SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Seriously? (power steering pump noise)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 69
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sl55
Seriously? (power steering pump noise)
This is crazy, I just had the hoses tightened on the sbc pump and literally the next day my ps pump is making noises. Again, I'm looking to you guys for some feedback before I whip out 3000 on a new pump. The noise is definitely coming from ps pump. It only does that when the steering wheel is just sitting there. The noise disappears when the steering wheel is moved.
I checked the fluid and it was at the lowest indicator when it was cold. I drove it to the dealer, bought the fluid and added to max. Still the noise continues.
I checked the fluid and it was at the lowest indicator when it was cold. I drove it to the dealer, bought the fluid and added to max. Still the noise continues.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 2
From: Dinwiddie, VA
SL55, CL55, Range Rover, Lexus LX470
This is crazy, I just had the hoses tightened on the sbc pump and literally the next day my ps pump is making noises. Again, I'm looking to you guys for some feedback before I whip out 3000 on a new pump. The noise is definitely coming from ps pump. It only does that when the steering wheel is just sitting there. The noise disappears when the steering wheel is moved.
I checked the fluid and it was at the lowest indicator when it was cold. I drove it to the dealer, bought the fluid and added to max. Still the noise continues.
I checked the fluid and it was at the lowest indicator when it was cold. I drove it to the dealer, bought the fluid and added to max. Still the noise continues.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 2
sl55
It may be the pulley that's going bad on the pump. I cannot recall if you can replace the pulley on the PS pump or if you have to replace the entire pump. Question, since you own a SL55, don't you have an extended warranty???? Reason I ask, you stated dishing out $3K, you might want to read my thread here on the forum titled "Should I feel Bad".
I generally do not mind paying but then I wouldn't expect these things to break. An extended warranty may be the right thing to do. Selling the car may be another option.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 2
From: Dinwiddie, VA
SL55, CL55, Range Rover, Lexus LX470
I never had extended warranties on any of the cars I owned. It is probably due to the fact that I never (ever) had any issues with any of those cars. The mercedes I had before this one was a 98 SL500 that I drove to 150K with nothing else but somewhat irregular oil changes, brakes, mounts and bushings of all sorts. The 55 is turning out to be of significantly lower quality, which is a little sad.
I generally do not mind paying but then I wouldn't expect these things to break. An extended warranty may be the right thing to do. Selling the car may be another option.
I generally do not mind paying but then I wouldn't expect these things to break. An extended warranty may be the right thing to do. Selling the car may be another option.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 280
Likes: 8
From: Sarasota FL
2020 E450 Wagon
Noise
Before you condemn the power steering/ABC pump, you need to check out other possibilities. There is a Mercedes TSB about miss-diagnosis of the P/S pump when the actual noise is caused by a failing A/C compressor pulley support bearing. And yes, the noise changes as you turn the steering wheel. The problem is so prevalent that Mercedes actually spec's a shorter "test belt" for the non-supercharged engines that is used to take the compressor out of the loop. If the noise in gone without the compressor turning, then the compressor pulley/bearing is the guilty party. The repair is a compressor drive belt pulley repair kit, basically new pulley W/Bearing and internal dampers. There are three different kits, depending on the pulley diameter. We have done a few in the last year, most recently a 211 E320 just this week. The only problem for SL55 engine is there is no way to take the compressor out of the loop. There is no "test belt" available as there is no way to isolate the compressor the way the drive belt pulleys are arranged. None the less, a noisy compressor bearing can exist on this engine as well. I suggest you talk to your service provider about checking this out before arbitrarily replacing the pump.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 2
sl55
The dealer looked at it today and said power steering pump. After doing some research, it seems that I can get a rebuilt pump for $500, I'm sure I can get if for less with someone's resale license if the part provider can be talked into that. The brand new OEM part costs $1000 (This is from autoparts.com). Am I missing something here? The dealer quoted something to the sound of $1900 for parts and around $1000 worth of labor and that sounds, well, a little chubby.
I do, however, have a leaking AC compressor for sure and it's been like that for a while but since I don't use AC I totally neglected it.
Thank you very much GermanCars, your advice is very helpful. The right thing to do seems to be to first repair the AC compressor and then deal with the PS pump. Is there any danger in driving the car until the pump fails?
Where can I get the AC compressor repair kit, how much is it and how complicated of a job is it to rebuild it?
Also, can independent shops replace those pumps without much issue or is there a certain level of hackery involved in this without the mercedes diagnostic tools?
I do, however, have a leaking AC compressor for sure and it's been like that for a while but since I don't use AC I totally neglected it.
Thank you very much GermanCars, your advice is very helpful. The right thing to do seems to be to first repair the AC compressor and then deal with the PS pump. Is there any danger in driving the car until the pump fails?
Where can I get the AC compressor repair kit, how much is it and how complicated of a job is it to rebuild it?
Also, can independent shops replace those pumps without much issue or is there a certain level of hackery involved in this without the mercedes diagnostic tools?
Last edited by super_monkey; Feb 26, 2010 at 02:20 AM.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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sl55
well, after reading a number of posts and researching the topic, coupled with crawling under the hood looking for leaks from the ABC/PS pump which do not exist, I put the front of the car on ramps over night. What do you know, the noise is completely gone. I will be monitoring the fluid levels a lot more diligently from now on and boy am going to have a field day at the dealer on monday. I'm expecting a refund for diagnosis.
What do you think my opening line should be? I always wanted to use the "We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way".
What do you think my opening line should be? I always wanted to use the "We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way".
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 2
From: Dinwiddie, VA
SL55, CL55, Range Rover, Lexus LX470
well, after reading a number of posts and researching the topic, coupled with crawling under the hood looking for leaks from the ABC/PS pump which do not exist, I put the front of the car on ramps over night. What do you know, the noise is completely gone. I will be monitoring the fluid levels a lot more diligently from now on and boy am going to have a field day at the dealer on monday. I'm expecting a refund for diagnosis.
What do you think my opening line should be? I always wanted to use the "We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way".
What do you think my opening line should be? I always wanted to use the "We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way".
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 2
sl55
I did but unfortunately they do not do business in California for legal reasons. To make the long story short, it is apparently not easy to get a warranty on these cars once the manufacturer's warranty runs out that will cover anything besides the major components which generally never break.
I'm still researching my options. I'll update once I sort this out for future reference.
I'm still researching my options. I'll update once I sort this out for future reference.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 2
From: Dinwiddie, VA
SL55, CL55, Range Rover, Lexus LX470
I did but unfortunately they do not do business in California for legal reasons. To make the long story short, it is apparently not easy to get a warranty on these cars once the manufacturer's warranty runs out that will cover anything besides the major components which generally never break.
I'm still researching my options. I'll update once I sort this out for future reference.
I'm still researching my options. I'll update once I sort this out for future reference.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 280
Likes: 8
From: Sarasota FL
2020 E450 Wagon
Aftermarket warranty policies are really insurance, and subject to state insurance regulations. In states with strong regulations, they may not be able or chose not to write business. As a repair shop they generally are a real pain in the A**. They cost us a disporprotionet amount of time, want us at times to use their suppliers, and accept a lower than industry standard labor rate.
Be VERY careful what you buy. Do lots of research on the companies you are thinking about doing business with. Some of the high profile companies have payed big fines to different states because of deceptive practices.
We had one car towed out of the shop when the transmission failed and the warranty company who should have covered it had gone out of business. The state insurance commission didn't know how or when it would be resolved. Very ugly indeed.
Be VERY careful what you buy. Do lots of research on the companies you are thinking about doing business with. Some of the high profile companies have payed big fines to different states because of deceptive practices.
We had one car towed out of the shop when the transmission failed and the warranty company who should have covered it had gone out of business. The state insurance commission didn't know how or when it would be resolved. Very ugly indeed.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,838
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From: U.K.
SL 63 W/B AMG , S600,C220
You will need to change the pump. I had some leaking pipes replaced then the pump started making a noise, luckily MB paid half as it was not making the noise when I booked it in, worth a try.
Apparently there is less pressure on the pump when you have a leak, and by the time you fix it the pump is weakened and makes a noise with extra pressure. Still, best of luck.
Apparently there is less pressure on the pump when you have a leak, and by the time you fix it the pump is weakened and makes a noise with extra pressure. Still, best of luck.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 2
sl55
You will need to change the pump. I had some leaking pipes replaced then the pump started making a noise, luckily MB paid half as it was not making the noise when I booked it in, worth a try.
Apparently there is less pressure on the pump when you have a leak, and by the time you fix it the pump is weakened and makes a noise with extra pressure. Still, best of luck.
Apparently there is less pressure on the pump when you have a leak, and by the time you fix it the pump is weakened and makes a noise with extra pressure. Still, best of luck.
Granted, running low on fluid or running air through the pump is a whole different story and it would makes sense that it would cause pump failure.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 69
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sl55
I'm looking into the warranty but what I have seen so far doesn't look too good. The bottom line is that the car has 70K on it and hasn't had any issues. The oil has been changed on time and everything is in pretty good running order so I don't foresee a catastrophic failure coming from any of the major component and the minor ones, well, wear out. My philosophy about owning cars is that if you can't afford to replace the whole car, you probably can't afford it in the first place.
Last edited by super_monkey; Mar 2, 2010 at 03:38 PM.
