Help: Power Steering Loss
12-02-2008, 02:34 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Help: Power Steering Loss
My power steering has gone out all of the sudden. I don't know if it is the pump, belt, low fluid or what. The weird thing is it works when I give it gas. It doesn't have to be moving as along as I give it some gas the power steering works fine. Anyone ever experience this? Any ideas on what the problem could be 
I wanted to get all of your input before I took it into the stealership to get it looked at.
Thanks Guys!
Ty
I wanted to get all of your input before I took it into the stealership to get it looked at. Thanks Guys!
Ty
12-02-2008, 07:37 AM
#2
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E55 AMG
The rack is speed sensitive. Where the steering column attaches to the rack and pinion on the housing of the rack there is a sensor, this is a simple 2 pin plug. Check that it is correctly connected and not damaged.
Look into the steering pump reservoir and check the level, you should be able to see oil covering the filterelement in the reservoir. If the level is low, look for the leak, it is most likely to be wither at the connection between the reservoir and the pump or a leaking rack. If the main seals of the rack have failed then you might not see the loss of fluid yet as it is captive in the plastic gaiters at each end of the steering rack, unclip these to check for oil. There should be a little grease in these but no oil.
The other possibility for assistance only at higher rpm is that the valve of the pump is getting stuck at low rpm and freeing up at higher speeds, but I doubt this as these ZF pumps do not suffer with stuck valves very often.
Check these points and let me know if they resolve the problem. I own a rack and pump reconditioning company and have these parts on the shelf, and even though I am in Belgium, I can send a fellow E55 owner the parts to america cheaper than you can get them anywhere, so dont jump to the stealership for a 3000dollar part if it is the rack.
Look into the steering pump reservoir and check the level, you should be able to see oil covering the filterelement in the reservoir. If the level is low, look for the leak, it is most likely to be wither at the connection between the reservoir and the pump or a leaking rack. If the main seals of the rack have failed then you might not see the loss of fluid yet as it is captive in the plastic gaiters at each end of the steering rack, unclip these to check for oil. There should be a little grease in these but no oil.
The other possibility for assistance only at higher rpm is that the valve of the pump is getting stuck at low rpm and freeing up at higher speeds, but I doubt this as these ZF pumps do not suffer with stuck valves very often.
Check these points and let me know if they resolve the problem. I own a rack and pump reconditioning company and have these parts on the shelf, and even though I am in Belgium, I can send a fellow E55 owner the parts to america cheaper than you can get them anywhere, so dont jump to the stealership for a 3000dollar part if it is the rack.
12-02-2008, 08:08 AM
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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SL600
I had the same problem on a BMW and never did get to the bottom of it. Sometimes, it would feel nice, other times like I had no power steering at all. The tank was always full, and the dealer replaced the pump under warranty, which didn't fix it.
I think there is some electronic system that controls how much boost the system gives, and it was on the fritz...
I think there is some electronic system that controls how much boost the system gives, and it was on the fritz...
