Loss of Power Steering - No Loss of Fluid

[rusjack]

Hello everyone

I recently picked up a 2005 Cayenne Turbo here in the Middle East (Qatar - for work).81k on it, a few bumps here and there but nothing major. I looked into the coolant pipes issue before buying it, and I knew what the main issues were going to be going into the purchase. All coils were replaced, coolant tank was replaced (I am still not sure on the lines).

Today something new happened. I was driving around on the beach / in the desert, and when I went to get back on the main road (after a few spins in the dirt) I lost power steering. Checked the fluid, and it was right at the MIN line. I tried to turn it around in a parking lot slowly and it was near impossible to move around without accelerating at the turns. I drove it and double checked for a fluid leak - stayed at the MIN line. I had to get it back home from the desert - so 75km into town with no power steering.

I have to accelerate through turns - breaking slowly into them makes turning near impossibleI can't turn the wheels when I am stoppedI haven't lost any fluid since this problem startedDriving at highway speeds it feels normal to change lanes, but anything slower becomes incredibly hard to keep on the road.

Is this going to be a failed pump? I have no source for parts here - and being the only dealership in the country they can easily gouge me on prices (they wont sell me an oil filter and no-one else in the country stocks them).Im going home to Canada in a week and if I can be sure it is a failed pump, I can pick one up and change it myself when I return.Any help would be appreciated - I've been lurking the fourm looking for similiar problems - if you know of a thread feel free to point me in that direction.Thanks!

[mcbit500]

There are a few threads on similar issues on Rennlist which all seem to be pump related. How is the Inland Sea these days?

[rusjack]

I still haven't been to the Island Sea! This thing should get me there once I can steer it.Double checked everything tonight - no leak, 100% sure of that. Topped up the fluid to the right level.At idle, its near impossible to turn the wheels. Low pitch groaning from the pump. At higher RPMs it starts to scream during turns. Time to change the pump, I guess!