2004 A3 FSI power steering failure

[GMul4d]

Hi
My 2004 A3 (RV04 KYX) has been sitting off the road for 6 months as cant drive at the moment, then when it went to get an MOT the power steering failed......

The diagnostic, cable shows no comunication with the steering rack j500 and no other errors. Ive check all the connections, fuses and grounds.

The local garage have quoted. £1800 to replace which seems a lot to spend. So im thinking of doing it my self with help from a friend.

I've seen adverts for exchanged genuine racks for £350 but the garage quote says i may need a wireing harness and possible a new sub frame is this true? How can i find the exact parts required?

Cheers for any help
Greg

[zollaf]

electric pump , passenger side front under headlight. remove connector and clean pins.

[GMul4d]

Thanks, will have a look when I'm home tommorrow. I did check the earth points under the air box. And checked the connector but didn't clean the pins.

But garage seemed pretty sure the rack was dead.

[zollaf]

pretty sure its the electro hydraulic system. the rack wont die, they leak but dont die, but i had the same fault recently on an a1 and thats was the 3 pin plug. in fact, theres no electrics on the rack so a dead rack wont produce a fault code, unless its a different ssystem to what i think it is. if it has the motor and pump under the passenger headlight then it is what i am thinking and it will be a corroded plug, cost to fix about an hour. i even shaped a file on a grindstone , into a very thin flat to get into the female plug terminal to clean them.

[GMul4d]

Mine has a connector and ground there but has a controler on the rack and no hydrolics. Which seems to mean it costs a fortune to fix