SL65MONSTA

When I drive my SL65 and put my foot down a little I hear a screeching like a pulley is seizing and rubbing on the Serp belt , at that exact time its screeching the steering locks hard and no power steer for about 5 seconds. Nearly ended up on the other side of the road due to this issue. here are the possibilities it could be:

1. Steering pump failing
2. AC Pulley seizing
3. Tensioner pulley failing
4. Water pump pulley seizing
5. Steering fluid dirty (needs flush)
6.????

Plutoe

I would lift the hood and have my girlfriend work the accelerator while I look for the source of the screeching------which is it 1 to 4???

SL65MONSTA

did this already lol , but it only happens when driving under load

Plutoe

Does it screech when in P,N and or with foot on the brake in D-----and she turns the wheel!!

kbob999

Remove the belt, it's a 15mm or 17mm socket and rachet. Super easy.
Inspect the belt for anything abnormal. Better to buy a new one, and put the old in the trunk for emergency.
Then spin all of the pulleys and wiggle them for play or rocking.
Look for rubber dust from belt slippage. That's your clue to the cause.
It could be your power steering pump going bad. How's the fluid in it? Full? Dirty?
Let us know what you find.

SL65MONSTA

I haven't tried this but I will soon, what would this mean ?

SL65MONSTA

all pulleys are in check, power steering pulley has tension on it, but I'm assuming its meant to ? correct me if I'm wrong. I checked my S600 the power steering pump pulley also had resistance when turning by hand, is this all normal ?

I have also eliminated the water leak so it is definetely not that that (water going onto serpentine belt)

Rudeney

You'e not by chance losing any fluid from the ABC system? My pressure hose (the one that runs across the top of the pump) sprung a pinhole leak this week and was spraying a tiny, almost invisible stream of fluid right back on the belt/pulley. My first symptom was hard steering and a slight belt squeal when making a turn, but the of course, the "ABC - Maintenance Required!" warning once the fluid level wen low enough.