Im having problems with the power steering. This has been going on for a month , i kept adding power steering fluid and now the power steering does not work at all i even tried adding fluid and the fluid just stays at the top, what could it be? Is it possible the power steering pump failed. Its got about 500,000 miles, I can turn the wheel still but its very very very hard. The belt seems fine tho.

"i kept adding power steering fluid and now the power steering does not work at all"

...
this implies you were running out of fluid often, and when it made noise you topped it off yes?
the pumps are great, but they are not designed to ever run low. odds are good your pump is dead. they are not too hard to change, and most parts yards have a few MB's in them... go get another one.
it's possible that the filter is clogged, you could pull it out and see if it functions...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

thanks im guessing the same ... this car has started to fail on everything its reaching 500,000 miles ... nothing works .. no power windows no power door locks rust all over ... seats switch are messed up harness is half melted .. problems everywhere cluster just took a crap on me too ... i found a nice 87' black on black for a good price no rust .... im goin to try to get it and part the 1 i have ... my father owned it for 22 years .. and it will strike my heart when i get rid of this .. but the car has got cancer and everything is falling apart .. i might be doing a part out ... thanks again for the help

kk im back .. umm im confused there is a power steering pump and then hoses leading to something else... what is that?? im confused ... any body have instructions on how to change the pump?

Do the hoses lead to the steering box?

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

If it was sold new in the US, should only go to the steering box and to the cooling loop in front of the radiator.

If non-US, it could have the dual PS and SLS pump which will have a separate hydraulic tank and four lines to the pump.

If it is not boosting, probably worn out, likely a relief valve hanging open?

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Anyone know if the 300E uses the same pump? There tend to be a good number of them in junkyards -- they don't get kept like the diesels do.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Some possibility that you might have an air lock and need to bleed the system. Do a search for the procedure or look in the DIY section of the forum. I'd fix the leaks and bleed before I started looking for another pump.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html