Problems whit stearing

[tobias]

Problems whit steering

Hi!
I´m new here and got to ask an important thing from ya´ll.
I have an manuell Mb 260E (1989). I had some problems whit the electricity like some of the instrumentpanel lights were kind of blinking and i think the car had an "interruption" in some of the electricity parts..
The car worked but one strange thing has happend a few times while driving and i want to know what and how it can "act" like that.
Exampel.
I was driving on the freeway and when i run over to the turn-off and had my leg on the clutch and the gear on neutral, all the lights on the controlpanel went on and i cudent steer the car...Felt like it was powerless, but when i pull´d the gaspedal the engine started run again and i got the steering back.
How is this possible? Some "Expert" by Mercedes service say´s that´s not possible to happen whit my car. He said it cud happen only if you had automat. Anyone, help me prof i´m right about this and please exuse my English!

 

[Bolide]

Steering

Tobias


These cars have lots of power-assistance on the steering. If the engine stalls or stops the steering wheel is almost impossible to turn, particularly at low speeds

I suspect you have a (dangerous) electrical fault that means the engine cut out and you lost power to the power steering

Is the battery or its connections loose? Is there an alarm or an immoboliser on the car that's cutting the ignition feed?

I'd take the car to a good auto electrician. You may not e so lucky next time


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[tobias]

"You may not e so lucky next time"

It had the generator changed but the problem was not fixed. Battery was 1 year old. We had an Immobilizer on it, not any special model or so, but complicated to use, when it had an different key.
They said on Mercedes that it shuld be no problems whit steering, if the power goes loos, but i know it was wery hard to steer...
How can i look it up, that i get it on paper?
Tryed to mail germany but now awnsers from there...

Desperat to proof i´m right about it!


Thanks

 

[tom7035]

You would only lose your power steering on a manual gearbox car if you dip the clutch pedal. As long as the clutch is engaged, the engine is turning therefore the power steering pump is being driven. Very different on an automatic, when it really would be dangerous, as Bolide says.

 

[turnipsock]

It sounds like the engine is stalling.

Try finding a straight bit of road and then dipping the clutch and see if the engine stops.

 

[tom7035]

First thing to do, at no cost, is to remove, clean and refit your battery terminals, and check the earth strap from engine to chassis. Then take it from there if necessary.
Good luck.

 

[paulcallender]

Hi!
I´m new here and got to ask an important thing from ya´ll.
I have an manuell Mb 260E (1989). I had some problems whit the electricity like some of the instrumentpanel lights were kind of blinking and i think the car had an "interruption" in some of the electricity parts..
The car worked but one strange thing has happend a few times while driving and i want to know what and how it can "act" like that.
Exampel.
I was driving on the freeway and when i run over to the turn-off and had my leg on the clutch and the gear on neutral, all the lights on the controlpanel went on and i cudent steer the car...Felt like it was powerless, but when i pull´d the gaspedal the engine started run again and i got the steering back.
How is this possible? Some "Expert" by Mercedes service say´s that´s not possible to happen whit my car. He said it cud happen only if you had automat. Anyone, help me prof i´m right about this and please exuse my English!

I think its a worn O-ring on the idle control screw.

 

[tom7035]

He also mentions panel lights going out at the same time Paul, like total loss of electrics.

 

[paulcallender]

Yes, I still think its the O-ring on the idle control screw.

Typically, what happens is that the car is set up to run smoothly sitting on your drive or in a workshop, eg timing, mixture, idle speed, etc. are all adjusted. You take it for a short run and there isn't really that much vibration or time, so the idle speed stays the same.

You then take it for a run on the motorway and the increased speeds/time make the idle screw vibrate one way or another, because the O-ring has hardened and is unable to keep the screw secure for any length of time. You don't notice at the time because you're constantly at speed. You pull off onto a sliproad, your idle screw is now no longer letting air through, etc etc and the car stalls, lighting up a large number of dashboard lights and also losing your power steering!