EDC320

Has anyone noticed that the cars lose power steering fluid. I noticed that the steering felt a different when it was cold outside and the pump was making a strange noise. When I checked, the dipstick was dry.
I had the car checked out and no leak was found. The dealership claims that evaporation is common during the cold weather. I have never heard of this before.
We added more fluid and now it appears to be operating normally.
My car - 2001 C320 with 48,000 miles.
I noticed the same problem on a friend's S430 (2000) with 17,000 miles. Dipstick was dry.

oel

Is the noise like a moaning noise?
I got that on my c230 coupe also. Maybe I'll take a look at the PS fluid later

mleskovar

Enough "evaporated" to not show any on the dipstick? BS. Either it wasn't topped off correctly or it's leaking. Watch your PS fluid level closely.

CHATMANR

I just had my cooling portion of the power steering replaced- 550.00 The transmission and the p/s lines were rubbing together and finally damaged it...

yes, check your p/s out at least once a month, esp before the the 1st cold day of the season. The fluid disappears to who knows where during the summer months...

SUNILP

a member on this forum "wizkid" has the same problem. No fluid and no leak found. Pretty weird. The pump started making noise and that is when he noticed it.

EDC320

I wonder if there are any TSB's about it.
It doesn't appear limited to the C Class. Like I said, I found the same problem on the S Class as well.
I have never experienced a problem like this before.
Very strange.
The interesting thing was that the sounds / problem only presented itself when the car is started cold, outside, in below 45 degree weather. Once the car is fully warmed up (in operating temperature) the noise is gone.
It can't be good for the power steering pump to be operated with low levels of fluid.
Since the fluid was topped off by my mechanic there have been no problems. He put the car up in the air to look around for any signs of a leak, but nothing. There must be a latent problem with the MB design if it appears in both the C & S engines.

JohnCL

Mine was making a noise last week and I went to the dealer and had them check for leaks. Nothing was found and they filled it up and all is good now. Funny thing is that B service was done a month ago and I am assuming the level was fine then.

EricTheRed

I have a feeling that someone at MB is trying to keep this quiet. My car is in for a service A and my SA told me that they were going to "replace" the PS fluid. I thought it was strange as that is not a service A item.
-Eric

SUNILP

I don't think that is a service A or a Service B item.

elchinocache

thata a lot of evaporation

oel

When I took a look at mine, it looks like this:

The red part is where the fluid is up to.

Does it mean I need to top it up? If yes, up to where? Thanks

JohnCL

That is where mine was last Saturday morning and it was making noise on turns and cold starts. They added fluid and everything was fine.

oel

Would that be covered by warranty?

JohnCL

I am out of warranty, but I took the approach that my car was in for service a month earlier and asked why this wasn't checked. They took my car to the shop, put it on the lift to check for leaks, and filled all the fluids and sent me on the way with no charge. Every dealer is going to do things differently, but I have a new dealer competing with an established dealer and they are doing anything they can to make the customer happy. Just try going in and tell them you want the fluids checked, heck Jiffy Lube even does that for free.

oel

I guess i'll do the same. 7000KM to go.

gaiex

My steering, some times, makes some noise too, but I noticed that only 3 times, 2 in motion and 1 stopped (the car was in operation temperature and outside was less than 10 degrees celssius).

And my car is a diesel version.

I tried to look up the fluid reservatory but no luck, also searched in the owners manual.(where is it?)


I had no time yet to make a visit to the dealer

EDC320

I am not sure about the diesel engine, but this is where it is on the gasoline enginge:
To access the power steering fluid reservoir look under the driver side engine air intake tube. It is a plain black cap. To access it, gently remove the air intake tube from the engine side first (slide toward the front of the car). Then the cap will be accessible. Use a clean cloth to wipe off the dirt that may have accumulated on the cap and around it to make sure nothing falls in the reservoir.
Don't be surprised if the dipstick is dry.

wizkid

As Sunman stated, I had the same problem. No leaks were found so I topped it off and I have had no problems since.

I have the procedure documented on my website with pictures step by step. www.installuniversity.com

Eric

gaiex

Finnaly I did a better search and I found the power steering fluid reservoir under the engine cover in my c220 cdi coupe and what was the surprise, or not, that the dipstick is almost dry like OnLun9 say it was on his.

But guys, the 20min and 20max is the scale of cold engine???

and the 80min and 80max maybe the warm engine scale!!!

so, mine its on 20min I've got to fill it up... one more trip to dealer

Another thing, I've experienced some noise in cold starts but not the same noise of the power steering pump, maybe the same problem?

thanks

wizkid

Why go to the dealer over this? Yes, I understand your thoughts, but pouring some PS fluid down the hatch is a no brainer and keeps you from wasting time out of your day? A small bottle of fluid will run you just over a $1.50 for the good stuff at your local parts store. Just don't spill it on anything, especially your paint or yourself!

Eric

gaiex

I prefer going to the dealer, my car have only 18600 miles and 1 year and 7 months old and more 9 months warranty, so if there is some problem its better the mercedes guys take a look, and to buy the fluid I have to go there anyway

Thanks anyway

Brad G

Okay, listen to this. Yesterday, my power steering box died and lost all the fluid! I was turning into a parking space when it felt like I ran over dried cemet or sand on the pavement.

MB flatbedded me (no charge/warranty) to Auto Stiegler MB in Encino CA.

Stiegler paid to set me up with a rental car (from Enterprise on site) who sent me off in a Mazda 6 with a transmission prob! So then they "upgraded" me to a Chrysler Pacific. Chrysler may be part of the MB family now but I'm sorry, this thing was a major sled.

The Power Steering box was replaced under warranty, I only have 8k miles on my car and all is fine now mechanically but there was a nice bonus for me....

They scratched through the paint in two places over the wheel well of my left rear quarter panel.

Now I have to take it to their dealer owned body shop to be color blended and completely clear coated on the quarter panel. They will need the car for 3 - 4 days and I'll be stuck in another crappy loaner car.

I now have to live with spotted in paint which may never look the same!

I am bummed and depressed!

gaiex

Problem solved, for now!!!

I went to dealer and they refill the reservoir, for now its ok.

FrankW

I had the same problem for my car. Some seal was dry and had leak over the years. Parts was replaced, fluid replenished, problem solved.