2002 996 power steering

[Guest]

Hi guys,

i'm looking for some advice for my 2002 facelift tiptronic 996.

Car has worked very well with one problem in just over 2 years, which was the switch for the headlights in the dash a few months back.

I went to the shop today, when i got back in the car, started it i heard a bang.
I got home (2 mins) and discovered on the right hand side of the engine there are 4 pipes, the second one from the left which i am told is the power steering hydaulics pipe had blown off causing the bang. I have lost power steering and the hydraulic oil is empty. I have fixed the pipe back on but the tiny washer inside looks broken. I am told if i put hydraulic fluid back in the car the pressure will just blow it back off and again spill the oil all over the engine again! Engine etc is fine and car is drivable but with no power steering, also the spoiler is noisy when raised due to lack of hydraulic oil.

Could anyone help with some advice, i need to fix it and have moved to Leicester so don't know anyone local, i will probably have to drive to Porsche Birmingham. Anyone have any idea of what it would cost to repair. It may need a new pipe which is quite thick but small, any tips on cleaning the oil spill from the engine and if i do put hydraulic oil in the car will it blow off again?? Would it be quite safe to drive for 45 mins - 1 hour to the nearest Porsche dealership??
Any advice where i could get this fixed in Leicester? Seems a very minor problem and i can easily get the part ordered and delivered to me.

any idea what could have caused this problem, is there anything i can do to avoid this for the future??

Thanks

Bobby

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I assume you mean one of the 4 pipes at the extreme top right of the engine compartment. The two on the right are aircon pipes, and the two on the left are the flow/return pipes to the steering rack. There are joints in the two power steering pipes at that point, near where they are secured to the top of the compartment.

If the joint has blown, then you need to know which pipe is damaged - the one between the pump and the joint, or the one betwen the joint and the steering rack (or both). If it has happened once, then I don't think you'll get a permanent fix by just screwing it back on, and I would think that the damaged pipe needs changing. Looking at it, you can guess which is the easier of the two to change!

Assuming you haven't got a warranty, I would say take it to an independent. They will be cheaper than an OPC and may be able to repair rather than replace the offending part. I don't really know of many independents in your area, but PCT at Coventry are about 25-30 miles from you, and have a good reputation. Someone else might know of someone closer.

By the way, the spoiler is driven by an electric motor - no hydraulics there.