Dropped a small rubber hose in PSTG resv

[blueeagle289]

I accidentally dropped a small (1 1/2" in length; 1/8" prox diameter) hose into my PSTG reservoir on my 99ML 320.

I was trying to lower the volume of PSTG fluid and the hose came off the end of the sucking tool.

Question is: Will that small piece of hose block the PSTG mechanism when it is running or will it move thru the PSTG module into the actual pump or into the exit hose. Getting it out is a major pain otherwise.

Please advise soonest; I don't want to run the car until I know.

Thanks, Ben Carter

My email is: benblueeagle@att.net

[97 SL320]

The answer is, it depends on the configuration and location of the reservoir. ( I don't know the configuration used on your car )

If it is attached to the power steering pump, the hose will likely lie dormant on the bottom. If a remote reservoir it may travel down the feed hose to the pump and cause a restriction.

If you removed a return hose and drained fluid you might be able to see the hose and grab it. If remote, unbolting the reservoir and turning it over should extract the hose.

The last consideration is the type of hose, if standard vacuum hose, it will swell increasing the possible restriction.

[Gilly]

I replied to him in a PM as well. The 163 should be all integral, but has a plastic reservoir.
It should not go out into a line, should only be a return into a reservoir (unless like you say it is remote, in which case there would be a supply line to the pump). SHOULD be a strainer in to the pump, so should be no problem, or if it would go in to the pump is will chew it up pretty good and again shoulb be no problem. Probably hard to spot it in a black reservoir, plus I think there is a small funnel restrictor inside the cap IIRC, which won't help any (unless maybe that would pull out, anyone have an ML they can check that on?)