Strange noise when cold
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Long Island, New York
2006 E55 2004 Audi S4 (gone and missed)
Strange noise when cold
What's up gentlemen, I'm kinda new to this forum and thought maybe you guys could help me out. My 06 E55 w/34k on the clock is making a strange groaning noise upon cold startup, my mechanic who is also a very close friend feels that it sounds like a bad power steering pump. we checked the ps fluid and it's fine and I've had no issues with the steering while driving, whether the car is warm or cold. Regardless, he still feels like this sound could only be coming from some sort of pump. I respect his opinion but i'm stumped.
Do Intercooler pumps make noise when the're about to go bad? Or could this noise be coming from one of the pulleys? If any of you have had a similar issue please let me know? My dilemma is that the car doesn't make this noise while driving or once it warms up and my mb dealer is about 7 miles away. Thanks in advance.
Do Intercooler pumps make noise when the're about to go bad? Or could this noise be coming from one of the pulleys? If any of you have had a similar issue please let me know? My dilemma is that the car doesn't make this noise while driving or once it warms up and my mb dealer is about 7 miles away. Thanks in advance.
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c32
Could be a couple of things.The a/c comp. can make a groaning noise that sounds alot like the p/s pump but it normally makes the noise at all times. There is also the possiblity of the oil pump when pulling up the colder oil due to that it is thicker.Have your mechanic raise the car remove the belly pans and listen at the oil pan using a stehoscope on cold start up and see if the noise is the loudest from the pan and go from there.
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From: Long Island, New York
2006 E55 2004 Audi S4 (gone and missed)
Thanks for the quick response. I don't think it could be the oil pump because the noise is definitely coming from the front of the engine bay. Would the a/c compressor make the noise at all times or only while the a/c is on?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: San Diego
2015 S212
Your tech may be right. Try to see if the sound is coming from the driver front wheel well. There is a pump up in there that sits on liquid bushings that can fail. Mine did. The power steering still works fine and does not leak, but it no longer hides the noise. Was a simple warranty fix for me.
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From: FLA
2004 E55
yeah...mine does the same thing. I had the power steering pump replaced by MB dealer...didnt fix it. The MB dealer said it was one of the pulleys...changed...didnt fix it. So I gave up. Finally, had a friend that was a master tech at toyota look over the car...guess what...he found the problem. Mercedes even has a TSB issued (which the toyota tech found at alldata website) for the noise (have to look up TSB) and the procedure on how to fix it. It turns out to be the ac compressor pulley. Unbelieveable...it takes a Toyota tech to fix a mercedes. 
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2012 C63 Black Series, 2003 Hummer H1 KSC2, 2003 Hummer H1 HMCO, 1997 Hummer H1 HMC4, 1969 Jaguar E
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From: Long Island, New York
2006 E55 2004 Audi S4 (gone and missed)
The whining sound from the supercharger is normal, a groaning sound is not. If I bring the car to the stealership are they required to replace the a/c compressor pulley with the TSB even if I cannot duplicate the noise for them?
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Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: North Europe
E55
yeah...mine does the same thing. I had the power steering pump replaced by MB dealer...didnt fix it. The MB dealer said it was one of the pulleys...changed...didnt fix it. So I gave up. Finally, had a friend that was a master tech at toyota look over the car...guess what...he found the problem. Mercedes even has a TSB issued (which the toyota tech found at alldata website) for the noise (have to look up TSB) and the procedure on how to fix it. It turns out to be the ac compressor pulley. Unbelieveable...it takes a Toyota tech to fix a mercedes.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Seattle
05 E55
Mine sounds like that when it starts up in the garage as well....sounds like a cold steering pump would. Doesn't sounds like a 469 HP beast. lol But my CLK430 sounded the same way and a friends E430 sounded that way too. So, I just left it at the way a MB v8 sounds when it's cold.
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From: Long Island, New York
2006 E55 2004 Audi S4 (gone and missed)
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 149
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From: Long Island, New York
2006 E55 2004 Audi S4 (gone and missed)
So my mechanic buddy printed out the TSB for me. Made me promise not to post it, nor would I know how. Here's the title and reference number: (Noises from the area of the belt pulley of compressor clutch at idle speed) P-B-09.50/25, date of issue January 31, 2006. Hope this helps. I'm gonna go fight with the dealer after the holidays I'll let you guys know how it works out. Hopefully all of us who are having this issue can get it resolved under warranty. Thanks for the info guys I appreciate it.
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
It is the supercharger and in particular the supercharger gearbox the sound is exactly like a bad mercedes power steering pump.
