Sorry about the long intro describing the problem but this new noise developed after 4 visits to the dealer due to having to order parts in to fix initial noise problem.
Recently purchased a 01 Cabrio with 37000 miles, was able to get it as a VW certified used vehicle with factory warranty for 2 yrs or 24000. After driving the car for about 2 weeks noticed a slight hissing or sucking noise coming from the steering wheel most noticable while sitting still and turning the wheel about 1/4 in either direction. Noise also was there while driving and making sharp right hand turns. Dealer inspected sd clock sping was noisey ordered part and installed a new clock spring.
That did not fix noise in fact it seemed to make it a more even sound on each side. So on return visit they said three of their techs got their heads toghther and installed a new power steering pump.
Well that did not fix it and then the service mgr said he was concerned VW would honor any more claims about a noise that they were just chasing and triesd to tell me it could just be a normal noise. After a discussion with and him then actually sitting in the car hearing the noise he said he felt a high presssure hose was coming in contact with steering and noise was being transferred up to the wheel and this was causing the noise.
He had his tech call VW tech warranty support and he reported to them that the steering was making a sucking sound. VW tech advised them to replace the rack. They installed a new rack along with new tie rods and ends and did a 4 wheel alignment which finally fixed the sucking or hising sound.
Now to describe new sound, while I was sitting in the passanger seat and my wife was backing down our steep drive to level street and turning the wheel to the left for a hard 90 degree turn on to the main road, I heard a popping sound and felt the floor vibrate under my feet. When we left the level parking lot I was sitting in the same position and she backed out again turning the wheel to the left, I heard the same popping sound but no as much vibration in the floor.
Took vehicle back to the dealer both times when she left in the AM and when I picked up the car from her it made a popping sound when backing out while turning wheel to the left.
As luck would have it when I took the tech for a ride it only made slight noise one time and he said it just sounded like a normal strut noise. He did however put car back on rack and tightened all connecting points from rack installation done a few days before with an impact wrench.
This seems to have deminished the noise but I feel that it may be coming from the strut bearing and do not know what he means by a normal strut sound. Do struts make noise? Would a strut be covered by factory warranty. What can I look for to isolate problem. I do not drive this daily and wife does not want to give up her car again just for this since we already spent
7 days with the car at the dealer already.They also replaced fuel relay and did a 40K factory service. Fuel relay and vacum leak was discovered after they did a 40K service and car died coming to a stop when she was driving home. Car has been running and driving great, wife likes the car and its easier on both our backs since last car she had was a 99 Miata which never spent a day in the shop other than for regular check ups.
I did purchase at time of sale and finance thru VW an add on to their warranty for additional 2 years or 24000 warranty with a 100 deductible (per visit not per item repaired) warranty for cost of 1400.00 on top of sale price of 14,500. I could get a full refund on this extended warranty now but with them replacing about 2800.00 of parts with only 37853 miles and only about 3 months into this is it better to keep the additional 24 month
24000 at the cost of 1400.00 or just get the money put it into the bank for 2 years? My original thinking was since the car has power top and if it went out at 80,000 miles 3 years from now it would only cost the 100 deductible to fix. What other major issues could develop up to 85000 miles when warranty would expire. Is the 2 year 24K warranty it has now enough? So far my only cost in this other than sale price has been 246.00 for the 40K service. I'm very glad to have gotten this as a pre-certified unit since it came with warranty. Did I spend too much to get the car?