I have a Touareg 2009 V6 (280hp) with sport package.
After 3 months of fun since I bought my Touareg in December, I started to have an intermittent noise from the power steering and a subtile vibration in the steering wheel. It sounds like a low level of power steering fluid, but there is enough fluid. The sound is definitely worst when it gets hotter.
In fact, the dealer replaced the power steering pump in May for for the first time and the pump sounded pretty bad when they did it (was still intermittent). I did Montreal-Boston several time after it barely started to make the noise in March before they initially changed the pump for the first time. Then it was ok for about 2 weeks. Then it slowly started to make that noise again. It took some time before the dealer was able to identify the noise again since it always been an intermittent problem. Then, the last week of June, they replaced the pump again based on VW internal tech support recommendation. They said I probably had a bad replacement pump.
It was quiet for a week, and then it started again... I don't know if you have the same issue, but I'm trying to find other people that have the same issue so I could help the dealer fix the source of the problem before I get crazy.
I have an 08 V6 and mine started making this noise when the temp reached above 90 deg F. I checked the fluid and it was a little low. I put some fluid in it to just above the max mark and have not heard the noise since. (fingers crossed) Please note the power steering fluid is mineral hydraulic fluid. I just happen to have some because my KTM motorcycles uses the same fluid for the clutch master cylinder. It should be green in color. Make sure the dealer is using the correct fluid. Easy mistake to use regular steering fluid from other VW models.
No foam or bubbles and the liquid as a green tint. I brought it back to the Dealer, they are saying that they will probably look at replacing the hose system or even the rack. They will investigate further and escalate to the regional VW tech specialist. I'll keep you posted.
I too have a Touareg 2009 V6 (280hp), and it has an intermittent groaning sound heard and felt on the steering wheel, but mine will do it more noticably when the A/C is on and sometimes without even having to turn the steering wheel, and the Touareg is in park. I will be taking it to the dealer shortly.
Sorry guys, I haven't updated the thread for awhile, bput I was waiting to get something more substantial.
The dealer completely flushed the liquid in July in case there would be some micro metal shreds in the liquid or something. The noise came back a couple of days later....
Then they replaced the rack in August... The noise came back about 3 weeks later.
Still does it only when it is warm...now end of october, I haven't heard it
for a while since it is colder. Anyhow, they escalated the issue to a super tech
Whch tried the Touareg for a day. Drove it more than 50Km and nothing. I guess I'll have to wait till next summer to have this fixed. It might have been to cold that day.
It didn't do it more when I used the AC. I heard it more at low speed while decelerating and turning at the same time.
The dealer still have no clue and tech support and a super tech have been involved so far. This is still an intermittent problem, and it makes it hard to put you finger on the real issue.
TimVW3205, keep me posted on your findings since it. Could be the same issue.
Well yes you're right... had the same problem with my 'reg and the following helped get rid of this noise:
First just note that all this will need checking with your dealer before repairing or replacing anything.
Your overrunning clutch drive goes through a so called Gatex clutch which has the only purpose to connect p/s pump and a/c compressor. The dealer should look at this clutch first - it shouldn't be broken down. If it is, they need to change it and give it some testing with the a'c turned on.
The second thing to look at is a/c compressor clutch and it's bearing. You won't be able to tell so easily what is wrong unless you open the hood (engine runs, a/c is off) and listen to how the engine sounds from the direction of the inlet manifold - just remember how it sounds and then turn your a/c on - go back and listen tothe angine again - if the a/c compressor clutch is screwed, you will notice a difference in how the engine sounds - in this case get your car to the service shop and ask them first to do the same and confirm and then replace either a gatex clutch or a a/c compressor one.
I have the same power steering pump "growling" noise problem with my 2009 3.2L V6 Gas Treg 2. I have been tracking this CT thread since August 2010 in the hopes that someone would come up with a solid solution to this issue. From reading the thread today it appears that the issue is still unresolved.
My experience so far:
I bought my 2009 3.2L Treg 2 in July 2010 with ~7500 miles on the ticker. Ironically, my Treg 2 was a VW Program Car and was driven from new by the VW Regional Service Adviser based in Thousand Oaks, CA.
I live in Cave Creek, AZ (Phoenix, AZ metro area) and noticed the power steering pump "growling" noise within about 1 week of my ownership. Summer temps in PHX reach mid-110s and the high ambient heat in summer definitely makes the noise worse. The noise does quiet a bit when cooler winter ambient temps roll in, but the noise never totally goes away.
Over the past year I took my Treg 2 into two different VW dealer service departments in the PHX area for inspection under warranty. One dealer"could not reproduce the noise"the other said the "noise was normal".
In the past two months the noise has progressively gotten worse.
Two weeks ago I took my Treg 2 into my local VW North Scottsdale service department on a very hot afternoon (112F) when the pump was growling at its worst. I experienced GREAT and IMMEDIATE service from Service Adviser Jeff Porter and lead technician "George".
Technician "George" came out to the Service Drive and listened to the noise as I cranked the steering wheel lock-to-lock and said, "Yep, I have another vehicle with same engine configuration (sic 3.2L) in the shop now for the same problem. We need to replace your power steering pump."
I scheduled the service appointment and the following week the power steering pump was replaced with a new unit (VW Part # 7L6-422-154-E) and all hydraulic circuits bled under warranty.
Within THREE DAYS of driving after power steering pump replacement the "growling" pump noise WAS BACK and is now worse than before the power steering pump was replaced!!
So... the saga continues. I plan to return my Treg 2 to the same dealer next week for the "next steps" - i.e. steering rack and hydraulic line replacement?
Any recommendations from those with this similar problem/experience as to how best escalate this issue to "super tech" and/or VW Regional Service Adviser?
I will post updates to this thread as we proceed on this issue
MotoLegends, don't mean to bust your chops, but for the sake of spreading misinformation, there was never a T2 with a 3.2L engine. You must mean 3.6L . The 3.6 is FSI, the 3.2 is not.
I know this sounds strange but did you recheck the fluid level......frequently after bleeding the air in the system works it's way out and the fluid level could be a bit low...worth checking the obvious first.
On the old Audi 5000 series the hydraulic system had may issues and some were noise related others were leak related. At some point they determined that the flow of fluid was too fast when hot (fluid thinned out) and redesigned a hose to incorporate an internal restrictor tube. This kept the flow at the right speed and prevented the noise. They also insulated the tube to reduce the noise even more....don't know if this has anything to do with such but Audi and VW do re-invent the same issue over and over so perhaps they are working on such with the number of similar complaints.
I owned a 1984 Audi 5000S for several years and do recall that there was a recall performed on the car to replace the power steering hoses, both the pressure and return lines. I seem to recall that the recall was intended to cure a fitting blow-off problem with one end (pump end I think?) of the pressure line. I wonder if Audi was actually curing the steering noise problem as well with that recall?
This explanation makes the most sense to date as it relates to the Treg 2 power steering noise issues described in this thread as the noise is definitely heat-related.
Lets hope that VW/Audi can collaborate on a similar fix for this Treg 2 steering noise issue. I will raise this point with the VW Regional Service Adviser.
I also wonder if a higher viscosity hydraulic fluid, to be used specifically in hot climates, might improve/solve the noise problem?
Hi
I'm over in England, and have a 3.2 V6 Petrol built 2005. Two years ago had same problem a graunching momentarily when coming out of full lock when turning .
Garage put in new rack , column and pump under part warranty!!. It was ok but now has returned again, and happens intermittantly, only when on full lock, suspect a build problem or possibly metal on metal momentarily somewhere.
hope this helps I've just got used to it and left it this time.
On another subject have water coming in from roof dripping down onto luggage cove to left side just inside tail gate when its been standing in rain for a while, had it for several years seems to collect and thendrips in even more when I'm driving it and car moving.
I had the T2 in shop lately and they replaced the hoses... Now almost everything in the PS system has been replaced at least once (PS pump twice) and I still have that noise. In my case, the noise is not as bad as it was, but it'll come back. That's what happen every time they change a part.
I figured out that if we want to replicate the problem, you need to do circles and 8 for about 5 mins at 10 km/h and boom, it"s back. Now the dealer
Is clueless and they say that they can't either replicate the problem or it is a normal noise by design. they also told me they were clueless.
I definitely don't believe the "this is normal part". This is the kind of answer that you give when you don't know what to say.
Apparently some techs had a training on the Touareg noises and they should get back to me soon. If it is not convincing, I'll go check with another dealer to get a second opinion.
Update on the status and progress with the power steering "groaning" noise issue on my 2009 VW Touareg 3.6L Gas:
Vehicle was inspected July 20, 2001 by VW Regional Service Technician at VW North Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ. VW Regional Service Tech CONFIRMED there is an "abnormal power steering noise" issue with the vehicle. VW Regional Service Tech has never seen this issue before. He is escalating the issue to VW North America Engineering Group to determine if they have seen this problem before and if VW Engineering has defined a "fix" for the problem.
I relayed to the VW Regional Service Tech the discussion, and my personal experience, with the recall that Audi issued against the 1984-1985 Audi 5000S models (I owned a 1984 Audi 5000S at the time) in the effort to cure similar "groaning" noises emanating from the power steering system in that car. The Audi recall replaced BOTH power steering lines with redesigned parts. In that fix the PRESSURE line was redesigned to reduce fluid flow rates (in-line venturi/flow restrictor added to the line) and thus reduce/eliminate the HARMONIC created in the power steering lines when the fluid became abnormally hot.
VW Regional Service Tech, a younger chap probably barely out of knickers in 1984, had never heard of the Audi recall and indicated that he would research the situation personally and refer the information surrounding the decades-old Audi recall to VW North America Engineering Group for their reference.
I am supposed to hear more from the local VW Dealer late next week. I will advise further with an update once I have more information to report.
Please keep this thread updated with whatever you find out.
I have an 07 3 litre V6 diesel (UK car) with the same problem. It's been in for 3 days with the dealer and they don't know what the problem is, neither do VW UK Technical. It's already had the steering rack replaced but the noise came back a couple of weeks later.
As people have said, only happens when it's hot.
I will certainly continue to post updates on my progress with this issue.
Clearly, from the variety of reports on the CT forum from owners of a variety of Touareg model years and powertrain configurations, VW has a DESIGN problem on its hands with this power steering noise issue. I fully intend to keep the pressure on VW at all levels to determine the cause and define a FIX.
Interestingly, the lead VW Service Technician who has been working on this power steering problem with my Touareg at the local VW Dealership in Scottsdale, AZ advised me that he has seen this SAME POWER STEERING NOISE PROBLEM with the VW Passat CC 3.6L Gas vehicles. They have not been able to cure the problems with the Passat CC after replacing ALL of the typical power steering systems components - i.e. pump, rack, hoses and column.
I will not at all be surprised if this pursuit leads to an eventual VW recall of the affected models and model years, as with the Audi recall of the late 1980's issued against the Audi 5000S.
I just saw this post after I started a thread. same problem in Vegas and it is heat related... and noticeable even more w/ AC load. 2 dealerships are clueless...
Do you still have warranty coverage on your Treg? If so, I recommending PUSHING HARD on the service department General Manager at your preferred VW Dealer in Vegas, NOT the individual Service Adviser(s) working your vehicle, to get the VW Regional Service Technician involved with the steering noise issue you are experiencing with your Treg.
Now that my DOCUMENTED Treg2 power steering noise problem has been escalated to VW North America Engineering, more reports of the SAME problem with other Tregs in the field will help "urge" VW to issue a recall for this problem - or, at least address repair of the problem under a "silent recall".
Even if the vehicle is out of warranty coverage, still recommend pushing hard on your local VW Dealer service department General Manager to call in the issue to the VW Regional Service Technician.
Print and reference this thread as supporting information with the General Manager if necessary.
It is certified and the Salt Lake Service Coordinator flew down today and took vehicle out. He believes its the Rack & Pinion. They have ordered the parts and it will be ready by Tuesday... Cross your fingers. They took the entire AC system apart and found nothing wrong and said even in the Vegas heat (112F) Its working like a champ. I have to say that the service rep & lead mechanic at Finlay VW in Henderson have bent over backwards to fix the problem.
I truly am hopeful that replacing the "rack & pinion" on your vehicle will solve the steering noise problem with your Treg - but I seriously doubt that will cure the persistent steering noise issue.
Read this thread in detail and discover that several other Treg owners reporting the same steering noise problem have also reported replacing ALL power steering system components, some twice - including the steering rack - all without success.
At this point in the process, I believe that VW North America has NO CLUE what sort of problem they have on their hands with this persistent steering noise issue. As such they are taking the typical "remove & replace components" approach to addressing these complaints - when, more likely, they have a DEFICIENT DESIGN problem on their hands that will necessitate a corporate, fleet-wide solution - i.e. a RECALL - to cure.
Please do report the outcome of your situation to this thread.
Well at this point I am willing to allow them to try. I have read the threads and I am being hopeful. I understand a recall would be nice... but if they cant find the root cause, the recall is pointless because they dont know the cure. I love my vehicle and it performs amazing.
Most of us Treg owners equally love our rigs. And I certainly love mine!! That's why I am pushing on VW as hard as I am, now at the VW Engineering level, to find a FIX for this obviously global fleet-wide steering noise problem.
In the meantime, we Treg owners are left to soldier through the futile field-level dealer service attempts to solve the problem - i.e. remove and replace components.
From my personal experience, I am convinced that VW will not sufficiently address this problem until they are forced into a recall.
And the problem is not with just the Treg 1 & 2. According to the lead service tech working on my vehicle, this problem also exists in the VW Passat CC equipped with the 3.6L Gas engine.
So, VW could have this same problem present in ANY vehicle equipped with the 3.6L Gas engine. That would constitute a significant, and costly, global recall program.
Accordingly, I suspect VW to resist all efforts to classify this steering noise problem as mandating a fleet-wide recall.
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