Ml500 with brown sputum

[scruffyone]

Open the door and started it up, got out and started towards the house. Heard a funny noise comming from under the hood, spurting type sound. Went to the front of the ML and saw a small brown puddle forming, bit of brown foam on top. Shut it down and got my truck keys from the house. Went back to the ML and started it back up and the spurting stopped. Puddle ended up being about 8" dia. Fluid is amber clear and not water. Any ideas?

[55fanatic]

foamy brown liquid sounds like its power steering. There is currently a recall on the power steering pump hose, open the power steering resevoir and make sure there is contents still in there. resevoir is located at the front right of the engine underneath the engine cover.

[scruffyone]

Does recall mean a free fix? I'll check when I get home.

[Hanniep]

Sounds like that same problem I had last year, Power steering hose broken, redish/brown crap all over my garage floor under the drivers side headlight, have you driven it?

[scruffyone]

Not driven it, only started it. Fluid is still on top of the ice in my driveway. At first I thought it was some sort of freeze issue, but if it was frozen it would not even turn over. Not a lot came out. Tonight I will start it up and turn the wheel and see if it gets worse.

[scruffyone]

foamy brown liquid sounds like its power steering. There is currently a recall on the power steering pump hose, open the power steering resevoir and make sure there is contents still in there. resevoir is located at the front right of the engine underneath the engine cover.

Do I need to pull the engine cover?

[Stiggs]

Does recall mean a free fix? I'll check when I get home.Probably.....not sure.

[55fanatic]

it is a voluntary recall... you can call the dealer and tell them that there seems to be a power steering fluid leak... they might tell you if its a no cost repair, if it turns out to be something else though it would prolly cost you a diagnosing fee plus whatever it is to repair it. Power steering fluid leaks in the W163 are more common problem when its cold... Does the car moan when its running or you turn the wheel?

[scruffyone]

I don't have time to mess with it today so maybe just call the dealer to see about the recall. Puddle was 3 times the size this AM, but looks to be just the fluid that did leak out spreading. Kittl litter later today, maybe a pan to catch the crap.
Bigger question is, can I drive it to the dealer with the leak?

[55fanatic]

well if you start it up and its moaning then not recomended... You could add more Power steering fluid... first make sure its power steering fluid... brown liquid can also be transmission fluid(smells like fish, rotten rotten smell), Antifreeze(factory color is red antifreeze and smells sweet)... power steering pump is a good guess because it is a known problem. If you want to wait till Saturday I can drive down and take a look at it for you

[scruffyone]

Started it up and checked it out a bit more yesterday. No power steering at all. All I did was drive it onto a cleared part of my lawn so I could finish plowing my driveway. Me thinks I would ruin the pump if I drove it dry so it is time to call the dealer and see if it is a recall item. If not then it's trailer time. Good thing I equipped the trailer with a 3500# Warn winch.

[Hanniep]

started it up and checked it out a bit more yesterday. No power steering at all. All i did was drive it onto a cleared part of my lawn so i could finish plowing my driveway. Me thinks i would ruin the pump if i drove it dry so it is time to call the dealer and see if it is a recall item. If not then it's trailer time. Good thing i equipped the trailer with a 3500# warn winch.


i just received a letter from mb, stating that the repair done to the power steering hose clamp was insufficient and to bring it back to mb ASAP to repair again, that explains why my power steering pump is not working correctly and turning the wheel is becoming harder to do, i think the pump is going south!

[scruffyone]

Completly OT but I just noticed a lot of the caps switched to lower case in Hannie's quote of my post. ??????

[Stiggs]

I bet they will fix it for you Scruff. Tell them its faulty because of the recall.

[scruffyone]

Well, I called the stealer. Yup, a known problem. To be fixed under a recall. But not my model year :-(
Pete, is this something I could do? Putting fluid in it to get it somewhere is not a good idea because of how fast the stuff came out the first time.

[Stiggs]

Well, I called the stealer. Yup, a known problem. To be fixed under a recall. But not my model year :-(
Pete, is this something I could do? Putting fluid in it to get it somewhere is not a good idea because of how fast the stuff came out the first time.
Oh that blows. A known problem that happens on your ML but not your year. Thats BS.

[Hanniep]

PM sent.......

[scruffyone]

Took the cap off and there is nothing left inside. I'm guessing that the leak was a tiny little pisser and the hose finally blew from the cold. I never noticed any drips or spotting until this happened.

[scruffyone]

Getting picked up this Friday by a local mechanic that services my company trucks.

[55fanatic]

Well, I called the stealer. Yup, a known problem. To be fixed under a recall. But not my model year :-(
Pete, is this something I could do? Putting fluid in it to get it somewhere is not a good idea because of how fast the stuff came out the first time.Sorry just saw these posts scruff... The power steering pump is from what I understand pretty straight forward to replace, I have never done one... one of the other mechanics did it for me... we got a replacement pump for $290 from one of our suppliers.

Oh that blows. A known problem that happens on your ML but not your year. Thats BS. His will eventually get recalled... I bet, it is still a fairly new vehicle if I remember

Took the cap off and there is nothing left inside. I'm guessing that the leak was a tiny little pisser and the hose finally blew from the cold. I never noticed any drips or spotting until this happened.yep it leaks from where the resevoir tank meets the hose.

Getting picked up this Friday by a local mechanic that services my company trucks.
Thats not too bad then...

[Hanniep]

Well my ML is at the stealer getting the hose replaced AGAIN!!, and probably the pump as well. So glad it's on MB this time!

[scruffyone]

It's still sitting in my driveway. Possible pickup tomorrow. If we get rain and it melts the snow around my trailer then I may give that a try. Can't get caught though, need to re do the registration.

[Hanniep]

Mine is all done, just in time for DMV inspection....

[scruffyone]

It finally got picked up yesterday. Hose came off the radiator. He just re clamped it. Will it come off again?

[Hanniep]

It finally got picked up yesterday. Hose came off the radiator. He just re clamped it. Will it come off again?


probably, I'm on my third hose and clamp, freaking shitty design from MB!!

[scruffyone]

Got it back today. Wopping $75.00 bill, and that included pickup with a ramp truck. He just tightened the clamp and put locktite on it. Also said there was evidence that the dealer had tightened it before, prob during one of the service calls.

[Hanniep]

Will loctite eat thru plastic and or rubber????

[scruffyone]

Will loctite eat thru plastic and or rubber????

I'll let you know. The ML is still grounded for a bit. Tires are shot and one is showing some cord. It's just a mental thing. 7 sets of Hoosiers for the season? No problem. 200 clams each for ML tires? Just gotta get through it. Maybe get Dunlops for 96 each.

[55fanatic]

will loctite heat cycle? while I dont believe power steering fluid will get hot, that area of the car does... plus 120 degrees sometimes I bet