
Before conducting a vehicle test to identify a NVH
concern carry out the following checks.
1. Check the tire pressures and adjust tospecification, as necessary.
2. Make sure the steering system fluid is correct, the system is free of leaks and is operating
correctly.
3. Make sure the vehicle steering system temperature is the same as described at the
customer interview.
4. All evaluations must take place in a relatively quiet location.
5. The heating - air conditioning (A/C) fan and radio must be turned off during evaluations and
the windows closed.Symptom Chart
Power Steering Moan Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering moan noise with the vehicle
parked, transmission in neutral and all windows
closed in the following test conditions.
1. Engine speed at idle with no steering action.
2. Engine speed at idle with slow 90 degrees persecond turning of the steering wheel.
3. Engine speed at 1250 +/- 50 rpm with no steering action.
4. Engine speed at 1250 +/- 50 rpm with slow 90 degrees per second turning of the steering
wheel.
Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
• CHECK the routing of thepower steering lines.
• CHECK the power steering line clamps are secure.
• CHECK the power steering lines for clearance from the
vehicle body, front axle cross-
member and steering gear.
Power steering lines.
Power steering system moan
noise – A continuous low pitched
humming noise occurs when the
steering wheel is turned and the
steering system is loaded. Noise
frequency changes with engine
rpm changes. Particularly
annoying at lower engine speed. FLUSH the power steering
system.
REFER to:
Power Steering
System Flushing (211-00
Steering System - General
Information, General Proced-
ures).
Incorrect power steering fluid.
Pressure pulses from the power
steering pump. Certain amount
of noise level acceptable, not a
safety critical item.
Power steering pump.
Power Steering Whine Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering whine noise with the vehicle
parked, transmission in neutral and all windows
closed in the following test conditions. 1. Engine speed at 1800 +/- 50 rpm with no
steering action.
2. Engine speed at 1800 +/- 50 rpm with slow 90 degrees turning of the steering wheel.
3. Engine speed at 3000 +/- 50 rpm with no steering action.
4. Engine speed at 3000 +/- 50 rpm with slow 90 degrees turning of the steering wheel.
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Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
BLEED the power steering
system.
REFER to:Power Steering
System Vacuum Bleeding (211-
00 Steering System - General
Information, General Proced-
ures).
Power steering fluid aeration.
Power steering system whine
noise – a high pitched buzzing
sound like an electric motor or
drill. Whine occurs at the higher
engine rpm, 1500 - 5000 rpm,
frequency does not change if
system is loaded or not loaded. FLUSH the power steering
system.
REFER to:
Power Steering
System Flushing (211-00
Steering System - General
Information, General Proced-
ures).
Incorrect power steering fluid.
FLUSH the power steering
system.
REFER to:Power Steering
System Flushing (211-00
Steering System - General
Information, General Proced-
ures).
Overheated power steering fluid.
Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
Hydraulic operating condition of
the power steering pump.
Power Steering Hiss Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering hiss noise with the vehicle
parked, transmission in neutral and all windows
closed in the following test conditions.
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Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
Power steering system knock
noise – a damped, metallic knock
noise which only occurs at
steering condition with engine off
(very high efforts).
Power steering system knock
noise – a heavy loud repeating
sound like a knock on a door that
occurs in several driving and
steering conditions.
Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
Tolerances in the steering gear
components.
Power Steering Mechanical Knock Noise
(PAS on)
Test Condition
Listen for steering knock noise with the engine
speed at idle in the following test conditions (power
assist). 1. Turn the steering wheel to a steering lock and
return to center quickly.
2. Turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to the left and then 90 degrees to the right quickly.
Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
REFER to Steering System.
REFER to:Steering System (211-
00 Steering System - General
Information, Diagnosis and
Testing).
Worn tie-rod ball joints (inner and
outer ball joints).
Power steering system knock
noise – clear knock noise from
steering gear linkage area.
Power Steering Hammer Knock (Hydraulic)
Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering knock noise with the engine
speed at idle in the following test conditions (for vehicles with hydraulic power assisted steering
only, not electro-hydraulic power steering).
1. Turn the steering wheel to a steering lock
position and return quickly.
Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
Hydraulic noise created by pres-
sure impulses.
Power steering system knock
noise – loud, metallic sound if
hitting the suspension cross-
member with a hammer (sounds
like metallic noise but is created
by pressure impulse in gear and
return line).
Power Steering Hydraulic Knock/Clonk
Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering knock/clonk noise in the
following test conditions with the windows closed. 1. Drive over cobbled roads at low speed 10-30
km/h (6-20 mph) with and without turning.
2. Drive over straight tar strips road rails or 25 mm tall harshness strips at low speed 10-30 km/h
(6-20 mph) both driving straight and with
moderate turning.
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Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
Power steering return lines.
Power steering system knock/
clonk noise – sounds almost
identical to column knock that
occurs when driving and
cornering over cobbled stones or
rough roads. Noise may appear
to emanate from a location closer
to the floor than that for column
knock (Sounds like metallic noise
but is created by pressure
impulse in gear and return line –
similar to a sound like quickly
turning off a water tap). Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
High power assist gain of power
steering gear valve (steering gear
design - no quality issue).
Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
High power steering pump flow
rate (by design).
Power Steering Column Knock Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering knock noise in the following test
conditions with windows closed. 1. Drive over cobbled stones at low speed 16-40
km/h (10-25 mph) with and without steering
input carefully listening for knock sounds.
2. Drive over straight tar strips, road rails or 25 mm tall harshness strips at low speed 16-40 km/h
(10-25 mph) both driving straight and with
moderate cornering.
Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
CHECK the steering column
retaining bolts and attachments
to the steering column and
secure if necessary.
Steering column or steering
column shaft.
Power steering system column
knock noise – a loose sounding
rattle or vibration coming from the
column. Noticeable by hearing
and touch. Check steering column and
intermediate shaft for free play or
loose components.
REFER to:
Steering System (211-
00 Steering System - General
Information, Diagnosis and
Testing).
Power Steering Toc-Toc Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering toc-toc noise with the engine
speed at idle and the vehicle parked, automatic
transmission in "P" (PARK) or manual transmission
in neutral and the windows closed. 1. Turn the steering wheel from left to right abruptly
changing direction.
2. Drive the vehicle for low speed parking manoeuvres constantly changing steering
direction.
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Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
Certain amount of noise level
acceptable, not a safety critical
item.
Steering gear (design tolerance
in steering rack).
Power steering system toc-toc
noise – a metallic noise created
when changing direction of
steering wheel rotation during
parking manoeuvre or at stand-
still.
Power Steering Grinding Noise
Test Condition
Listen for steering grinding noise with the engine
speed at idle and the vehicle parked, automatic transmission in "P" (PARK) or manual transmission
in neutral and the windows closed.
1. Slowly turn the steering wheel from lock to lock.
2. Tilt and extend the steering column in various
positions and slowly turn the steering wheel
from lock to lock.
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Component Description
Interior scanning sensors
The interior monitoring is an additional security
system that triggers the alarm if unauthorised
access to the vehicle is detected in the area of the
windows.
The transceivers work ultrasonically. The
transmitter transmits at a specific frequency into
the monitoring area. The receiver receives the
corresponding echo signal. Here, the signals are
converted into digital values and compared with
the values from the signals received previously. If
there are significant differences between the two,
a trigger signal is sent to the GEM.
As the period during which no movement is
detected increases, so the sensitivity of the sensors
increases.
Anti-theft alarm horn with integral battery
A special horn is installed for vehicles that have to
comply with the Thatcham category I (CAT 1)
insurance standard. This horn has its own voltage
supply from an integrated battery. This ensures that the alarm horn will still be
powered even if the vehicle battery has been
disconnected.
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Anti-Theft - Active
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• The refrigerant line between the fixed orificetube and the evaporator must be cold from the
point where the fixed orifice tube is installed.
Depending on the weather, the refrigerant line
may also have ice on its surface.
• The refrigerant line between the evaporator and the A/C compressor including the dehydrator
must be cold.
Evaporator outlet line temperature test
To test the power of the A/C system, the
temperature at the evaporator outlet line must be
measured. To do this, the following preconditions
must be met:
• Open all windows.
• Set the air distribution to the defrost/dashboardposition and open all the ventilation nozzles.
• DO NOT switch on recirculated air.
• Select lowest blower switch setting.
• Select lowest temperature setting.
NOTE: The temperature measurement cannot be
done with a thermometer which makes no contact.
The surface reflection from the metal line may
cause incorrect readings.
Connect the temperature sensor (Fluke 80 PK-8)
to the outlet line of the evaporator. Locate the
temperature sensor as close as possible to the
evaporator. Connect the temperature sensor to the
multimeter.
Start the engine and allow it to run at idle speed
for several minutes.
Switch on the A/C.
After three minutes, measure the surface
temperature of the evaporator outlet line.
If the temperature measured is 4° C or lower, the
A/C system is OK. If the temperature is higher, the
A/C system may be under-filled. For further
information, refer to
REFER to: Air Conditioning (A/C) System
Recovery, Evacuation and Charging (412-00
Climate Control System - General Information,
General Procedures).
Frequent faults and their causes
If the cooling power of the A/C system is not
adequate, make certain that the temperature
control flap(s) is/are operating correctly. • No or poor cooling performance:
– Blockage or narrowing of a refrigerant line orin the dehydrator. The location of the
blockage or narrowing can easily be located
by temperature comparisons at the
refrigerant lines and the dehydrator. The
blockage or restriction is located at the point
where the temperature difference is
identified. Note: A temperature difference
in the area of the fixed orifice tube is
normal. If the location of the blockage or
narrowing is found, check the corresponding
component and renew as applicable.
• Sudden drop in cooling performance (after the air conditioning has been switched off for
approx. 5 minutes, the cooling performance
returns to normal):
– The cause is an iced-up fixed orifice tubebecause of moisture in the refrigerant circuit.
In order to ensure that moisture is completely
removed from the refrigerant circuit, the
dehydrator should be renewed and the
evacuation time should be extended to 2-3
hours. For further information
REFER to: Air Conditioning (A/C) System
Recovery, Evacuation and Charging
(412-00 Climate Control System - General
Information, General Procedures).
Sequence of A/C Request Signal
NOTE: The electronic automatic temperature
control (EATC) module is integrated into the air
conditioning control assembly.
NOTE: The generic electronic module (GEM) is
an integral part of the central junction box (CJB).
After actuating the A/C ON/OFF switch integrated
into the A/C control assembly, an A/C request
signal is sent from the A/C control assembly
(vehicles with EATC: EATC module) to the GEM.
From there, the signal is sent to the instrument
cluster via the MS-CAN bus. A gateway is installed
in the instrument cluster, which establishes the
connection between the MS-CAN bus and the
HS-CAN bus.
After the signal has been converted in the gateway,
it is relayed to the powertrain control module (PCM)
via the HS-CAN bus. Once all the required
parameters have been met, the PCM switches on
the refrigerant compressor and thus the A/C system
via the A/C clutch relay.
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