Also, Benzmac requested that the pump be resealed for preventive maintenance stating "it's not much more work...." than to get at the reservoir hose, etc.

I've replaced these on my 119 and a few others. Once again, if it takes the tech more than 15 minutes, leave the facility. BUT, for those DIY, here's what I did with my leaky hose:

1. with a long flathead, loosen completely both hose clamps

2. with long vise-grip, clamp the hose, pull off hose completely (in 1 case, I cut the hose in half and pulled off each half)

3. Place clamps over the new hose (cut it to length first)

4. Place over ends bending to a "U" shape first

5. tighten clamps with long screwdriver (flathead)

6. wash hands

7. clean up tools

8. check oven to see if 15 minute pizza is ready yet



-Satish

I love this forum! Satish, what flavor pizza do you recommend with the residual odor of PS fluid?

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Mark Stetson
1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi

This is great stuff, and why I look for the collective wisdom that floats at this site.

Let's assume that the pump shows no sign of a leak - any estimates on what the dealer will charge for the seal replacement?

At this point I would like to do the preventative maintenance, but if it is too expensive I'll probably delay and just have the hose repaired. Am I being penny wise and pound foolish?

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94 E500 (Silver/Black)

Then why not have the power steering box pulled and resealed? After all THOSE boxes leak much more readily than the pumps.

Reseal the pump when it's leaking.

Satish

Here is the update:

Not a PS fluid leak. Instead it is the samll hose that handles the self leveling system hydrolic fluid. The pump is covered in goo but the culprit is not the pump. This hose makes a 90 degree bend at the bottom of the engine and it was too short so it developed a pin hole leak. New hose on order - Starmark to pay!!

The pump rebuild has to wait.

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94 E500 (Silver/Black)

I had P/S fluid leakage in my 400E before I fixed it by myself, I guess 500E uses the power steering system as 400E.

My 92 400E was leaking 2-3 drops of fluid over night, I even ordered P/S pump rebuild kit from Part shop. When I tried to remove the Power steering pump from the engine, I found it was actually caused by that hose which connected the reservoir and the pump body. I don't know how it happened, but the screw which fastened the hose became very loose, I had to fasten it by 5-6 turns.

I didn't bother to rebuild the pump, just put everything back, it has been 2 months now, no leak any more. My 400E has 200k km, I couldn't explain why the screw got that loose, maybe over time the hose deteriorated and material became dry and thinner, or someone forgot to fasten it?

I noticed in MB W124 service CD, they recommend fastening the hose first before tearing apart anything.

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99 BMW 540i 6-speed 110K Km
03 SAAB 9-5 wagon 80K Km
92 400E (Sold) 245K km
Still missing the days with the Benz, it kept me busy.

Gents,

I have read through this thread twice to
figure out how to get to that small hose underneath my PS reservoir on the 400E. Last night spent an hour trying to figure how to get a screw driver (long, short etc etc) to get to those clamps. But I have a radiator hose that partially blocks my view so I got a small mirror to see how to get to it...I have had absolutely no luck in getting to those hose clamps screws.

The other option which I did not want to try was to remove the right distributor to gain access.
From the bottom of the car I cannot even see these screws.

What is the best angle of attack to replace that hose? I believe it is leaking from the point where the hose from bottom of the PS reservoir enters the PS pump.

Based on the thread and responses of the experts...I must be missing something in my approach.

Any suggestions?

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Matt
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92 400E 128K
99 GMC YUKON 88K

The local MB dealer parts guy helped me out on this one. It is best to replace the O' ring on the low pressure and the seal ring on the high pressure lines and the reservoir bottom "seal" alongwith the low pressure hose so that one does not have take it apart again if these go. In my case, I had leakage from the bottom of the reservoir as well as the flex hose...nice mess on the starter motor and on thegarage floor every night...

I have all the parts in this week and should tackle it this weekend. I got as far as draining the reservoir, taking the filter out. But then to get the reservoir off one will need an "external" torx driver amd my friend and I had to sew it back up as we did not have the right Torx contraption.

I found that at Sears. And to make it easier it would help no end to take the distributor cap off carefully and remove the upper portion of the fan shroud to get some more working room! Then get the dcap and the plug cables out of the way carefully! (do not have to remove the cables from the dcap). It looks like a few hours working at my slow pace.

Good luck to those that try this as it is tight in there!...and check that vaccum line that is routed below the distributor cap mine was broken and came apart as I touched it.

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Matt
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92 400E 128K
99 GMC YUKON 88K

Even though you may be one of the best wrench benders going you were inconsiderite of Benzmac. Your my way or the highway attitude would cause me to be less considerite or your advice.I do not know Benzmac but he said nothing being considerite of you (good man). I'm 57 years old, do a little dirt track racin (late model) sponsered by the national guard of this state.Its a geometric nightmare chevrolet style engine(rodack block-kriptanite crank-various type rods-J&E pistons mostly-dry sump oil system-rear mounted pumps oil fuel etc.-various head configerations-tall tall intake need lots of air to mix with fuel or alcohol-ignition system that will fry your ass and on and on BUT your never to old to learn and don't knock another mans ways of doin things...........if our crew don't work as a team we might as well sell our wrenches and become a spectator, each man is important as well as the job he does and each ones inovations takes us to new places and everyone is a winner..........HAPPY MOTORING

The posts you are talking about are almost 3 years old.
I would agree that it's uncommon for a pump like this to be resealed and it's appropriate to just replace the hoses as well, but I also agree that a little tact would go a long ways when disagreeing with someone.

Gilly

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