January 2021 - Turning Wrenches

Factors That Lead to Power Steering Failure in Your Mercedes

by turningwpuser | Jan 30, 2021 | Mercedes Repair

Mercedes stands as a pinnacle of comfort, performance, and reliability among drivers. With its sleek design and integration of the latest automobile improvements and technology, the Mercedes boasts a superior driving experience. It requires routine automotive repair services to maintain its performance, including solving power steering failure to prevent negative consequences.

Power steering enables the agility and maneuverability of a vehicle. It is a vital system to the basic operations of a car and therefore, power steering failure can be worrisome. Often, performance and safety issues arise by power steering failure such as leaking, difficulty driving, or unnatural sounds. Failure can be caused by multiple reasons, including problems with the power steering fluid or damage and wear to mechanical components.

It is necessary to schedule routine maintenance appointments to check your power steering system in your Mercedes. This article will highlight multiple factors that can lead to power steering failure in your Mercedes and the next steps to take to maintain the comfort, performance, and reliability you expect and deserve from your car.

Factors That Can Lead to Power Steering Failure

Below are descriptions of some causes and related complications of power steering failure. If you suspect power steering is on the verge of failure, it is important to make an appointment with a specialist to diagnose it for your Mercedes.

Improper Power Steering Fluid Levels : Your car requires a precise amount of steering fluid to properly function. Too little fluid leads to not enough power and too much creates too high of a pressure to function. Leaks within the power steering system can cause such consequences. Regular inspection and replacement of power steering fluid avoids this problem as well as keeps your Mercedes in peak condition.
Contaminated Power Steering Fluid: Dirt and sludge can contaminate your power steering fluid. If this suboptimal quality of fluid is used in operation of the vehicle, it could clog the system and cause failure of other mechanisms like gears and pumps. Refer to your Mercedes owner’s manual for the advised routine inspection and replacement procedures for power steering fluid offered at professional auto maintenance services.
Worn or Broken Parts: An important part of the power steering system is the power steering belt. It can wear, age, and get damaged over time and a breakage can cause failure of the system. Additionally, your power steering pump is integral to the functioning of power steering. It can wear out over time or be put under tremendous strain when steering too forcefully. It is important to seek professional help in replacing these parts with high quality products and expertise.
Driving on Extremely Rough Terrain: Rough terrain places an insurmountable amount of stress on your car. While the vehicle is durable and able to withstand certain bumps and jolts on the road, extremely rough terrain strains the power steering components in a small amount of time. This can lead to breaking of parts like the steering belt or pump which requires expert attention immediately.

Turning Wrenches Services Power Steering Problems in Your Mercedes

Our European auto experts at Turning Wrenches offer decades of experience and a superior client experience to customers located in the Louisville, KY area. Not fixing a power steering failure in your Mercedes will only create more problems to internal mechanisms and endanger you as a driver. Fortunately, power steering is an issue that can be recognized and fixed by understanding failure factors that contribute to it.

At Turning Wrenches, we believe in getting the job done right by providing the best quality service possible to you. We offer appointments that cover a diverse array of affordable, quality services for your Mercedes and other German cars like Audi, BMW, and Mini. Our specialists use state-of-the-art equipment, and we prioritize customer satisfaction in maintaining your superior comfort, performance, and reliability you’ve come to expect from your Mercedes.

If you would like our friendly and knowledgeable technicians to repair your power steering system and solve its failure or would like to learn more about our work with Mercedes and other European models, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to servicing you and your Mercedes so you can enjoy your best driving experience.

* Mercedes Steering image credit goes to: gargantiopa.

The Best Service Center for Water Logged Fuse Box in an Audi at Louisville

by turningwpuser | Jan 14, 2021 | Audi Repair

Audis are renowned for being innovative vehicles full of advanced technology. However, like all other vehicles, your Audi needs a functioning fuse box to keep all its technology running. Therefore, if your Audi’s fuse box suffers from water damage, it can seriously impair your vehicle’s functioning. If your vehicle’s fuse box has gotten waterlogged, below are some important tips on how to get it up and running again.

Understanding the Fuse Box

The main purpose of the fuse box is to prevent your Audi’s electrical system from overheating. In order to do this, it routes each of your vehicle’s wires through a fuse, which will disconnect the circuit if the wire takes on too much power.

Because the fuse box centers all of your vehicle’s wires in one place, water damage to this component can put the entire electrical system out of commission. Typically, the casing around this component is very water-resistant and can prevent damage from standard moisture exposure, such as that from rain or car washes. However, if the casing cracks or the vehicle is submerged in water, then the fuse box will likely become waterlogged.

Symptoms of a Waterlogged Fuse Box

Since a waterlogged fuse box can affect the entirety of your Audi’s electrical system, there are several symptoms you can look for to determine if your vehicle’s fuse box has suffered water damage. First, because water is such an excellent conductor of electricity, it can increase electricity current in your vehicle’s wires, leading to an overheated electrical system and blown fuses.

In turn, these blown fuses will cause specific parts of your vehicle to stop working. Depending on the location of the water damage and the blown fuses, your Audi’s entertainment system, lights, transmission, or engine may stop working. In fact, if the damage is severe enough, your vehicle may not start at all. If you notice that any of these systems are behaving unusually, you should consider examining the fuse box for blown fuses and corresponding water damage.

Another potential symptom of a waterlogged fuse box is a clogged plenum tray. The plenum tray is a component under your Audi’s hood that collects and drains water out of the engine. The plenum tray is designed to withstand heavy rain, but it can become clogged by leaves, dirt, and other debris. When this happens, water leaks out of the plenum tray and into both the vehicle’s engine and its cabin. Therefore, if you notice water seeping into your Audi just beneath the HVAC blower, you should check the rest of the engine, especially the fuse box, for water damage caused by a clogged plenum tray.

Known water exposure is another excellent reason to consider checking the fuse box for water damage. In other words, if your vehicle’s engine has recently been submerged in water, then you should definitely check the fuse box for water damage, as there is a considerable chance that the casing surrounding it failed. Doing this earlier rather than later will help prevent more significant issues, such as the blown fuses mentioned above, from developing.

Fixing the Problem

The best way to solve the problem of a waterlogged fuse box is by preventing it in the first place. In order to do this, you should regularly take your Audi to a professional mechanic for routine maintenance. Additionally, you should avoid driving through flooded roads, as the water may be unexpectedly deep and may submerge your vehicle’s fuse box.

Unfortunately, a waterlogged fuse box may not always be avoidable. If your vehicle’s fuse box is subjected to water damage, you should not attempt to solve the problem on your own. If a waterlogged fuse box is handled incorrectly, the problem can easily become much worse, and you may even end up electrocuting yourself. Therefore, if you suspect that your Audi’s fuse box has become waterlogged, you should take your vehicle to an experienced technician as soon as possible.

Turning Wrenches Will Help

If your Audi has suffered from water damage, you’ll want a professional to help you get it back on the road as soon as possible. Here at Turning Wrenches, our auto experts have provided top-notch service to customers in Louisville, KY for several decades. European cars are our passion and we’d love to help you keep yours in excellent shape, so give us a call or visit our shop today.