I watched a lot of Eric O. video's in the last two years, I am even subscribed to the channel. Rarely a non-American brand passes by. I own a 2002 Mercedes ML320 (actually built in Alabama) and am looking into a small issue with my power steering. After looking at a video by the Mercedes medic I looked away and suddenly heard a familiar voice. Turns out my favorite online mechanis has been working on the same problem. Now there is a coincidence. SO thank you Eric O. for your help even 4 years after you helped someone by recording it!!
I bought a 2--7 mercedes x164 this past year and I've been pleasantly surprised how easy a lot of the diy work I've been able to do on it has been. There's a lot of really good video tutorials out there.
Here's to keeping old threads alive! 😃Picked up the W166 ML350 last year. Did my own oil change in the driveway, I may become of fan of the filter on top for sure. Hopefully just basic maintenance will keep it going. Need to get it to 200k. It's a made in Bama one as well. Seemed to have done a nice job with it.
It’s nice to watch oldies like this and see the difference in your camera comfort level..now your such the professional and super comfy with the camera. Whether it’s brake job after brake job after brake job and offerings of your other jobs it’s always been a pleasure to watch you and the family at work or play. Keep em coming, your a household name these days fella..great work.
Done this on my ML. Got to wonder about the engineers use of plastic. You are spot on with this. Thank you wish your shop was closer to me......... Still driving my last Mercedes. I am a big fan of your videos and troubleshooting. "just a bunch of nuts and bolts!!"
Hi, I just started watching your videos and i just want to tell you how great they are. Fantastic camera work and editing. Plus your personality is chill. Keep up the awesome work!!!
Incredible video. I was about to take my pump off, I will check that first. I wouldn’t have if you didn’t take the time to make a nice detailed video. Definitely a new subscriber!! Thanks man
getting ready to do this on mine after 10 years of great service from my 99 ML430 . this era of Benz pretty easy and straight forward to work on and pretty solid ,now have a second one 04 clk 500.. simple fix
This is the 5th time pulling the reservoir and the first video that put emphasis on the o ring, turns out place my mom took it just put a standard round one and it doesn't work. Kudos man
It is unfortunate you don't like working on "European Cars" because this is the best video I have seen on this repair. I have a fluid leak on my 2002 ML500 and, thanks to your video, I am confident I can track it down. I don't suppose it will help to mention all MLs are made in the USA !
Great Video, well done. the last mechanic i went to flat out told me i had to replace that pump........and it's leaking in the exact same spot as you pointed out. Sad that there are Crooks in this line of work. thanks again for that informative video
I have my first euro ever now. And I can say there has been some speed bumps as far as maintenance costs and chasing quality Parts. But there hasn't been a lot of it. And the car rides and handles like a dream compared to any Chevy I ever had. Incredibly stable at high speeds. I've often looked down on the highway, and been like oh crap I'm doing 100. Lol the Jeep Cherokee I used to have at 100mph, you had White knuckles and we're praying the rosary.
Great video, saved me cash so I gave you some!! The most difficult part of this fix is the C clip that needs to come off and then back on - it was a really hard to get off and almost as hard to get back on. I have a 2008 ML 350 and it is a bit tougher to get to that C clip from what you showed in the video. Other than that everything else was the same and worked out great. Thanks for the video.
SMA, Nice video. Easy to see the process and solid to the point commentary. On a side note i'd never purchase URO (labeled on the baggy with the o-ring), even an o-ring. Rubber parts for a Benz go OE/OEM. Granted it seems silly to spend $6 for rubber washer but it does make a difference.
I would never use anything URO, especially any rubber part. Bought breather hoses from URO, all cracked in less than 4 months. Stick with genuine MB, anything rubber, hoses, O rings and gaskets, they're not $6 for this O ring, rather around $2, how much are you trying to save?
I'm 35 and I've never seen an American pickup here in Europe. They'd look ridiculously large in our cities and we don't have the taste for gas guzzlers. We get a few American cars but really not much. That I can name there's the neon, pt cruiser, that Bentley looking saloon and a couple of really sad rebranded daewoos. Not much else.
@@MrAmorti There are no American pick-ups in Europe because of the rain, the fuel consumption, the build quality, and because the EU has a 10% tariff on them.
I am a shady tree guy in the UK. I have owned all sorts of European cars and worked on most European models. Once I switched to Mercedes I have stuck with them for 20 years. They are different. Go anywhere in the third world and they all drive Mercedes or Land Cruisers because they are tough. Working on them is OK, they are well designed by proper engineers. From the C class up, they are rear wheel drive so more room to work on the engine. The next gen engines are dropping the V6 and going back to the straight 6 which is so much easier to work on. As for BMW, VW, AUDI along with French and Italian cars, they are a pain! Get used to how Mercedes do things and you will love and respect them.
I can't disagree with you man. Ever since I bought a 204 chassis ( GLK ), I keep smiling everytime I work on it. So much space in the engine bay, the M272 engine seems rock solid in terms of reliability. Things are so well made and it seems like everything is well designed, to my eyes at least. So far so good man
Hi Eric ,Another great video .I've had the same problem with the Mercedes Benz .The clip that hold the pump to the reservoir is a pain in the rear end .Jim
Thanks for the video showing that is very helpful and saved me money I knew It had to be a small issue. But I have to say I had 2 Mercedes from 2001 to 2011 and those are the most reliable cars ever and in all those model year the only thing that goes bad is that pump and leaking steering pump fluid no joke . I’m saying this because you were criticizing those cars and let me tell you the amount of problems you get with a GM car versus these being just a pump ring there is no comparison . I am pretty hard on my vehicles and don’t maintain them as good as I should and I have to say MB always started on me no matter what in the cold or hot heat one of the most reliable cars ever. Now BMW ,Porsche and Audi is another story ! Those are problem city. I would rate in reliability this way : MB #1 , honda #2 and Toyota # 3 on imports can’t go wrong !
As a multiple car & Mercedes owner I tend to agree. My driveway has Mercedes, Toyotas and Mazda's and the Benz's have been the most reliable over the past few years (99 C230k, 06 E350, 08 E350).
I was thinkin u have gottin away with just the hose replacement the elbow, but u for seen to get the reservoir too, good thinkin, like u said everyone is happy, and part wasn't too expessive, good vdeos as always. see ya sir.
I'm happy and admire your courage. I have 2 BMW videos and a Mercedes that I can't upload because the star became insane with frustration aka cursing like crazy. Nice work.
These old videos are the absolute best of Eric O vids. He was just so much more willing to take time to show so much more. Now he’s still great just not as willing to spend the long hours which is understandable!
my Mercedes ML350 has steer pump oil leak slowly. the auto shop's owners told me need to replace the whole piece with control valves ,which could cost about from $1500-$1800... i just wish your shop is near to where I live, I will definitely bring the car to you to fix it :)
As always, super video, thanks! A lot of ironising over Euro cars in video and in commentary field, which is fine. In Europe we talk in the same way about French cars. You are lucky you don't have many of those around in the US, or Fiats....
Always replace the reservoir when replacing the o-ring.The filter screen inside the reservoir tears allowing the fluid to flow in with very little resistance which causes the fluid to aerate.(If you ever see one of these with a p/s whine and the fluid level is normal take a peek inside the reservoir with the engine running and if you see the fluid flowing “violently” the screen is torn.Also please please please use factory parts-URO is complete garbage!
Have a 2000 55. My steering is very stiff been that way for a while. Its steerable once moving. Its not smooth at all. Anybody has an idea what it can be?
I don't know where you are located. I been having problem that you disclose about the same car you are talking about Mercedes Benz 2000 Ml 320. I took it in the shop today because engine light is on, and I have hard time turning. I going to see if I need a pump, reservoir, I worry .Thanks for your information. I bought Mercedes Brake fluid, because it was going some where. Wow! if you are close to Pinole, or I have friend near your area I will recommend you .
Don't worry, you didn't work on a European car. Like all MLs up to 2012, that one was manufactured in Vance, Alabama. It's more American than most Chevys! I started life as a Benz tech; from my experience, that reservoir was already cracked, and was very likely the cause of the leak. Nothing of your doing. :]
What's your view on Mercedes in terms of how easy it is to work on ? ( cant find the right word lol ) Are you still a tech there ? Which chassis is your favorite ?
rock It really depends on the vintage. In terms of the physical wrenching, a car is a car. But the diagnostics aspect can get tricky the newer the cars get. "Factory" support isn't as prominent in the aftermarket for Mercedes like it is for a lot of US Domestics and Japanese imports. You'll find with a lot of the newer Mercedes, many of the modules are coded to each other. If you replace an ignition switch, or a body control module somewhere, the car will refuse to start until a factory scan tool is used to code in the new module to the rest of the system. Even more bizarrely, if you're doing a brake job on some Mercedes going back as far as 1996-ish, you cannot under any circumstances open the doors or touch anything inside the car until the brake job is complete. Otherwise, you'll find your caliper pistons on the ground. If you have access to the factory scan tools, then it's no big deal. If not though, it can be next to impossible to do a lot of diagnostics or repairs. I personally like the mid-80s to early 90s Mercs; W124, W201, and even the earlier platforms like the W126, W116 and R107 are wonderful.
Some things are significantly easier to fix on foreign cars than domestic. But by my estimate around 2000 or so American cars started to go the “modular” route with entire systems easy to access and replace. But here’s my take on the bigger picture, based on my experience from around 1985 till now. From the 60’s American cars to around 2010 cars, all makes. Japanese and Korean cars are usually very easy to R&R. The parts aren’t made to last forever so they don’t try, but everything is AT LEAST high enough quality to compete with the rest of the world. To the point-when a part is extremely difficult to remove&replace, especially Mercedes and Volkswagen/Audi, that usually means that part is more robust than you think and probably never needed to be replaced anyway, maybe just repaired in place. Window switches are hard to replace, but rarely fail. Inner door latch handles are much easier cause any ape can be overzealous and snap them off, regardless of build quality. Audi and Volkswagen and Mercedes engines bottom ends don’t fail without an outside cause, that is until maybe twice the mileage of a comparable domestic. Mercedes brakes are easy to do. Late model Chevrolet truck brakes seem easy, but are easy to screw up since some of the positioning is not intuitive. And that’s what car repair comes down to. How intuitive can diagnosis and repair be? The question of our eta. If your heater doesn’t make hot air, and your engine is running a bit hotter than usual, don’t just replace the heater core. How about a stuck closed thermostat? Or as in this video, and the reason I’m watching is because my brother sent my moms ML320 to the shop for a power steering pump replacement, but I told him I doubted it was the pump itself, but a seal, as the truck sits often and is parked within 150’ of saltwater. He also can’t seem to get in his head that it’s a premium fuel only engine, not 87 octane, no matter how many times I tell him, and he used to be a service writer!!
mercedes cars are cashcows. Once you get familiar with them they arent that bad to work on because they dont rust as bad as domestics and if you can save a customer some bones and provide a dealer alternative you're going to have business forever
Idk I live in Minnesota and pretty much any 90s to mid 2000s Mercedes I see are covered in rust, especially the C, E and S class. Granted 95% of the Mercedes I see driving are less than 10 years old
Same with my 2011 BMW 3 series.. 170,000 miles, no squeaks and rattles.. drives like a car with 30k on the clock. I fix what I can myself.. not too bad if you follow their sometimes proprietary procedures. I think they are well made cars for the most part but it’s best to buy one that’s the last year of a particular body style, they usually have most of the over engineering kinks out at that point.
Not sure if the guy in this vid reads these, but he put the O-ring in wrong. It goes in a O-ring groove inside the neck of the reservoir so it will not be able to slide around and leak again. I had a mechanic do it the same as you about 1.5 years ago and now it leaks again till I fixed it correctly. The O-ring in it's O-ring groove. Your welcome.
I rewatched that part in which he pulled the o ring out. If there were a groove, the o ring would have come out MUCH harder. It looks like its just a stop it sits against. If that were the case it would be fine.
If I remember correctly the power steering reservoir has a built in filter to help keep the fluid clean against debris , so its a good idea to replace anyway.
Eric your vids are awesome specially the Pontiac radiator one (that one should get an Emmy) but I disagree on German cars. They are awesome and tremendously more fun to work on than domestics or Asians. With your expertise level, you can do them correctly and clean out like a bandit. Ill send u a BMW cap. LOL
Nice treat to see a Mercedes Benz in the shop. We never see that make in your shop because we know how much you hate euro trash Eric O. lol. I hope you take more jobs like this in the future. Just as a side note, I would have thought that I broke that plastic tab on the back of the reservoir tank trying to get that E clip off. The plastic is so thin there and being that you need to remove that E clip with a pick, theres really no way around it
This is a simple job, with no mechanic skills, I did it on my 1999 MB ML430 10 years ago just with a screw driver. Only the rubber O ring needs to be replaced and this topic has been discussed many times on MB forum. Of course I researched first before doing.
So you complain about Euro cars, and finish this job without even looking at the repair software in like 10 mins? Come one man! That was so easy! Thanks for the vid, off to change the o ring and reservoir in mine :)
People that drive those cars most of the time have a good income and don't mind paying for repairs but I'm like you Eric for not wanting to work on them, the us cars are a pain in the ass also.
Joe Tiller anyone can own one aslong as you are mechanically inclined and know how to look for affordable parts. my two Mercedes cost less when it comes to parts then my old Honda and my Ford f150 that I currently have as well.
Great job, I had hard time pushing the C clamp in. OEM reservoir and O ring aren't very expensive, but I assume hard to get where you're at. Oh, someone mentioned the reservoir has filter built-in it. I don't see you bleed air after filling PS fluid, it'll whine badly without. Power Steering fluid flush is super easy on this ML320, just need someone else to turn the wheel lock to lock a few times(10-15) while bleeding air.
I BET THE REAL REASON ERIC WON'T SAY NO -he know's he's honest -he know's his work is going to be as good or better than anyone in that area -and most of all if someone goes to another mechanic they may get screwed major with a fancy german euro car that other people will charge through the roof for and or mess it up. So basically he knows he's saving that person from a ton of headaches by being a good dude and putting the potential headache on him because he can handle it + in the end he gets paid anyway. That's my take on good dude Eric & the Euro Cars
Happier than a pig in s... Don't think I'll ever do a repair like that I can barely get by on a domestic never mind euros , that would take another tool box :) never seen anybody give you a thumbs down, no reason to. Now if you insist I'm always willing to help out - In the meantime good vid, I'll just have to give you a 👍
Perhaps not too ironically, that beveled O-ring (8:11) looks similar in design to the (much, much larger) ones Morton-Thiokol used on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger's solid rocket boosters. "There's your problem, Houston!"
If someone shows up with a car they already tried to fix, charge them double. If they have a European car charge them triple. If they have a Euro that they already tried to fix themselves, push them out the door, lock it and flip over the closed sign.
FYI Mercedes oil change you can sick it all from the dipstick the lowest part of the pan is where they put the dipstick no more taking the shields down. and the oil filter is up top too
Not all the european cars are garbage. Mostly its the german junk. Also another problem is because prople dont know how to work on these cars simply because thes are not familiar with them. When you get to know a car a bit much its not that big of a deal to work on. But i cant argue the fact that germans are making junk money pit cars. Greetings from Croatia Eric and keep up the good work, you have viewers from around the globe. Personally i would like to see more diesels and european and japanese vehicles but i know, its how it is up there in the usa :) regards
Eric what kind of fluid did you use? Is it ok to use generic PSF? I'm thinking to change PSF on my mom's truck to save her a few bucks. But the manual said "only Mercedes Benz PSF", whatever that is...
Go to Napa to to get the correct PS fluid Pentosin CHF11s, be prepare to be shocked by the price. My brother-in-law needed PSF for his Mercedes and I brought him to Napa, he took out a $20 and I said it going to cost more than that. He was shocked that the quart cost almost $40. The counter guy and I had a laugh, when I said "Liquid Gold".
Well OEM is the best way to go. It is hit and miss with the aftermarket stuff weather its from advance, napa, rock auto or whatever. These parts did seem of good quality.
You are very patient...because you used a pry bar and not "the judge". LOL. Oh, you were very slow with this European, as you stated, over working on American and Asian, was talking to the screen to you to be berry careful with the plastic.
Eric you are a awesome man and mechanic I will be doing the same job changing reservoir soon on my s class 500 thank you did you have to flush system out ? did any air get in system thank you Eric
Someone mentioned the filter, in older Mercedes the filter is in the bottom of the reservoir, newer Mercedes like this one with plastic reservoir the filter is moulded in the reservoir so you have also changed the filter.
John, Before 1992 Mercedes made the best world class cars. Unfortunately after they appointed Mr. Shremp, (Yes it sounds like it looks), he decided that Mercedes AG would become a "mass" producer of cars instead or producing the best engineered cars of the day. As production numbers went up, quality and engineering went out the window. In the long past they required the design engineers to work on the assembly line for a year to instill the idea of building the cars bodies and mechanicals in such a way as to facilitate a non horrendous access to parts needing repair or replacement. As you is plainly evident, the the cars are difficult to work on and the interior trim is of substandard construction.
Maybe I missed it. But, did you replace the pump as well as the reservoir, or just the latter? Also, how much fluid did the job take? I've been putting fluid in mine regularly and want to take care of the leak. Just wanted to know how much fluid I should plan on? Do you drain it completely as well?
On another note, I love NAPA, those folks have been nothing but awesome to me. I have ran into faulting electrical parts right out of the box from them on occasion, but I can assure you it will happen more often with other big name parts dealers, so beware. I don't know why but brake switches for a lot of Chrysler products always seem like trash, so I just go with authentic Mopar for those. Interesting video Eric, do you ever use UV dye to find leaks?
Oh yeah ya get the bad part all to often in this biz. I do use dye when I have to. I did a vid on a town and country timing cover and I used it in that. Did it like a month ago just haven't edited it yet... Didn't really think there was to much interest in the longer videos but guess there is so I gotta get it done really...
Hi Eric, big fan of your channel - think I've watched just about everyone of your vids! Would be very grateful if you get time to get back to on this question: I've got an ML same as the one in your vid, and the power steering just does not work at all, no noise or kick back or anything, but just no assistance, have checked & topped up the fluid level - no difference, I suspect the pump, but was wondering if there's a way of confirming (with reasonable certainty) before changing? Thanks
I watched a lot of Eric O. video's in the last two years, I am even subscribed to the channel. Rarely a non-American brand passes by. I own a 2002 Mercedes ML320 (actually built in Alabama) and am looking into a small issue with my power steering. After looking at a video by the Mercedes medic I looked away and suddenly heard a familiar voice. Turns out my favorite online mechanis has been working on the same problem. Now there is a coincidence. SO thank you Eric O. for your help even 4 years after you helped someone by recording it!!
I have the gl450 also built in alabama lol
I bought a 2--7 mercedes x164 this past year and I've been pleasantly surprised how easy a lot of the diy work I've been able to do on it has been. There's a lot of really good video tutorials out there.
Here's to keeping old threads alive! 😃Picked up the W166 ML350 last year. Did my own oil change in the driveway, I may become of fan of the filter on top for sure. Hopefully just basic maintenance will keep it going. Need to get it to 200k. It's a made in Bama one as well. Seemed to have done a nice job with it.
It’s nice to watch oldies like this and see the difference in your camera comfort level..now your such the professional and super comfy with the camera. Whether it’s brake job after brake job after brake job and offerings of your other jobs it’s always been a pleasure to watch you and the family at work or play. Keep em coming, your a household name these days fella..great work.
Done this on my ML. Got to wonder about the engineers use of plastic. You are spot on with this. Thank you wish your shop was closer to me......... Still driving my last Mercedes. I am a big fan of your videos and troubleshooting. "just a bunch of nuts and bolts!!"
the views you give using steady camera, mirrors, good lighting - you're heads above the others
Hi, I just started watching your videos and i just want to tell you how great they are. Fantastic camera work and editing. Plus your personality is chill. Keep up the awesome work!!!
john smithy Thanks, figure I work on this junk everyday, may as well record it haha
Incredible video. I was about to take my pump off, I will check that first. I wouldn’t have if you didn’t take the time to make a nice detailed video. Definitely a new subscriber!! Thanks man
getting ready to do this on mine after 10 years of great service from my 99 ML430 . this era of Benz pretty easy and straight forward to work on and pretty solid ,now have a second one 04 clk 500.. simple fix
This is the 5th time pulling the reservoir and the first video that put emphasis on the o ring, turns out place my mom took it just put a standard round one and it doesn't work. Kudos man
It is unfortunate you don't like working on "European Cars" because this is the best video I have seen on this repair. I have a fluid leak on my 2002 ML500 and, thanks to your video, I am confident I can track it down. I don't suppose it will help to mention all MLs are made in the USA !
Great Video, well done. the last mechanic i went to flat out told me i had to replace that pump........and it's leaking in the exact same spot as you pointed out. Sad that there are Crooks in this line of work. thanks again for that informative video
I have my first euro ever now. And I can say there has been some speed bumps as far as maintenance costs and chasing quality Parts. But there hasn't been a lot of it. And the car rides and handles like a dream compared to any Chevy I ever had. Incredibly stable at high speeds. I've often looked down on the highway, and been like oh crap I'm doing 100. Lol the Jeep Cherokee I used to have at 100mph, you had White knuckles and we're praying the rosary.
Great video, saved me cash so I gave you some!! The most difficult part of this fix is the C clip that needs to come off and then back on - it was a really hard to get off and almost as hard to get back on. I have a 2008 ML 350 and it is a bit tougher to get to that C clip from what you showed in the video. Other than that everything else was the same and worked out great. Thanks for the video.
tony280 glad you got it, fixed.i just worked on a ml350...it was a nightmare. wish I would have made a video.
SMA, Nice video. Easy to see the process and solid to the point commentary. On a side note i'd never purchase URO (labeled on the baggy with the o-ring), even an o-ring. Rubber parts for a Benz go OE/OEM. Granted it seems silly to spend $6 for rubber washer but it does make a difference.
Agreed, Uro parts are not professional quality.
I would never use anything URO, especially any rubber part. Bought breather hoses from URO, all cracked in less than 4 months. Stick with genuine MB, anything rubber, hoses, O rings and gaskets, they're not $6 for this O ring, rather around $2, how much are you trying to save?
You are correct.URO is complete garbage!
I imagine somewhere In Germany, a master mechanic named Hannes O. is making a video diagnosing an electrical fault on a Chevy truck.
They don't sell Chevy trucks in Europe.
I'm 35 and I've never seen an American pickup here in Europe. They'd look ridiculously large in our cities and we don't have the taste for gas guzzlers.
We get a few American cars but really not much. That I can name there's the neon, pt cruiser, that Bentley looking saloon and a couple of really sad rebranded daewoos. Not much else.
@@deviouslaw Yeah, but the last time I saw a non-military G-class is, well, did I ever see one on a Dutch road?
@@MrAmorti There are no American pick-ups in Europe because of the rain, the fuel consumption, the build quality, and because the EU has a 10% tariff on them.
And Hans is muttering “scheisse” under his breath.
I am a shady tree guy in the UK. I have owned all sorts of European cars and worked on most European models. Once I switched to Mercedes I have stuck with them for 20 years. They are different. Go anywhere in the third world and they all drive Mercedes or Land Cruisers because they are tough. Working on them is OK, they are well designed by proper engineers. From the C class up, they are rear wheel drive so more room to work on the engine. The next gen engines are dropping the V6 and going back to the straight 6 which is so much easier to work on. As for BMW, VW, AUDI along with French and Italian cars, they are a pain! Get used to how Mercedes do things and you will love and respect them.
I can't disagree with you man. Ever since I bought a 204 chassis ( GLK ), I keep smiling everytime I work on it. So much space in the engine bay, the M272 engine seems rock solid in terms of reliability. Things are so well made and it seems like everything is well designed, to my eyes at least. So far so good man
It just gets better.
Harvey Smith I very much agree mate.
Hi Eric ,Another great video .I've had the same problem with the Mercedes Benz .The clip that hold the pump to the reservoir is a pain in the rear end .Jim
It was snug that;s for sure.
Thanks for the video showing that is very helpful and saved me money I knew It had to be a small issue. But I have to say I had 2 Mercedes from 2001 to 2011 and those are the most reliable cars ever and in all those model year the only thing that goes bad is that pump and leaking steering pump fluid no joke . I’m saying this because you were criticizing those cars and let me tell you the amount of problems you get with a GM car versus these being just a pump ring there is no comparison . I am pretty hard on my vehicles and don’t maintain them as good as I should and I have to say MB always started on me no matter what in the cold or hot heat one of the most reliable cars ever. Now BMW ,Porsche and Audi is another story ! Those are problem city. I would rate in reliability this way : MB #1 , honda #2 and Toyota # 3 on imports can’t go wrong !
As a multiple car & Mercedes owner I tend to agree. My driveway has Mercedes, Toyotas and Mazda's and the Benz's have been the most reliable over the past few years (99 C230k, 06 E350, 08 E350).
I was thinkin u have gottin away with just the hose replacement the elbow, but u for seen to get the reservoir too, good thinkin, like u said everyone is happy, and part wasn't too expessive, good vdeos as always. see ya sir.
I'm happy and admire your courage. I have 2 BMW videos and a Mercedes that I can't upload because the star became insane with frustration aka cursing like crazy. Nice work.
These old videos are the absolute best of Eric O vids. He was just so much more willing to take time to show so much more. Now he’s still great just not as willing to spend the long hours which is understandable!
Perhaps this is the beginning of a new found love for German technology?
Very good video, helped me to identify the exact same problem on my ML. Thank you for sharing !
Thanks I enjoyed your style of explaining step by step
Sweet little video!!! Thank you for making it!!! Love all the videos
my Mercedes ML350 has steer pump oil leak slowly. the auto shop's owners told me need to replace the whole piece with control valves ,which could cost about from $1500-$1800... i just wish your shop is near to where I live, I will definitely bring the car to you to fix it :)
Thanks for the video!I was a little stumped with my job until this video because mine only leaked out overnite with the vehicle off.
As always, super video, thanks! A lot of ironising over Euro cars in video and in commentary field, which is fine. In Europe we talk in the same way about French cars. You are lucky you don't have many of those around in the US, or Fiats....
European auto manufacturers have achieved new levels in producing the not reparable transportation appliance.
Expertly done. Thank you so much for this video. My 02 ML500 has this exact issue and it looks like my Saturday will be a garage day 👍👍
Thanks buddy its Merce....ML 320. Cream of SUV.
Always replace the reservoir when replacing the o-ring.The filter screen inside the reservoir tears allowing the fluid to flow in with very little resistance
which causes the fluid to aerate.(If you ever see one of these with a p/s whine and the fluid level is normal take a peek inside the reservoir with the engine running and if you see the fluid flowing “violently” the screen is torn.Also please please please use factory parts-URO is complete garbage!
Have a 2000 55. My steering is very stiff been that way for a while. Its steerable once moving. Its not smooth at all. Anybody has an idea what it can be?
@@TechTrailblazer4 sounds like your power steering is out. Could be out of fluid, could be the pump is dead.
@@45johngalt Appreciate it - I suspect the pump. The fluid is filled to capacity.
Great complete video! I learned a lot from you. Great Job! Anyway Thanks!
Now you have a MB customer and probably saved the lady some $$$$$ so you can sleep well
You did another great repair. Well done. Thanks.
Thanks for watching Luigi Torchia . YW
Started watching ur channel this year I'm a big fan saying that time to subscribe
I don't know where you are located. I been having problem that you disclose about the same car you are talking about Mercedes Benz 2000 Ml 320.
I took it in the shop today because engine light is on, and I have hard time turning. I going to see if I need a pump, reservoir, I worry .Thanks for your information. I bought Mercedes Brake fluid, because it was going some where. Wow! if you are close to Pinole, or I have friend near your area I will recommend you .
good attention to detail.Give us your opinion on euro cars and why they are not on top of your list of favs.
Don't worry, you didn't work on a European car. Like all MLs up to 2012, that one was manufactured in Vance, Alabama. It's more American than most Chevys!
I started life as a Benz tech; from my experience, that reservoir was already cracked, and was very likely the cause of the leak. Nothing of your doing. :]
What's your view on Mercedes in terms of how easy it is to work on ? ( cant find the right word lol ) Are you still a tech there ? Which chassis is your favorite ?
rock
It really depends on the vintage. In terms of the physical wrenching, a car is a car. But the diagnostics aspect can get tricky the newer the cars get. "Factory" support isn't as prominent in the aftermarket for Mercedes like it is for a lot of US Domestics and Japanese imports.
You'll find with a lot of the newer Mercedes, many of the modules are coded to each other. If you replace an ignition switch, or a body control module somewhere, the car will refuse to start until a factory scan tool is used to code in the new module to the rest of the system. Even more bizarrely, if you're doing a brake job on some Mercedes going back as far as 1996-ish, you cannot under any circumstances open the doors or touch anything inside the car until the brake job is complete. Otherwise, you'll find your caliper pistons on the ground.
If you have access to the factory scan tools, then it's no big deal. If not though, it can be next to impossible to do a lot of diagnostics or repairs.
I personally like the mid-80s to early 90s Mercs; W124, W201, and even the earlier platforms like the W126, W116 and R107 are wonderful.
Some things are significantly easier to fix on foreign cars than domestic. But by my estimate around 2000 or so American cars started to go the “modular” route with entire systems easy to access and replace. But here’s my take on the bigger picture, based on my experience from around 1985 till now. From the 60’s American cars to around 2010 cars, all makes. Japanese and Korean cars are usually very easy to R&R. The parts aren’t made to last forever so they don’t try, but everything is AT LEAST high enough quality to compete with the rest of the world. To the point-when a part is extremely difficult to remove&replace, especially Mercedes and Volkswagen/Audi, that usually means that part is more robust than you think and probably never needed to be replaced anyway, maybe just repaired in place. Window switches are hard to replace, but rarely fail. Inner door latch handles are much easier cause any ape can be overzealous and snap them off, regardless of build quality. Audi and Volkswagen and Mercedes engines bottom ends don’t fail without an outside cause, that is until maybe twice the mileage of a comparable domestic. Mercedes brakes are easy to do. Late model Chevrolet truck brakes seem easy, but are easy to screw up since some of the positioning is not intuitive. And that’s what car repair comes down to. How intuitive can diagnosis and repair be? The question of our eta. If your heater doesn’t make hot air, and your engine is running a bit hotter than usual, don’t just replace the heater core. How about a stuck closed thermostat? Or as in this video, and the reason I’m watching is because my brother sent my moms ML320 to the shop for a power steering pump replacement, but I told him I doubted it was the pump itself, but a seal, as the truck sits often and is parked within 150’ of saltwater. He also can’t seem to get in his head that it’s a premium fuel only engine, not 87 octane, no matter how many times I tell him, and he used to be a service writer!!
Thank you, I watched just now for the C Clip install
Nice to see the Jasper Engine's banner. Jasper Engine's headquarters is just up the road from me in Jasper, Indiana. I drive by all the time. lol
Mark Hicks nice to see someone from Indiana other than me watchin SMA I'm in Elkhart
mercedes cars are cashcows. Once you get familiar with them they arent that bad to work on because they dont rust as bad as domestics and if you can save a customer some bones and provide a dealer alternative you're going to have business forever
+nicholas elias I have heard a few people mention that
look at albert einstein really smart german guy, but couldnt tie his own shoes.
Idk I live in Minnesota and pretty much any 90s to mid 2000s Mercedes I see are covered in rust, especially the C, E and S class. Granted 95% of the Mercedes I see driving are less than 10 years old
Same with my 2011 BMW 3 series.. 170,000 miles, no squeaks and rattles.. drives like a car with 30k on the clock. I fix what I can myself.. not too bad if you follow their sometimes proprietary procedures. I think they are well made cars for the most part but it’s best to buy one that’s the last year of a particular body style, they usually have most of the over engineering kinks out at that point.
Not sure if the guy in this vid reads these, but he put the O-ring in wrong. It goes in a O-ring groove inside the neck of the reservoir so it will not be able to slide around and leak again. I had a mechanic do it the same as you about 1.5 years ago and now it leaks again till I fixed it correctly. The O-ring in it's O-ring groove. Your welcome.
I rewatched that part in which he pulled the o ring out. If there were a groove, the o ring would have come out MUCH harder. It looks like its just a stop it sits against. If that were the case it would be fine.
You needed the special German clipinsi toolin. Working on those cars can give you a brain tomah!
I've owned six of them, and yes they can require more attention than other makes.
If I remember correctly the power steering reservoir has a built in filter to help keep the fluid clean against debris , so its a good idea to replace anyway.
Good video.. thank you . Helpful for me when I bring my 2002 ml320 to the mechanic .
Eric your vids are awesome specially the Pontiac radiator one (that one should get an Emmy) but I disagree on German cars. They are awesome and tremendously more fun to work on than domestics or Asians. With your expertise level, you can do them correctly and clean out like a bandit. Ill send u a BMW cap. LOL
Those 41 dislikes must have been the MB stealership techs that watched the video.
Great video. Now subscribed. I have a merc like this and its leaking fluid from that o ring.
Nice treat to see a Mercedes Benz in the shop. We never see that make in your shop because we know how much you hate euro trash Eric O. lol. I hope you take more jobs like this in the future. Just as a side note, I would have thought that I broke that plastic tab on the back of the reservoir tank trying to get that E clip off. The plastic is so thin there and being that you need to remove that E clip with a pick, theres really no way around it
Thanks. I have a 2002 ML 500 with the same problem. Going to try to fix it myself.
Always enjoy your videos
Great video as usual! I haven't had the chance to work on many euros but that seemed like a nice way to start the day
Always good when something goes as planned :)
Thanks for sharing, great video!
This is a simple job, with no mechanic skills, I did it on my 1999 MB ML430 10 years ago just with a screw driver. Only the rubber O ring needs to be replaced and this topic has been discussed many times on MB forum. Of course I researched first before doing.
Love your channel I've lernd a lot from whacting your videos
That was solid! have exactly the same problem but on a ML500
Nice fix Eric O 👍🏻 As always it’s only nuts and bolts lol 😆
Excellent video. Very helpful.
Great video young man! Good job.
So you complain about Euro cars, and finish this job without even looking at the repair software in like 10 mins? Come one man! That was so easy! Thanks for the vid, off to change the o ring and reservoir in mine :)
Thank you ! I have a Crossfire and its a very similar setup so this helped !
Good job Erik; YOU DA MAN!
People that drive those cars most of the time have a good income and don't mind paying for repairs but I'm like you Eric for not wanting to work on them, the us cars are a pain in the ass also.
Joe Tiller anyone can own one aslong as you are mechanically inclined and know how to look for affordable parts. my two Mercedes cost less when it comes to parts then my old Honda and my Ford f150 that I currently have as well.
Now i'll go and watch your head gasket vids.
Great Video's you know your stuff!
The reservoir has a filter in it and its a good practice to change it just to replace the filter.
Great job, I had hard time pushing the C clamp in. OEM reservoir and O ring aren't very expensive, but I assume hard to get where you're at. Oh, someone mentioned the reservoir has filter built-in it. I don't see you bleed air after filling PS fluid, it'll whine badly without.
Power Steering fluid flush is super easy on this ML320, just need someone else to turn the wheel lock to lock a few times(10-15) while bleeding air.
Great video and explanation. I wish you did more MB. How long did it take.
Dude, yo da man brother. Always good videos
Great video. What are some signs that you have to change the steering pump as well?
Guy cracked the lady’s power steering reservoir off camera 😂
Awesome video and very helpful
Hi i have 2000 E-320 Mercedes i would like to know what is the correct power steering pump is its self level or without self level
I BET THE REAL REASON ERIC WON'T SAY NO
-he know's he's honest
-he know's his work is going to be as good or better than anyone in that area
-and most of all if someone goes to another mechanic they may
get screwed major with a fancy german euro car that other people will charge
through the roof for and or mess it up.
So basically he knows he's saving that person from a ton of headaches
by being a good dude and putting the potential headache on him
because he can handle it + in the end he gets paid anyway.
That's my take on good dude Eric & the Euro Cars
Happier than a pig in s... Don't think I'll ever do a repair like that I can barely get by on a domestic never mind euros , that would take another tool box :) never seen anybody give you a thumbs down, no reason to. Now if you insist I'm always willing to help out - In the meantime good vid, I'll just have to give you a 👍
Lol haha thanks Steve. Just like to leave the option open and out there for folks. Hey you saw it, all i needed was a big bar and some pliers right?
Perhaps not too ironically, that beveled O-ring (8:11) looks similar in design to the (much, much larger) ones Morton-Thiokol used on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger's solid rocket boosters. "There's your problem, Houston!"
If someone shows up with a car they already tried to fix, charge them double. If they have a European car charge them triple. If they have a Euro that they already tried to fix themselves, push them out the door, lock it and flip over the closed sign.
Lmao that's a good one. Except I like working on Benzes, so I'd charge triple for any american product instead. Lol!
I think I'm going to adopt your policy! lol
FYI Mercedes oil change you can sick it all from the dipstick the lowest part of the pan is where they put the dipstick no more taking the shields down. and the oil filter is up top too
Not all the european cars are garbage. Mostly its the german junk. Also another problem is because prople dont know how to work on these cars simply because thes are not familiar with them. When you get to know a car a bit much its not that big of a deal to work on. But i cant argue the fact that germans are making junk money pit cars. Greetings from Croatia Eric and keep up the good work, you have viewers from around the globe. Personally i would like to see more diesels and european and japanese vehicles but i know, its how it is up there in the usa :) regards
Eric How's the Subaru going.I see it behind you in the video.
No heads yet.. hoping on Monday. All ready been a few days...
Eric what kind of fluid did you use? Is it ok to use generic PSF? I'm thinking to change PSF on my mom's truck to save her a few bucks. But the manual said "only Mercedes Benz PSF", whatever that is...
3325 I don't recall I believe Prestone makes a euro spec though
Go to Napa to to get the correct PS fluid Pentosin CHF11s, be prepare to be shocked by the price. My brother-in-law needed PSF for his Mercedes and I brought him to Napa, he took out a $20 and I said it going to cost more than that. He was shocked that the quart cost almost $40. The counter guy and I had a laugh, when I said "Liquid Gold".
Bob Moy
Mercedes p/s fluid or dex/merc trans fluid is correct for these trucks per MB.
So it looks like the reservoir crack or o-ring was bad maybe both? Fantastic VIDEO btw!
Great fix
can i use a mighty vac to do a power steering flush if I'm not going to be replacing the pump or tank? or will that suction damage something?
is there a huge difference between the napa parts and factory parts? Is it the correct fit usually?
Well OEM is the best way to go. It is hit and miss with the aftermarket stuff weather its from advance, napa, rock auto or whatever. These parts did seem of good quality.
You are very patient...because you used a pry bar and not "the judge". LOL. Oh, you were very slow with this European, as you stated, over working on American and Asian, was talking to the screen to you to be berry careful with the plastic.
Eric you are a awesome man and mechanic I will be doing the same job changing reservoir soon on my s class 500 thank you did you have to flush system out ? did any air get in system thank you Eric
See, our cars are not so bad. :D
+Atrax R Just did a rack in this same car, not to bad, had to pull the diff but pretty easy really!
Probably cost the customer a good chunk of money, though.... I'm sure you still saved the customer a lot of dough over the Stealership!
Why did the power steering pump replacement not have a Pulley affixed with it? Just a general question.
good job mr O
Would it be smart to use a sealer on the oring when installing it?
Someone mentioned the filter, in older Mercedes the filter is in the bottom of the reservoir, newer Mercedes like this one with plastic reservoir the filter is moulded in the reservoir so you have also changed the filter.
Oh good to know. Thanks for sharing g johan
John, Before 1992 Mercedes made the best world class cars. Unfortunately after they appointed Mr. Shremp, (Yes it sounds like it looks), he decided that Mercedes AG would become a "mass" producer of cars instead or producing the best engineered cars of the day. As production numbers went up, quality and engineering went out the window. In the long past they required the design engineers to work on the assembly line for a year to instill the idea of building the cars bodies and mechanicals in such a way as to facilitate a non horrendous access to parts needing repair or replacement. As you is plainly evident, the the cars are difficult to work on and the interior trim is of substandard construction.
Maybe I missed it. But, did you replace the pump as well as the reservoir, or just the latter? Also, how much fluid did the job take? I've been putting fluid in mine regularly and want to take care of the leak. Just wanted to know how much fluid I should plan on?
Do you drain it completely as well?
On another note, I love NAPA, those folks have been nothing but awesome to me. I have ran into faulting electrical parts right out of the box from them on occasion, but I can assure you it will happen more often with other big name parts dealers, so beware. I don't know why but brake switches for a lot of Chrysler products always seem like trash, so I just go with authentic Mopar for those. Interesting video Eric, do you ever use UV dye to find leaks?
Oh yeah ya get the bad part all to often in this biz. I do use dye when I have to. I did a vid on a town and country timing cover and I used it in that. Did it like a month ago just haven't edited it yet... Didn't really think there was to much interest in the longer videos but guess there is so I gotta get it done really...
South Main Auto Repair yes we will be waiting eagerly for it.
love your videos
+vipervette03 Thanks
Hi Eric, big fan of your channel - think I've watched just about everyone of your vids! Would be very grateful if you get time to get back to on this question: I've got an ML same as the one in your vid, and the power steering just does not work at all, no noise or kick back or anything, but just no assistance, have checked & topped up the fluid level - no difference, I suspect the pump, but was wondering if there's a way of confirming (with reasonable certainty) before changing? Thanks
What does a repair like that cost? I have a 2008 Mercedes 350ml? ThNk you😊
how much power steering fluid is in a 2002 ml320 mercedes benz?