Power steering Failure

[4D_Signs]

I have recently bought a 2000 year W210 E320CDi. It's a lovely car! However I was returning home last night and whilst travelling at around 60 on a hilly road I suddenly saw the warning message "Steering Gear Oil - Visit Workshop" displaying. About 5 seconds later I hit a bend and sure enough NO POWER ASSISTANCE! Growing instant muscles I managed to haul her through the bend and slow down (a Lot) I got the car home but it is extremely heavy to steer now. I shall begin trying to find out what the problem is later ( I guess a hose but are there any known weaknesses?) My question, however, is this. Whilst wrestling it down our country lanes I noticed that, at least twice when steering left and then right quickly as I let off the throttle, The ESP lamp flashed and a back brake appeared to apply itself briefly, causing a small wobble at the back. Now I wasn't going fast (40) and I drive the road regularly and faster without any ESP intervention. Could ther be a link between steering (fluid) loss and the ESP systems? Also How far can I drive without trashing the power pump bearings or should i get recovery to take it to the garage? I've already done about 30 miles on it but its had an overnight rest now so any remaining fluid/oil will have drained down.

 

[television]

Hi Mark,,have you checked the pump fluid level

Is the serpentine belt still intact

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GA=722.626&CT=F&cat=65S&SID=46&SGR=070&SGN=03

 

[4D_Signs]

Power Steering Failure - Update

Hi,
I guess the serpentine belt is the one that powers several items on the front of the motor. I have just been inspecting the damage and I found a long strand of wire (reinforcement?) and "cloth like" thread sticking out of the edge of the belt, which, when I ran the engine was making a very neat cut about half way into the top of the nearside hoseline. I imagine this hose must run from the pump to the rack. There is also a fine coating of fluid around the cut and sprayed all over the place too.The vehicle has 113K on it. I don't know when that belt should be due for replacement but maybe its missed its schedule? I bought the car in January and have only done about 1100 miles so far.

 

[4D_Signs]

Part Numbers

Hi again Television,
I clicked on your link and saw part numbers for pumps and then found the hoses page. They appear to list 2 hoses and a seal ring. Is there any difference between the hoses do you think?

Mark

 

[jberks]

The ESP lamp flashed and a back brake appeared to apply itself briefly, causing a small wobble at the back. Now I wasn't going fast (40) and I drive the road regularly and faster without any ESP intervention. Could ther be a link between steering (fluid) loss and the ESP systems? Also How far can I drive without trashing the power pump bearings or should i get recovery to take it to the garage? I've already done about 30 miles on it but its had an overnight rest now so any remaining fluid/oil will have drained down.

Given that you've spewed a lot of PAS fluid all over the road, you probably have a fair bit on your tyres too. I would imagine driving on PAS fluid would be a tad slippy.
In the interests of safety, I'd check the road and you may have made it trecherous and a call to the fire brigade could be called for too.

 

[4D_Signs]

Ahemm.. A Wee bit late I fear. I was doing about 60 down a hill 30 miles away at 10.30pm and it appears from the damage to the hose that I would have lost the lot fairly quickly so I'll try and see if the back tyres are coated (could be) but the road will have either claimed a victim or not (I sincerely hope not) by now.

I've spoken with MB and they say this belt should be changed between 50-60K so I'm off to search through my service history to make sure it was. If not the dealer will have questions to answer. If it was then I'd say it has failed early and MB have other questions to answer! like who's going to pay for the hose, belt, fluid and clean up under the bonnet?

 

[television]

So pleased that you got a good result and not expensive at that.

Thank you for posting back

Are you coming to our little meet just down the road from you

 

[4D_Signs]

Power steering etc..

Well at least not major. Mind you it's still a car so costs could still escalate beyond fantasy!

Where and when is this meeting then? Assuming we are up and running again....

Mark

 

[television]

Well at least not major. Mind you it's still a car so costs could still escalate beyond fantasy!

Where and when is this meeting then? Assuming we are up and running again....

Mark

Its at Beaulieu on the 7th of june, see the meets section,one can pick up lots af advice and tips as there will be several good techies there

See the meet section

 

[star]

Ahemm.. A Wee bit late I fear. I was doing about 60 down a hill 30 miles away at 10.30pm and it appears from the damage to the hose that I would have lost the lot fairly quickly so I'll try and see if the back tyres are coated (could be) but the road will have either claimed a victim or not (I sincerely hope not) by now.

I've spoken with MB and they say this belt should be changed between 50-60K so I'm off to search through my service history to make sure it was. If not the dealer will have questions to answer. If it was then I'd say it has failed early and MB have other questions to answer! like who's going to pay for the hose, belt, fluid and clean up under the bonnet?

Sure all this will depend IF the previous owner had it serviced ON schedule and allowed the garage to do all the required work. He might not have wanted it done?? This will be very difficult to follow up. Glad its a cheap one tho.

 

[4D_Signs]

Ha Ha! Silly me.. Sorry Television. On second reading there it is Large red notice under your original text. Amazing what we tune out isn't it. June 7th is my birthday so maybe it would be a pleasant way to get out of doing too much for a change! I will certainly consider it.

Star makes a good point about responsibilities and I would hope that if any customer was irresponsible enough to ignore factory scheduled replacements then the dealership would feel obliged to make a comment to this effect on the car's service record? Or is that too idealistic? In which case why do we place ANY reliance on service histories at all?

It takes years to build up a customer's confidence and seconds to destroy all that work.

I'll update you on progress when I've combed through the record and spoken to MB again.

Cheers everyone. Have a good weekend.

Mark

 

[television]

Its not silly Mark its me I have only just put the red notice up

 

[star]

Unfortunately, this all too common and we are all guilty of it. How many time are we advised of work only to "I'll do it next time" which never comes. Service history is only a guide, you can have a 1 owner FMBSH car, only to find out that its been a pool/hire car and thrashed all its life on the other hand, have a one owner car with a couple of stamps missing but be a better looked after car due to the care and services that have been carried out???