Steering heavy?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Steering heavy?
Hey guys,
I've had this issue for a while, but the other day in very cold weather, the power steering on my car was very heavy.
Its typically not bad in normal weather (but heavier than other MBs I've driven..c-classes and the like). I figured the S would be lighter.
I'm wondering if anybody else is experiencing this issue and what the diagnosis was.
I'm thinking its either a weak pump or a rack thats about to give up the ghost.
Any input would be great, thanks.
I've had this issue for a while, but the other day in very cold weather, the power steering on my car was very heavy.
Its typically not bad in normal weather (but heavier than other MBs I've driven..c-classes and the like). I figured the S would be lighter.
I'm wondering if anybody else is experiencing this issue and what the diagnosis was.
I'm thinking its either a weak pump or a rack thats about to give up the ghost.
Any input would be great, thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: NYC/FT Lauderdale
W220 M113K
Hey guys,
I've had this issue for a while, but the other day in very cold weather, the power steering on my car was very heavy.
Its typically not bad in normal weather (but heavier than other MBs I've driven..c-classes and the like). I figured the S would be lighter.
I'm wondering if anybody else is experiencing this issue and what the diagnosis was.
I'm thinking its either a weak pump or a rack thats about to give up the ghost.
Any input would be great, thanks.
I've had this issue for a while, but the other day in very cold weather, the power steering on my car was very heavy.
Its typically not bad in normal weather (but heavier than other MBs I've driven..c-classes and the like). I figured the S would be lighter.
I'm wondering if anybody else is experiencing this issue and what the diagnosis was.
I'm thinking its either a weak pump or a rack thats about to give up the ghost.
Any input would be great, thanks.
does the pump make a noise when hold it lock to lock?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: NYC/FT Lauderdale
W220 M113K
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
no no, definitely not needing to use two hands. Just seems stiffer than what I would expect.
Its an airmatic car but its 4matic. It does get lighter as it warms up.
The car was just checked out by the dealer and found no suspension issues.
I might have them take a look.
thanks guy.
Its an airmatic car but its 4matic. It does get lighter as it warms up.
The car was just checked out by the dealer and found no suspension issues.
I might have them take a look.
thanks guy.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
in the summer its more consistent and lighter, but still not quite what I expected.
Dealer is benzel busch. I had a fantastic service advisor there who just left, and I'm struggling with them at present.
Dealer is benzel busch. I had a fantastic service advisor there who just left, and I'm struggling with them at present.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Ludicrous Speed
opposite-lock...
How many miles?
My Audi's always got heavier @ cold on 1st start in the mornings, which went away as they warmed. Typically only on left turns. This syndrome tends to increase as miles increase.
How many you got?
I believe it is symptomatic of rack wear, and nothing to be overly concerned with. I lived with mine like 'that' for years with my //S8 with no change.
Good luck.
My Audi's always got heavier @ cold on 1st start in the mornings, which went away as they warmed. Typically only on left turns. This syndrome tends to increase as miles increase.
How many you got?
I believe it is symptomatic of rack wear, and nothing to be overly concerned with. I lived with mine like 'that' for years with my //S8 with no change.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Globe is ok. I used them once for my 210 E430 and they were acceptable. My parents use them and have not found major cause for concern.
Prestige sucks. Snooty service advisors with essentially no knowledge, very pricey, generally not very competent. Used them once right when I bought the car and never again after that.
How many miles?
My Audi's always got heavier @ cold on 1st start in the mornings, which went away as they warmed. Typically only on left turns. This syndrome tends to increase as miles increase.
How many you got?
I believe it is symptomatic of rack wear, and nothing to be overly concerned with. I lived with mine like 'that' for years with my //S8 with no change.
Good luck.
My Audi's always got heavier @ cold on 1st start in the mornings, which went away as they warmed. Typically only on left turns. This syndrome tends to increase as miles increase.
How many you got?
I believe it is symptomatic of rack wear, and nothing to be overly concerned with. I lived with mine like 'that' for years with my //S8 with no change.
Good luck.
The steering has been slightly heavy since i got the car in 2008. I'm not sure I should be concerned, but I'll have the dealer look at it anyway.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,361
Likes: 230
SL55, S500
Any noise associated with it, like this? Though my steering is still light.
http://youtu.be/TQ7kONptXh0
The noise has upgraded now to a light click I feel in the Center to left 90 degree rotation.
http://youtu.be/TQ7kONptXh0
The noise has upgraded now to a light click I feel in the Center to left 90 degree rotation.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Any noise associated with it, like this? Though my steering is still light.
http://youtu.be/TQ7kONptXh0
The noise has upgraded now to a light click I feel in the Center to left 90 degree rotation.
http://youtu.be/TQ7kONptXh0
The noise has upgraded now to a light click I feel in the Center to left 90 degree rotation.
this is true. I'm using the q146 fluid, which I am told is backwards compatible. Is this wrong?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
crap...thats a problem.
I have plenty of pentosin from my 911, but now I need to make the swap.
What do you think is the best way to flush the system?
Thanks again, I didn't even think it could be the wrong fluid.
I have plenty of pentosin from my 911, but now I need to make the swap.
What do you think is the best way to flush the system?
Thanks again, I didn't even think it could be the wrong fluid.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
now I'm concerned I have damaged the rack and pump.
That said, I intend to correct this situation at once.
I have a motive bleeder and a vaccum pump, I'm wondering if they would help with the flush.
hmm, perhaps empty the reservior, remove the return line, cap the reservior return line port, and then add pentosin to reservior while draining return line into bowl until it comes out green?
That said, I intend to correct this situation at once.
I have a motive bleeder and a vaccum pump, I'm wondering if they would help with the flush.
hmm, perhaps empty the reservior, remove the return line, cap the reservior return line port, and then add pentosin to reservior while draining return line into bowl until it comes out green?
Last edited by Quadcammer; Jan 9, 2012 at 06:40 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
ok, plan is.
1. pull fuel pump fuse
2. suck out fluid in reservior
3. remove return line and cap reservoir port
4.refill with pentosin
5. crank engine for a few seconds with return line in a container.
6. repeat as necessary
1. pull fuel pump fuse
2. suck out fluid in reservior
3. remove return line and cap reservoir port
4.refill with pentosin
5. crank engine for a few seconds with return line in a container.
6. repeat as necessary
Last edited by Quadcammer; Jan 9, 2012 at 07:44 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
ok, after deciding that this would be too much effort, I did the suck out/refill with pentosin method.
Did 4 rounds, ended up with straight green fluid in the catch bottle, so I feel confident that its correct now.
so...steering is no different. I think "Heavy" may have been an overstatement...its just a bit stiffer than I'd like.
Replaced a swaybar endlink while I was in there to deal with a small clunk on the drivers side.
Oh well...at least its right now and maybe the steering will still loosen up.
Did 4 rounds, ended up with straight green fluid in the catch bottle, so I feel confident that its correct now.
so...steering is no different. I think "Heavy" may have been an overstatement...its just a bit stiffer than I'd like.
Replaced a swaybar endlink while I was in there to deal with a small clunk on the drivers side.
Oh well...at least its right now and maybe the steering will still loosen up.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: NYC/FT Lauderdale
W220 M113K
ok, after deciding that this would be too much effort, I did the suck out/refill with pentosin method.
Did 4 rounds, ended up with straight green fluid in the catch bottle, so I feel confident that its correct now.
so...steering is no different. I think "Heavy" may have been an overstatement...its just a bit stiffer than I'd like.
Replaced a swaybar endlink while I was in there to deal with a small clunk on the drivers side.
Oh well...at least its right now and maybe the steering will still loosen up.
Did 4 rounds, ended up with straight green fluid in the catch bottle, so I feel confident that its correct now.
so...steering is no different. I think "Heavy" may have been an overstatement...its just a bit stiffer than I'd like.
Replaced a swaybar endlink while I was in there to deal with a small clunk on the drivers side.
Oh well...at least its right now and maybe the steering will still loosen up.
how are the belts and ball joints? what about the ball joints on the outer tie rods?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
balljoint on the passenger side is brand new. The tierod balljoint has about 10k miles on it.
The drivers side I just looked at and the boots are fine and there is no untoward play in the suspension, aside from the aforementioned swaybar endlink.
The drivers side I just looked at and the boots are fine and there is no untoward play in the suspension, aside from the aforementioned swaybar endlink.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Alright gents,
I finally got tired of this, so I threw parts at it.
Ordered a new LUK steering pump from carsteering/buyautoparts...$300 shipped.
New continental belt and a liter of pentosin 11 (btw, what slackjawed moron designed this pour spout) $50
Swapped the pump out yesterday...took about 1.5 hours...no surprises.
At first the steering feel similar...slightly lighter...but I've driven it about 10 miles and it seems to be getting lighter all the time, which is great.
Probably my biggest annoyance about the car, so if this is fixed, I'll be ecstatic.
I finally got tired of this, so I threw parts at it.
Ordered a new LUK steering pump from carsteering/buyautoparts...$300 shipped.
New continental belt and a liter of pentosin 11 (btw, what slackjawed moron designed this pour spout) $50
Swapped the pump out yesterday...took about 1.5 hours...no surprises.
At first the steering feel similar...slightly lighter...but I've driven it about 10 miles and it seems to be getting lighter all the time, which is great.
Probably my biggest annoyance about the car, so if this is fixed, I'll be ecstatic.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 646
Likes: 2
From: Seattle, WA
2001 S430
i figured id stay on topic and resurrect this thread,
symptom: jabba the hut sounding moan, i presume loss of fluid..
concern: i have a leak? evaporation over time?? i know its simple as ordering fluid, should i be more concern?
thanks in advance guys, its been a while since ive posted!
2001 s430 w/ 117k on clock
symptom: jabba the hut sounding moan, i presume loss of fluid..
concern: i have a leak? evaporation over time?? i know its simple as ordering fluid, should i be more concern?
thanks in advance guys, its been a while since ive posted!
2001 s430 w/ 117k on clock
