Power Steering Fail

[San O Monster]

Good point.

Maybe people are confusing official NTSB recalls with TSB's.

vic

I asked MBLN about any TSB's on my 2019 4x regarding PS hoses and Lane Keep Assist reprogramming. That same visit they kept my rig 9 days to replace an instrument cluster that went black intermittently. They claimed no TSB's . But they are know to lie too. I worked for Lexus, Toyota, Honda and Acura for 35 years as a master technician. I know damn well, all new model vehicles have dozens of TSB's the first year of production once being unleashed into real world usage. MB is uber secretive with technical info.

 

[VanGoSki]

Crap. Looks like I have the same issue?

 

[Eric B]

Literally just happened to me

9500 miles on the odo

oct 2019 170 4x4

pushed bottom PS hose back on
Going to nearest auto parts store for PS fluid

 

[Eric B]

So we found a couple sites online that stated the green Pentosin can is the MB equivalent ... confirmed on the Pentosin packaging that it is suitable for MBZ ... poured nearly half to get it back up to full on the dipstick - cycled the steering rack full left and right to get the air out and get the level just right

On a hot engine, you’ll singe your forearms on the oil filter housing ... ask me how I know ...

Now that it’s happened to me @Aqua Puttana I don’t see how the factory hose can be re-routed... it’s definitely too short ... it should be at least an inch or two longer to account for engine movement. Pushing the hose all the way forward makes it taught between its two hardline connection points... it shouldn’t be taught... guaranteed it will slip off again if not replaced with a longer hose.

not much room to add a hose clamp next to the factory one... just get a longer hose and use the factory clamps.

now that I’m back home, I’ll pull off the hose and confirm diameter and length once things have cooled down a bit down there.

I found a small lake of PS fluid below the windshield washer fluid reservoir, on top of the driver side frame rail ... seems like I’m going to pull off the bumper to get in there and clean everything ... definitely got all over the place

BTW I called MB Pro and being a Sunday the dispatch lady could only send out a tow truck and was unable to offer any tech advice. I passed on the tow truck offer.

I consider myself to have some forearm strength and I can absolutely echo the OP post about having it fail in twisties with a drop off - that could be potentially scary if the driver at the wheel felt like they didn’t have enough arm strength to muscle the van over ... big tires and a power steering assisted vehicle where the pump suddenly stops is always going to be a work out

check your hoses and replace that bottom one for sure ... Sprinter Forum Technical Recall !!! Don’t wait for MBZ to get on the ball since this was already an issue with NCV3 vans

be safe out there!

 

[220629]

Thanks for the update.

...
Now that it’s happened to me @Aqua Puttana I don’t see how the factory hose can be re-routed... it’s definitely too short ... it should be at least an inch or two longer to account for engine movement. Pushing the hose all the way forward makes it taught between its two hardline connection points... it shouldn’t be taught... guaranteed it will slip off again if not replaced with a longer hose.
...

That's good information for other owners, but too bad that the fix isn't as simple as a hose rerouting.

Is splicing in a short piece of hose an option, or is access too restricted? Adding more connections isn't ideal, but a properly installed barbed hose joiner adds little risk of failure or leaking.

vic

 

[Eric B]

I'll take pics next weekend when I get around to it @Aqua Puttana
I'm just going to pull out the stock hose, measure, and cut a new one a couple inches longer and reuse the same clamp fittings on the bottom hose.
Totally straightforward. Don't want to add a splice if I can replace the whole thing and not have a potential leak point... besides it will also look cleaner without a splice.

 

[220629]

I'll take pics next weekend when I get around to it
...

That would be great. Because this problem seems to bridge NCV3 and VS30 models I'm thinking that I will create a sticky composed of a compilation of pertinent information contained in the various threads.

In my mind it is a serious problem that should be addressed. All for the lack of a few extra inches of hose.

"The best or nothing." Nothing is what you get in extra hose for safety.

vic

Added:
If the hose is easily accessed/replaced then a long piece of hose may be cheaper that the cost of a joiner, clamps, etc.

 

[MT170]

I don't think a longer hose is available as the end that connects to the steering box has a threaded coupling swaged onto it if I remember correctly.

 

[zither99]

Checked our 2019 and it looks like the dealer installed a screw clamp before delivery! That’s good of them!

 

[Cheyenne]

Checked our 2019 and it looks like the dealer installed a screw clamp before delivery! That’s good of them!

But your hose is still too short! It should butt up to the next swage. And it looks like they moved the original clip back onto the hose and added the worm drive without removing the hose and losing fluid.

Keith.

 

[judah8750]

Mine looked close to slipping off. The dealer in Oxnard said there is a bulletin on it now and swapped the clamp to a worm clamp. They also did the swivel seat cable recall fix by adding longer cables and a clip and a zip tie. Same day fix with a loaner car, good service. Oh and they washed my Van. So far every time my van gets really dirty I've been able to find some small recall to get the dealer wash lol.

 

[Albush1]

I just bought a 2016 3.0L 170XL and saw that the hose was barely attached. For the PS fluid, I researched and saw that Valvoline Max Life meets the MB spec for both the power steering and for the transmission. I’ve used Max Life for years in various vehicles where it has met the spec and never had issues. I used the 3/8 barb and hose from a transmission cooler that I had in the shop to fix it.

 

[220629]

... I used the 3/8 barb and hose from a transmission cooler that I had in the shop to fix it.

Thanks for the info.

For clarification.

A 3/8" hose barb joiner with a short additional length of 3/8" transmission tubing?

vic

 

[Albush1]

Precisely, yes. Another option I guess would be to use an inline filter. Perhaps I’ll try that when I find a suitable one...like this perhaps. I just have to get the flow direction right.

Amazon.com: Raybestos 3/8" Inline Magnetic Transmission/Power Steering Filter 515554: Automotive

Buy Raybestos 3/8" Inline Magnetic Transmission/Power Steering Filter 515554: Power Steering In-Line - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Sprinter SS]

There is an open recall on this....just have the dealer fix it for free..

 

[keithmccabe]

Just took my van in because if I didn't drive my van for a couple weeks, the cabin heat would not work no matter how many hours I drove the van. The next day it would still not work but like clock work on the third day it would start working and stay working. When I dropped it off I told them my story of burning the crap out of my forearm trying to get the power steering hose reattached in the 100 degree Reno sun. They didn't say a word about the power steering and whether or not there was a recall for my 2019 2500 170 EXT 4x4. I had already put on a screw clamp when I fixed it on my trip to Reno so they probably would not have done anything anyway since that is their recall fix. I love the van but my god it's a piece of junk. I've had more problems in 20k miles than I have ever had with my 3 Toyotas one of which has 300k miles and another that has 200k miles. I would never ever buy a Mercedes product ever again. The service department at my local dealer is backed up over 6 months and was the same prior to the pandemic. That's a pretty good indicator of what crap Mercedes products are. My brake assist radar stopped working when I replaced my bumper with a Van Compass winch bumper. Dealer charged me $160 for troubleshooting but then added that the radar wouldn't work because the radar was "moved". The location is exactly the same as the factory bumper but I'm curious if anyone else has had issues with the Radar not working with a Van Compass winch bumper.