ML500 Power Steering Question.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 331
Likes: 40
1998 CLK 320
ML500 Power Steering Question.
Hello all,
My power steering typically works fine. The fluid level is fine, but it has an intermittent issue where sometimes it will be hard to turn. As if the pump was going out, but I have no whining and it's not always when the truck is idle.
Through my searches, I've seen other people say that these pumps do not go bad. I jacked the truck up, opened the cap and turned the wheels left and right to make sure there were no air bubbles and refilled the fluid to the proper level, but I shredded a serpentine belt the other day and I was not using the air conditioner, so it has me wondering if there's something wrong with the power steering pump or the pulley, as all other pullies seem to be fine.
Can anyone help with this?
Thanks!!
My power steering typically works fine. The fluid level is fine, but it has an intermittent issue where sometimes it will be hard to turn. As if the pump was going out, but I have no whining and it's not always when the truck is idle.
Through my searches, I've seen other people say that these pumps do not go bad. I jacked the truck up, opened the cap and turned the wheels left and right to make sure there were no air bubbles and refilled the fluid to the proper level, but I shredded a serpentine belt the other day and I was not using the air conditioner, so it has me wondering if there's something wrong with the power steering pump or the pulley, as all other pullies seem to be fine.
Can anyone help with this?
Thanks!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 443
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
Is the tightness in the steering for the whole turn or just part of it? My W164 had a problem like this. It turned out to be the knuckle at the end of the steering column that had seized. It would be fine for the most part of each turn and then for maybe 90 degrees is would be as if the power steering wasn't functioning. I think there might be a bulletin on it from memory. I took it back to the dealer as it was under warranty. They laughed at me when I suggested the potential problem. When I picked it up they said "how did you know? We wouldn't have even thought to look there". It might pay to check this out.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 331
Likes: 40
1998 CLK 320
That's good to know and I'm not surprised either. I'm sure I'll end up replacing mine and I'm sure I can figure it out on my own, but if you have a write-up on it that would save me the Google search, I would appreciate it.
