Hey guys,

I am having a problem with the power steering. Basically the power steering oil started leaking underneath the car. Yesterday I replaced the plastic boot on the power steering rack because it had a big cut in it. We thought it was leaking from that.

Then, I learned that oil should not even be inside of the boot. So I figure we have to replace the whole steering rack. The Mercedes tech said we can't take out the side arms on the rack to check if the rubber seals are good.

So my question is, can you just check the seals or do we have to repalce the whole rack?

Autozone is asking 490 with shipping minus 70 if you turn in your old rack. Dealer wants 1400 for OEM one. Do you guys know any reputable websites where I can purchase it ?

 

I honestly would try to find one local as when you return the core it would be easier and possibly cheaper. That said I made myself a list of sites that had Mercedes steering racks because I thought mine had an issue I don't know if any of them are good but here you go.
http://www.mercedessteering.com/
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...011#fragment-1

 

Hey guys, quick update.

I got a new rack and installed it today. Everything was working fine until coming home from the store. The steering wheel locked up and it didn't want to move left or right. Does anyone know why this would happen? Its still locked up, so it didn't go away.

 

What you say "locked up", you are referring to the steering rack extremely hard to move or japped somehow? Can you move the rack at all?

What type of PS fluid did you use?

 

No the steering wheel it self is very hard to move. We cant hear the steering ump working so I'm assuming that has gone out. Does anyone know if there is a fuse or something for the steering pump on the 02 c230k. I looked on the diagram and there wasn't anything concerning that.

 

I'm pretty sure it's all mechanical.

Does it sound like it's sucking air? I assume you've checked and verified that the fluid level is good?

 

The fluid levels are good, it's just that there is no power steering. You have to move the steering wheel mechanically and its very hard to steer left and right.

It worked fine until we put in a new steering rack yesterday. Then when we test drove the car, we went to the store and on the way back it locked up and it was very hard to steer like the pump went out. Would this just be the pump or is there a different problem?

found a steering pump for cheap at http://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/2...-00974_AN.html

Has anyone bought for them? Are they reputable ?

 

The overall mechanism is fairly simple ... pump, rack, and lines in between them. If it feels like there is no power steering I would venture to say the pump isn't pumping fluid anymore.

If you can jack up the front of the car to remove the weight off the front wheels, then how hard is it to turn the wheels? It should be fairly easy, almost as easy as with the PS working. If not, then maybe something in the rack.

I go back to the fluid -- what did you put in the car? These cars are VERY temperamental with fluids ... I believe Pentosin or Febi CHF 11S is the only fluid you should be putting in them. If you put in something else it's possible that the pump isn't able to push the fluid when it's hot, or that you wrecked either the pump or the rack by pushing the incorrect fluid through it.

I'm not an expert on PS here, so once you answer the question about the fluid others more knowledgable will hopefully chime in.

 

Once we take off the front wheels, we can move the steering wheel normally and easily.

The first steering fluid we bought was from O'reilys. My dad said he needed steering fluid for 02 mercedes c230 and the woman gave him Valvaline power steering fluid... We used that one when we refilled the pump because it was leaking. After we replaced the rack to stop the leaking we went to the dealership and bought the OEM mercedes steering fluid. I believe that most of the Valvaline steering fluid was flushed out after we replaced the rack. So , that might be the problem.

 

How long did you have the Valvoline fluid in the system?

There is a fluids expert on this forum -- Glyn Ruck -- who would probably know if this could have caused fatal damage to the pump or rack.

 

I believe it was in the car for 2-3 days.

 

Update:

So we replaced the power steering pump and it did not fix anything.

I had a friend who is a tech come over and said that it was the SPS sensor, which do not apparently come with re-manufactured racks. However, I am not sure my 2002 c230 even came with the sensor. I went to autozone and returned the old one and had them ship me a new one while looking up the part with my vin number.

Hopefully it was just a bad rack they sent me. Does anyone know anything about this sensor and if it comes on our cars?

 

Here's a good explanation ... not sure what your car has but mine definitely does not have parameter steering ...

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w203...ml#post5430708

You mentioned you replaced the power steering pump, but then go on to talk about the "incorrect" rack. Did you replace the rack as well?

***

Also, until someone who knows better chimes in, try this site -- http://www.mercedessteering.com -- and pull up your car. If I pull up mine (2005 C230) it shows two options for steering rack, with and without speed sensitive. On the speed sensitive rack there appears to be a third plug on the steering column post, presumably where you install an electronic plug or entire fluid valve to adjust fluid flow. If you look at the 2002 C230s, however, there is only one option that matches the non-speed-sensitive rack.

 

We took of the old rack and installed new one we got from autozone.
It worked then after turning the car off and coming back from the store it stopped working.

That is the problem we are dealing with now. We thought it might be a faulty rack or just need to reset the battery or something. We have a new rack on the way for a replacement.

 

sorry -- you're right, you mentioned that in your first posts ... okay let's hope it was a bad rack ...

 

Update?

 

Sorry for the wait.

Update:

My dad installed the new rack autozone sent us. The car works fine now and there is no problem with the steering. I believe the first rack was just a bad rack.

However, we are going to sell the car now and upgrade to a SUV. Maybe rav4 or otuback or something. Do you guys know how much the value is for it in the Virginia region? Its a 2002, and it only has around 100k miles. Thanks guys!

 

A friend of mine just bought a 2002 coupe with 96k miles for $4600 in Texas (rust-free).
You can look into KBB prices, or peruse local craigslist posts.
Good luck!

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Valvoline fluid in the rack for 2-3 days messed up the rubber seals in there ... the problem as I understand it is swelling of the rubber. Glad they took back the rack without resistance. (I guess if they sold you the Valvoline to begin with, then they would be at fault anyway).

Sorry to hear you're selling your car. You're just starting to have fun with it!

 

Bad news again guys.
The car has been working for for 2 weeks and today the steering wheel locked up again.

This time we believe its the high pressure steering hose. The hose that connects steering rack to steering pump. When the car locked up we opened the hood and checked the hose and it was burning hot. Apparently it is not suppose to be hot at all. We let the engine cool down for a second and it startd working fine. So now we are trying to find one online. Does anyone know where I can find a power steering hose? No website has the right one.

Closest one I found was. http://www.mymercedesparts.com/parts...agramCallOut=3 Number 3

However, there is no clear picture.

Thanks guys.

 

Did you take that hose out to confirm that it is indeed the culprit?
Maybe there is some restriction (in the hose or in the rack) that does not let the fluid flow freely, and the fluid cannot be cooled because of that.

 

And you are using the correct fluid now, right?

 

The steering in my 2019 C300 became loose and steering correction was needed to keep the car in its lane. The dealer found a seriously rusted steering rack assembly. Cost to repair $4896. I drive in northern NJ and keep the car garaged at night. It was never in a flood. The dealer found no other water damage anywhere in the car so the rust is not due to outside influences. The dealer called Mercedes warranty department and that department said the damage is not covered by warranty. With only 12400 mile on the car I suspect the rust was caused by a manufacturing problem.

Anyone have a similar problem?

 

Unfortunately I got a leak from the steering rack 5 days ago. It all came out of absolutely nowhere. I had had a peaceful drive on the motorway. I pulled into the petrol station and parked up with no issues. Then turned the car on and as I tried to reverse the car out, the steering wheel became really hard, and some smoke went up from the left hand side of the engine. I got out to inspect and noticed hydraulic fluid on the petrol station forecourt and also on the engine floor. I took it into Mercedes on the back of towing vehicle and today they've sent me the vehicle health check showing leaking from the power steering rack.