Questions about the GLK steering rack...
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: SoCal
2022 GLC 4Matic
Questions about the GLK steering rack...
Hello All,
I understand that the 2014 GLK string rack is "electronic" or "electronically activated" but I'm unclear about the inner workings of it. Is it a servo system? Sealed system with fluid and pump internally? Or ???
The reason I ask is that a a small / medium "oil" stain appeared under my formally ALWAYS dry car while in the garage. The spot, irregular 4"-6", dry-ish but obviously fluid dropped stain. There was also some residue under the car.
It was on the edge of the engine under cover at the drivers side adjacent to the front wheel, dirty but clear-ish, faint oder and slight bitter taste. I moved the car out onto the apron and a bit more appeared on the concrete. However now nothing fresh, just residue. It does not appear to be coolant, oil or Trans fluid.
The pan / brace/ shield under the steering rack is oily but I did spill oil at the filter area last service. I cleaned that up as best I could and it has been months and nothing under the car, until this.
When I drove the car back into the garage I did not get any sense of a steering issue however I was not thinking along these lines until after I dropped the cover this afternoon. There have been no codes thrown on either short move of the car.
Any Thoughts, Diagnosis tips or Advice is obviously welcome.
Thanks,
Pacificman
I understand that the 2014 GLK string rack is "electronic" or "electronically activated" but I'm unclear about the inner workings of it. Is it a servo system? Sealed system with fluid and pump internally? Or ???
The reason I ask is that a a small / medium "oil" stain appeared under my formally ALWAYS dry car while in the garage. The spot, irregular 4"-6", dry-ish but obviously fluid dropped stain. There was also some residue under the car.
It was on the edge of the engine under cover at the drivers side adjacent to the front wheel, dirty but clear-ish, faint oder and slight bitter taste. I moved the car out onto the apron and a bit more appeared on the concrete. However now nothing fresh, just residue. It does not appear to be coolant, oil or Trans fluid.
The pan / brace/ shield under the steering rack is oily but I did spill oil at the filter area last service. I cleaned that up as best I could and it has been months and nothing under the car, until this.
When I drove the car back into the garage I did not get any sense of a steering issue however I was not thinking along these lines until after I dropped the cover this afternoon. There have been no codes thrown on either short move of the car.
Any Thoughts, Diagnosis tips or Advice is obviously welcome.
Thanks,
Pacificman
Last edited by PACIFICMAN; Mar 9, 2024 at 04:36 PM.
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2013 glk 350
On my 13 I bought fluid to flush the power steering . My mechanic could not find a way to drain or fill it. I believe it’s sealed . If it doesn’t leak any more is it empty ? Maybe there is a way to fill and maintain it , I didn’t look into it and don’t know .
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2014 GLK350 base model (active) ; 2001 E320 base (retired); 2001 Wrangler soft-top
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2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
Hello All,
I understand that the 2014 GLK string rack is "electronic" or "electronically activated" but I'm unclear about the inner workings of it. Is it a servo system? Sealed system with fluid and pump internally? Or ???
The reason I ask is that a a small / medium "oil" stain appeared under my formally ALWAYS dry car while in the garage. The spot, irregular 4"-6", dry-ish but obviously fluid dropped stain. There was also some residue under the car.
It was on the edge of the engine under cover at the drivers side adjacent to the front wheel, dirty but clear-ish, faint oder and slight bitter taste. I moved the car out onto the apron and a bit more appeared on the concrete. However now nothing fresh, just residue. It does not appear to be coolant, oil or Trans fluid.
The pan / brace/ shield under the steering rack is oily but I did spill oil at the filter area last service. I cleaned that up as best I could and it has been months and nothing under the car, until this.
When I drove the car back into the garage I did not get any sense of a steering issue however I was not thinking along these lines until after I dropped the cover this afternoon. There have been no codes thrown on either short move of the car.
I understand that the 2014 GLK string rack is "electronic" or "electronically activated" but I'm unclear about the inner workings of it. Is it a servo system? Sealed system with fluid and pump internally? Or ???
The reason I ask is that a a small / medium "oil" stain appeared under my formally ALWAYS dry car while in the garage. The spot, irregular 4"-6", dry-ish but obviously fluid dropped stain. There was also some residue under the car.
It was on the edge of the engine under cover at the drivers side adjacent to the front wheel, dirty but clear-ish, faint oder and slight bitter taste. I moved the car out onto the apron and a bit more appeared on the concrete. However now nothing fresh, just residue. It does not appear to be coolant, oil or Trans fluid.
The pan / brace/ shield under the steering rack is oily but I did spill oil at the filter area last service. I cleaned that up as best I could and it has been months and nothing under the car, until this.
When I drove the car back into the garage I did not get any sense of a steering issue however I was not thinking along these lines until after I dropped the cover this afternoon. There have been no codes thrown on either short move of the car.
Please tell me you didn’t.
Moving on — There are no hydraulic components in the GLK electrically assisted steering. The assist motor drives the rack via a belt. There are some semi-solid lubricants used on the mechanism in very small amounts.
Here is a description intended for independent shops that’s easy to understand by DIYers:
https://automotivetechinfo.com/2017/...ered-steering/
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Joined: Oct 2023
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GLK 350 2025
Thanks
… slightly bitter taste…
Please tell me you didn’t.
Moving on — There are no hydraulic components in the GLK electrically assisted steering. The assist motor drives the rack via a belt. There are some semi-solid lubricants used on the mechanism in very small amounts.
Here is a description intended for independent shops that’s easy to understand by DIYers:
https://automotivetechinfo.com/2017/...ered-steering/
Please tell me you didn’t.
Moving on — There are no hydraulic components in the GLK electrically assisted steering. The assist motor drives the rack via a belt. There are some semi-solid lubricants used on the mechanism in very small amounts.
Here is a description intended for independent shops that’s easy to understand by DIYers:
https://automotivetechinfo.com/2017/...ered-steering/
I too taste my vehicle's fluids for diagnosis purposes.
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2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
Not to get too far off the original topic: Maybe I know too much about what’s in some of that stuff?
FYI — Antifreeze, which is by nature sweet tasting and extremely nephrotoxic, now usually has denatonium added to it to make it unpalatable. The taste is bitter.
FYI — Antifreeze, which is by nature sweet tasting and extremely nephrotoxic, now usually has denatonium added to it to make it unpalatable. The taste is bitter.
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From: Occupied Palestine
2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore and 2024 Jaguar F-PACE SVR
Have you read the label on a bottle of root beer? Apparently using real sassafras root is illegal but there's no harm in a little propylene glycol.
Duh gubmint sez:
Mmmmm goooood!
Duh gubmint sez:
Propylene glycol is “generally recognized as safe” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (FDA 2017). FDA considers an average daily dietary intake of 23 mg/kg of body weight to be safe for persons 2–65 years of age (ATSDR 2008).
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2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
AFAIK most automotive antifreeze is still ethylene glycol based. The propylene glycol is “mo betta.” I didn’t check to see if MB switched formulas when going from the blue to the pink. The anti foam agents, anti oxidants, and pH buffers are still there.
Pacificman was done at #4.
Pacificman was done at #4.
Last edited by Odd Piggy; Mar 10, 2024 at 02:15 PM. Reason: Too far off topic.
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2006 Alfa Romeo Brera, 2010 GLK350, 2018 BMW 640i GT, 1997 Subaru SVX, 2012 Moto Guzzi Norge GT8V
Propylene glycol is one of the two main ingredients in all vaping liquids. VG/PG in various ratios. My wife vapes 70/30. VG is vegetable glycerine. They are considered to be non-toxic to humans.
