First of all, the car is a UK 1993 500se with 98k.
When I start the car from cold there is a terrible noise from the front of the car that increases when I move the steering wheel.
It calms down when the engine warms, but it is really really bad for about 5 minutes.
It happend last year before it needed a service, I think it was the Power steering fluid. I don't know where the steering fluid resevoir is, and to be honest it sounds really bad!!
If anybody has any tips, or knows what it is, please help!!!
Thanks guys!

Oliver

[This message has been edited by Oliverp (edited 11-06-2000).]

It sounds like you are just low on P/S fluid. The reservoir is at the right front of the motor.

Get some fluid (MB# 000 989 88 03) if its low and then have someone check it for leaks. I have seen the shaft seal(between the two pump bodies) on the combination pumps (power steering/hydraulic system) fail and have the P/S fluid wind up in the hydraulic reservoir; so check it thoroughly.

Thanks Steve.

I will take the car to my tech on wednesday and get him to top it up and check for the things you mentioned.
Is this dangerous for the car? It's not going to damage anything is it?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks again for all your help.

Oliver

W126 300SE 1989
W140 500SE 1993

There is no particular safety aspect to this other than the ability to loose power assist. There could be problems in the future in the hydraulic system if the P/S fluid were to co-mingle in that system for long periods. Hydro-carbon lubricants don't do well for the seals in mineral oil bassed hydralic systems.

There is no particular hurry about this as you obviously haven't been adding much oil. The hurry right now is just in indentifying your noise. If fluid fixes it, just tell your technician at your next service.

I must admit, the car hasn't really been looked after very well. It belongs to my dad who does a lot of driving, and he doesn't really have time to look after it mechanically, the only time it sees new oil is at the 10,000 mile service.
It's terrible to see such a nice car being left without proper maintenance for so long.

Thanks again

Oliver