HELP POWER STEERING malfunctioning
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: NE. TN
06 C350 sport 6MT
HELP POWER STEERING malfunctioning
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finally found the dyno mode so set out for my virgin run of parking lot donuts on a 1/2 inch of snow. did about 4 donuts all in the same direction, suddenly the steering resistance is very hi , oh cr p! now the resistance is very high at slow speed with idle rpm, when u add rpms the steering resistance returns to normal and during regular speeds is normal, parking manuevers are arm wrestling unless i rev to 2-3k rpm, i sucked out the powersteering fluid from the resevoir, looked brown, and replaced w fresh fluid drove it 50 miles and repeated. seems to have helped ALITTLE, what did i do and how do i fix it?? what a bummer , a few donuts and now this, i thought benz still built a durable car, nver had a problem like this w my 92 500e porschades even after 165k miles. if ive fried the pump , how do i replace ??? and any suggs for inexpensive rebuilt sales sites r much appreciated, thanx, bummed out mike feel free to pm me
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finally found the dyno mode so set out for my virgin run of parking lot donuts on a 1/2 inch of snow. did about 4 donuts all in the same direction, suddenly the steering resistance is very hi , oh cr p! now the resistance is very high at slow speed with idle rpm, when u add rpms the steering resistance returns to normal and during regular speeds is normal, parking manuevers are arm wrestling unless i rev to 2-3k rpm, i sucked out the powersteering fluid from the resevoir, looked brown, and replaced w fresh fluid drove it 50 miles and repeated. seems to have helped ALITTLE, what did i do and how do i fix it?? what a bummer , a few donuts and now this, i thought benz still built a durable car, nver had a problem like this w my 92 500e porschades even after 165k miles. if ive fried the pump , how do i replace ??? and any suggs for inexpensive rebuilt sales sites r much appreciated, thanx, bummed out mike feel free to pm me
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From: VA
THE C350
MLG you are not the first or last 
to do some stupid *** driving and kill your PS pump if you look back into old threads you will see this. hopefully it is something else but i have a felling it is the pump.
to do some stupid *** driving and kill your PS pump if you look back into old threads you will see this. hopefully it is something else but i have a felling it is the pump.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 331
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From: Bangkok, Thailand
W124, W203, W204, W251
My friend fried his PS pump while doing donuts too.
I guess if you don't keep holding the steering wheel all the way, it's fine!
But when you do, the pump will overheat.
I guess if you don't keep holding the steering wheel all the way, it's fine!
But when you do, the pump will overheat.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Try turning the steering from lock to lock 5 times with the engine running to re-bleed the system & reset the steering angle sensor to keep the ESP happy. Make sure the reservoir is topped up after doing this.
If this does not work - it's a new pump.
The mechanics of this failure have never been plain to me but we know it happens. I think the steering system fights itself somehow causing cavitation/aeration/overheating of the fluid which screws the pump.
Don't do it again!
If this does not work - it's a new pump.
The mechanics of this failure have never been plain to me but we know it happens. I think the steering system fights itself somehow causing cavitation/aeration/overheating of the fluid which screws the pump.
Don't do it again!
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From: SoCal
...a panty dropper...
I had this same issue. The P/S pump malfunctioned while doing this and was shaving metal off down into my P/S fluid lines taking it to the rack and pinion and jacked it all up. I had to replace both the pump and the rack and $1600 later I have P/S again!! Woohoo!!
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From: SoCal
...a panty dropper...
I tried the same thing lock to lock when my car did this and all it did was leave me with a great workout! Good luck with this issue, hope its not a severe as mine. Just note to self, if it isnt an AMG... dont attempt donuts in it!
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From: VA
THE C350
btw nice car 06 c350 Manual most would kill for that
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
This is all over the forum. Doughnuts are the equivalent to russian roulette with the power steering system in these cars, and the W204 as well (someone on that side just killed their PS too).
There should be a sticky warning at the top of the forum warning people against this practice.
There should be a sticky warning at the top of the forum warning people against this practice.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NE. TN
06 C350 sport 6MT
i agree, ive been on this forum for 7 years and ive NEVER seen a post warning of doing a few donuts, im very disapointed at mb for this engineering snafoo, yeah " engineered like no other ". if you make a car w a 260 hp engine w a stick and a dyno mode, duh someone is going to enjoy the car in a non grandpa way. a STICKY is definitely NEEDED !!!
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
By the way, I've been on the forum less than three years and have seen dozens of posts with this same scenario: One enables dyno mode, one does doughnuts, one replaces power steering pump in swarm of profanity. It needs to be more widely known that doughnuts are expensive gambles.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Boston
12 E350 4Matic Sport
It's a Benz man...not a Mitsubishi. Why would you do that to your ride? I know it's fun and all but why risk the trouble of screwing a component ofthe car up? After all...repairs for Benz are not cheap! All the best man, good luck.
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From: KC, MO
"annoyance" and "self-righteousness", amoung others...
I concur 100%. It is not called "doughnut mode". The car has what Mercedes would consider for the buying public a stability program that cannot be defeated. That we have figured out how to hack the system doesn't mean their engineering is poor. It's really not designed for that sort of thing realistically. 268HP, non-defeat ESP, and an open diff. It's no engineering SNAFU. No disrespect intended, but it is technically user error.
By the way, I've been on the forum less than three years and have seen dozens of posts with this same scenario: One enables dyno mode, one does doughnuts, one replaces power steering pump in swarm of profanity. It needs to be more widely known that doughnuts are expensive gambles.
By the way, I've been on the forum less than three years and have seen dozens of posts with this same scenario: One enables dyno mode, one does doughnuts, one replaces power steering pump in swarm of profanity. It needs to be more widely known that doughnuts are expensive gambles.
benzy the bear says: be careful out there, only you can prevent power steering failures
Last edited by cpbeasley; Jan 22, 2011 at 11:39 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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From: Orange County, CA
GMC - Miata - Trek - P-Car
Formidable pressure can be generated for the steering’s hydraulic circuitry. Requesting extended ~110 bar/1595 psi (during full-lock) from the pump is a death knell.
Dilettante PO had mine replaced under warranty. She apparently didn’t know any better.
Dilettante PO had mine replaced under warranty. She apparently didn’t know any better.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NE. TN
06 C350 sport 6MT
im sure no owner of a c63, cl65, or sl55 have ever done a donut, come on u all , benz makes durable and hi performance cars, but they screwed up here. i wouldnt be suprised if this happened to a saturn, but to a SPORT car from a company whose mantra is -the best or nothing, give me a break.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
AMG cars are different animals altogether than your car. Sorry, it wasn't made for it - yes it sucks and it will cost you but you did something with it that it wasn't designed for.
Would you be pissed off if you had taken it off-roading and damaged something? Not designed for that either.
Would you be pissed off if you had taken it off-roading and damaged something? Not designed for that either.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yep! & ZF make some of the finest PS units on the planet.
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From: VA
THE C350
AMG cars are different animals altogether than your car. Sorry, it wasn't made for it - yes it sucks and it will cost you but you did something with it that it wasn't designed for.
Would you be pissed off if you had taken it off-roading and damaged something? Not designed for that either.
Would you be pissed off if you had taken it off-roading and damaged something? Not designed for that either.
Remember this was with the stock c320 suspension so the car had great ground clearance. Oh and when I wrecked my baby and drove it up a bank high centering it on an embankment (Fing Deer) backed it down scratching lots of stuff but no real damage. Still cost 2k+ to fix though lol. our cars are more capable then most give them credit for or i am crazy
Thread Starter
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From: NE. TN
06 C350 sport 6MT
one last comment befor i put this dead horse to rest---im 51 yo and had the most satisfying automotive experienceof my life w my daily driver 92 500e (the one that had a non AMG 500sl drivetrain shoehorned into a 300e body ) from 75-150k miles. i drove it like i stole it, polo position tires lasted 7-8k miles and i never had a mechanical failure like this . i guess they just dont make em like they used to.
to Glyn m : thanx for the suggestion, i tried the 5 lock maneuver but i dont think it helped much, soooooooooo, i gues the p/s pump is fried. any suggestions on where to get a remanufactured one, and is there a post on how to replace it. id like to try. a family member is ill and money is tight w medical bills. thanx, mike
btw, i think this can all be summarized in a STICKY so others dont have to suffer, for 203 and 204 owners.
also, for 204 owners, i think i saw a recall for p/s pump
to Glyn m : thanx for the suggestion, i tried the 5 lock maneuver but i dont think it helped much, soooooooooo, i gues the p/s pump is fried. any suggestions on where to get a remanufactured one, and is there a post on how to replace it. id like to try. a family member is ill and money is tight w medical bills. thanx, mike
btw, i think this can all be summarized in a STICKY so others dont have to suffer, for 203 and 204 owners.
also, for 204 owners, i think i saw a recall for p/s pump
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From: KC, MO
"annoyance" and "self-righteousness", amoung others...
mlg... i see your point but...
what you did (putting it in dyno mode) was kinda like removing the rev limiter, reving it to 8K rpm (equivalent of subjecting the PS to pressure above what it can handle) and spinning a rod bearing (blowing your pump) and then declaring that it wasnt built well enough because after all it's a high performance luxury car.
what you did (putting it in dyno mode) was kinda like removing the rev limiter, reving it to 8K rpm (equivalent of subjecting the PS to pressure above what it can handle) and spinning a rod bearing (blowing your pump) and then declaring that it wasnt built well enough because after all it's a high performance luxury car.
