.

should i assume a leak?

thanks for replying to my dumb post though, everyone.

 

if it's dry again in a week, yes, assume a leak...

otherwise, don't stress it

 

Mine was fine all summer, then started whining again as soon as we had our first really cold night here (below freezing). Not sure if the stuff just gets thicker or what but I topped it up two weeks ago and it's been fine.

 

OP, check for any leaks under the car and follow the area back towards the rear of the car. If you cant find anything, pick up some UV dye from your local oreilys/autozone/advanced/whatever and pour a little into the p.s. pump. after a day of driving or so get under and check it with a black light.