2013 S65 Startup Noise
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 62
Likes: 5
2015 S550 4MATIC
2013 S65 Startup Noise
2013 S65 76k miles.
Noise happens as soon as the engine fires, not while the starter is turning. Occurs for about 1-2 seconds. Best I can describe it as is a grinding sound.
Parameters for noise:
- engine fully warmed up, oil temp in the "white" which I believe is above 175-ish
- turn off engine for at least 10 minutes, no longer than 15 minutes
- start and listen for noise
There doesn't appear to be any such sound on the outside of the vehicle when it's started, but extremely noticeable inside the car:
Noise happens as soon as the engine fires, not while the starter is turning. Occurs for about 1-2 seconds. Best I can describe it as is a grinding sound.
Parameters for noise:
- engine fully warmed up, oil temp in the "white" which I believe is above 175-ish
- turn off engine for at least 10 minutes, no longer than 15 minutes
- start and listen for noise
There doesn't appear to be any such sound on the outside of the vehicle when it's started, but extremely noticeable inside the car:
Last edited by sushistrip; Dec 16, 2024 at 08:43 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 359
Likes: 291
From: Rockport, TX
2007 S65 AMG-Sold, 2007 SL55 P030 - 2016 GL450 - - 2017 AMG GTS - Sold - 2015 AMG S65
Other Suggestions
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 62
Likes: 5
2015 S550 4MATIC
Thanks for the suggestions. We did remove the belt and it didn't make the noise, but it's hard to call that conclusive.
There is also a very consistent buzzing in the steering wheel once fluids are warmed up at certain rpms, around 1700 rpm (nothing at idle). Forgot to test this with the belt off, so will have to do that after the holidays.
Motor mounts are visibly in good condition, no leaks or seepage. The car is absolutely dead silent and still at idle in any gear. When I park it's hard to tell the thing is even on sometimes.
A list of stuff I've done, not necessarily to address this issue:
- replaced all four idler pulleys with aluminum billet replacements (stockers were pretty crunchy)
- replaced transmission mount
- added sonnax shift, tcc sleeves, replaced tcc solenoid, replaced conductor plate, full fluid service (tcc sleeve fixed cold start harsh lockup)
- abc flush (very old fluid, smelled horrible. As I was flushing I could see the pressure hold better as new fluid was making it through the pump)
- new air filters
Steering wheel buzz/vibration could be unrelated, but next step is to test with the belt off. I'll update after
There is also a very consistent buzzing in the steering wheel once fluids are warmed up at certain rpms, around 1700 rpm (nothing at idle). Forgot to test this with the belt off, so will have to do that after the holidays.
Motor mounts are visibly in good condition, no leaks or seepage. The car is absolutely dead silent and still at idle in any gear. When I park it's hard to tell the thing is even on sometimes.
A list of stuff I've done, not necessarily to address this issue:
- replaced all four idler pulleys with aluminum billet replacements (stockers were pretty crunchy)
- replaced transmission mount
- added sonnax shift, tcc sleeves, replaced tcc solenoid, replaced conductor plate, full fluid service (tcc sleeve fixed cold start harsh lockup)
- abc flush (very old fluid, smelled horrible. As I was flushing I could see the pressure hold better as new fluid was making it through the pump)
- new air filters
Steering wheel buzz/vibration could be unrelated, but next step is to test with the belt off. I'll update after
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
W221 S63 AMG (2007)
Thanks for the suggestions. We did remove the belt and it didn't make the noise, but it's hard to call that conclusive.
There is also a very consistent buzzing in the steering wheel once fluids are warmed up at certain rpms, around 1700 rpm (nothing at idle). Forgot to test this with the belt off, so will have to do that after the holidays.
Motor mounts are visibly in good condition, no leaks or seepage. The car is absolutely dead silent and still at idle in any gear. When I park it's hard to tell the thing is even on sometimes.
A list of stuff I've done, not necessarily to address this issue:
- replaced all four idler pulleys with aluminum billet replacements (stockers were pretty crunchy)
- replaced transmission mount
- added sonnax shift, tcc sleeves, replaced tcc solenoid, replaced conductor plate, full fluid service (tcc sleeve fixed cold start harsh lockup)
- abc flush (very old fluid, smelled horrible. As I was flushing I could see the pressure hold better as new fluid was making it through the pump)
- new air filters
Steering wheel buzz/vibration could be unrelated, but next step is to test with the belt off. I'll update after
There is also a very consistent buzzing in the steering wheel once fluids are warmed up at certain rpms, around 1700 rpm (nothing at idle). Forgot to test this with the belt off, so will have to do that after the holidays.
Motor mounts are visibly in good condition, no leaks or seepage. The car is absolutely dead silent and still at idle in any gear. When I park it's hard to tell the thing is even on sometimes.
A list of stuff I've done, not necessarily to address this issue:
- replaced all four idler pulleys with aluminum billet replacements (stockers were pretty crunchy)
- replaced transmission mount
- added sonnax shift, tcc sleeves, replaced tcc solenoid, replaced conductor plate, full fluid service (tcc sleeve fixed cold start harsh lockup)
- abc flush (very old fluid, smelled horrible. As I was flushing I could see the pressure hold better as new fluid was making it through the pump)
- new air filters
Steering wheel buzz/vibration could be unrelated, but next step is to test with the belt off. I'll update after
New abc pump, new oil and reservoir (filter) for the PS, new filter and fluid for the abc also.
This sound in my car also only sounds when it is realy up to temperature, so like when my oiltemperature was above 100 degrees Celcius and stopped for 15 minutes and start again.
Ordered the valve on the steeringhouse to replace, otherwise i am out of options...
Also at the same sircumstances,
If cold no problems at all.
PS: Engine mounts are fresh, imo it has something to do with te PS or ABC but what....
Steering buzz also sometimes, not something easy to reproduce...
Last edited by dim70; Dec 23, 2024 at 12:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 62
Likes: 5
2015 S550 4MATIC
My steering wheel buzz is very rpm dependent, easily reproduced in park or while driving. It's also felt in the floorboard. If I downshift and hold the revs at like 3-4k you can't feel a thing.
I need to pay closer attention next time to see if I feel anything coming through the steering wheel on startup, I don't recall but not 100%. I agree it feels PS/ABC related, but if a new pump and fresh mounts didn't fix it that's perplexing.
A thought I had was is there an ABC or PS line making contact with something, and it becomes very pronounced on engine start but settles down to only a buzz at certain rpms? This could explain why it's only noticeable inside the car and not outside.
I need to pay closer attention next time to see if I feel anything coming through the steering wheel on startup, I don't recall but not 100%. I agree it feels PS/ABC related, but if a new pump and fresh mounts didn't fix it that's perplexing.
A thought I had was is there an ABC or PS line making contact with something, and it becomes very pronounced on engine start but settles down to only a buzz at certain rpms? This could explain why it's only noticeable inside the car and not outside.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 62
Likes: 5
2015 S550 4MATIC
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
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
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
W221 S63 AMG (2007)
New electronic valve for steeringhouse just came in so i am replacing this any time soon, update after i replaced it.
PS:Had a vacation and drove the car around 1900km most part on the German Autobahn (much at 200kph) nothing wrong but stopping at gas station to fill up the startup noise is still there.
Last edited by dim70; Jan 7, 2025 at 02:41 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 62
Likes: 5
2015 S550 4MATIC
I also went on a trip, down to Dallas, total about 700 miles. Totally uneventful. One thing I'll note is the steering wheel buzz felt less pronounced after driving for hours. I did a fresh oil change before I left. Startup noise is still there. I still need to test the steering wheel buzz with the serpentine belt off.
My current hunch regarding the steering wheel buzz is the ABC pump is just on it's last legs and the new pulsation damper can't totally dampen out the pulses. At 75k miles it wouldn't be unreasonable for the pump to be going bad.
Last edited by sushistrip; Jan 7, 2025 at 04:49 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
W221 S63 AMG (2007)
What do you mean by the SP reservoir?
I also went on a trip, down to Dallas, total about 700 miles. Totally uneventful. One thing I'll note is the steering wheel buzz felt less pronounced after driving for hours. I did a fresh oil change before I left. Startup noise is still there. I still need to test the steering wheel buzz with the serpentine belt off.
My current hunch regarding the steering wheel buzz is the ABC pump is just on it's last legs and the new pulsation damper can't totally dampen out the pulses. At 75k miles it wouldn't be unreasonable for the pump to be going bad.
I also went on a trip, down to Dallas, total about 700 miles. Totally uneventful. One thing I'll note is the steering wheel buzz felt less pronounced after driving for hours. I did a fresh oil change before I left. Startup noise is still there. I still need to test the steering wheel buzz with the serpentine belt off.
My current hunch regarding the steering wheel buzz is the ABC pump is just on it's last legs and the new pulsation damper can't totally dampen out the pulses. At 75k miles it wouldn't be unreasonable for the pump to be going bad.
My car did already 150.000 miles before the pump failed, however i don't know if it is the first pump.....
Need to say that before replacing the pump with a original refurbished pump (new no longer available) i did not have this problem.
Last edited by dim70; Jan 8, 2025 at 01:33 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 1,222
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
SP means Steering Pump, this has its own reservoir.
My car did already 150.000 miles before the pump failed, however i don't know if it is the first pump.....
Need to say that before replacing the pump with a original refurbished pump (new no longer available) i did not have this problem.
My car did already 150.000 miles before the pump failed, however i don't know if it is the first pump.....
Need to say that before replacing the pump with a original refurbished pump (new no longer available) i did not have this problem.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 62
Likes: 5
2015 S550 4MATIC
Short update on this, no solution yet. Oddly, the issue went away for a couple months, but it is now back. The fact the sound is more prominent inside the car, I'm wondering if a line that's near the firewall is loose and rattling against it. I have no other symptoms to speak of. The underbody panels are bone dry. Engine mounts are fine, ABC fluid is fresh, pulsation damper is new. Still searching for ideas.
