SL-ML-C

hello all,

I was driving home tonight, and my power steering went out and the battery light came on. I assume this means my P/S pump just went. I have a few questions:

1.) how hard is it to replace it, and is it something a reasonably mechanically inclined person could do?
2.) is if OK to drive this even to the $tealership to get it fixed?
3.) is there anything else it can be?
4.) there was a gurgling noise from the engine bay when I got home, I assume this is due to failed P/S component(s) right?
5.)MB re-built my motor about two weeks ago, and I noticed more noise from the P/S when I got it back then when I brought it in, is there anything they could have done to make this fail?

Thanks in advance!
-Erik

timdf

a known problem and causes a catastrophic loss of power assist - ask me how I know ;-)

Good news is its covered by a recall notice and MB will also pay for the tow.

Do not drive it as it stands - you'll likely fry the pump and hydraulic fluid could catch fire.

Good luck

SL-ML-C

awesome ! thanks for the heads up! Ill have it towed to the $tealership, and Ill yell at them till' they fix it! I had no idea this was covered under recall!
now Ill have a new P/S pump to go with my re-built motor! gotta love the W163

I hope I didn't fry something as I drove it about 10 miles like that

-Erik

timdf

not sure if the pump would be covered - but the tow and replacement hose sure is. Maybe they didn't tighten the hose clamp down correctly.

FYI mine failed for the 2nd time at 95,000 miles and 3 years out of warranty - but as it was a safety related recall (not sure if it was actually a recall) they had to eat it.
Take a look under the hood and see if the lower PAS hose has come away from the radiator and squirted hydraulic fluid everywhere - bet it has !

SL-ML-C

Im not entirely sure where to look for that (sorry for my noobness, Im usually under the hood of my mid-engined yota)

Thanks again

I hope the pump isnt bad and the parts that MB has to eat are.

-Erik

fkong777

mine PS hose came off too. IT was almost impossible to drive at low speed. I actually did the repair myself. Got the PS fluid at the dealer and hose clamp at a pepboys. Next time the dealer have to fix something I will let them replace the hose since I had to cut 1" of it off. and it is a bit tight now.

SL-ML-C

it turned out to be a broken serpentine belt, that explains the battery light too,

Thanks for all your help

-Erik

timdf

should have guessed with the battery light coming on as well. None the less you'd be well advised to check if your ML has the latest hose and clamp installed on the PAS fluid cooler as it's a well known problem.

SL-ML-C

Ill make sure that gets done,

Thanks

ruey220

you're lucky if it's just the serpentine belt. I thought it was only my belt on my porsche until I realized that the crankshaft pulley rod cracked and the pulley came off completely from the screw and the engine had to be rebuilt.

SL-ML-C

I've been lucky with the ML, it's given my problems, but nothing too expensive yet. I had a new belt installed, and its good as new

-Erik