How to Deal with a Loose Front-End Steering in Mercedes

Posted on | 29 Nov 2018 By Anita Gaal

It can be scary when your steering wheel feels loose. It won’t turn quite right, and whether your steering wheel simply won’t respond—requiring you to turn too much and overcompensate— or turns too freely, either way, it’s an unsettling experience. Without a way to reliably gauge the position of your wheels, you may feel hesitant about driving.

You’re exactly right to be concerned. Loose front-end steering can be a dangerous issue for any driver, but especially in a delicately engineered vehicle like a Mercedes. So, if you’re concerned about your safety—and that of your car—how should you deal with loose front-end steering?

Identify the Problem

The first step is to identify the possible causes of your issues. For example, one of the most common reasons for loose front-end steering to occur is wear and tear on the tie rods.

Worn Tie Rods

The tie rods are basically your bridge from the steering wheel to the steering box (and in turn, your tires). Basically, when you turn your steering wheel, your tie rods tell the wheels to turn in response.

However, your tie rods will experience some normal wear and tear over time, and this will eventually make them less responsive. This, in turn, can cause your front-end steering to become less responsive.

Worn Ball Joint

Another problem might be wear and tear on your car’s ball joint. Similar to the tie rods, a ball joint connects your Mercedes’ wheel hubs to the suspension components which help your tires to turn. It’s common to have one or two ball joints per wheel and if one of the ball joints is damaged, it might not be appropriately equipped to hold your tire. If that’s the case, you would definitely experience some looseness in your front-end steering, and you might also hear an alarming banging noise when you try to steer.

How to Fix It

Once you’ve identified the problem, you’ll want to take appropriate action, and in the case of a loose front-end steering, the next important step is to acknowledge that you can’t fix it yourself. Because this is a fairly serious issue with multiple interconnected parts, you wouldn’t want to practically attempt surgery on your car yourself. Instead, you should bring your Mercedes to a trusted, reliable mechanic. And that’s where we come in!

How We Can Help

At Euro Automotive, we understand the value of your car and your investment in it. Your Mercedes isn’t like every other car on the road; it’s a skillfully crafted, beautiful machine that was designed with precision and the finest technology. That’s why your car needs more than your average mechanic can give it. Your Mercedes needs someone who understands its quirks and delicacies, someone who will treat it with the care it deserves.

At Euro Automotive, we understand the value of an informed customer, and we appreciate the care and attention you put into understanding your car. That’s why we’re happy to discuss your assessment of the problem and work with you to share our experience and insight in return.

We also understand that the quality and durability of your car is a direct reflection of the quality of care it receives. That’s why we make caring for your car our top priority. Each of our mechanics are certified experts who specialize in the care and maintenance of European cars. Our mechanics have years of training backed by years of experience in working with the finest European automotives, and they’re guaranteed to provide your car with top-notch care.

But we don’t just offer the best combination of skills and experience—we also believe that top-notch care doesn’t have to come with a top-notch price. You’ve already made a significant investment in the purchase of your car; why invest even more on maintenance? Why not make the smart choice and bring your Mercedes to Euro Automotive? Here, we can show you the difference that quality care and affordable pricing can make.

We’re proud to offer the best—and most accessible—care for your European car. Whether you’re in Dallas, Garland, Arlington, or Ft. Worth, we’re here to meet your needs. Don’t drive around with a loose front-end steering! Just bring it to us and let us help.

* Mercedes AMG SLS image credit goes to: Mauvries.

* Mercedes Logo image credit goes to: vesilvio.

Top 5 Maintenance Tips for Your Car

Posted on | 12 Nov 2018 By Anita Gaal

Automotive maintenance is not something that’s at the forefront of most people’s minds, often for understandable reasons. Either auto maintenance is too expensive, time-consuming, or inconvenient (or a combination of all three!). Though it seems like a hassle, if you stay on top of auto maintenance routines you’ll benefit greatly in the end. Here are some of the reasons why it’s important to stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance:

• Increases your car’s reliability
• Extends your car’s longevity
• Retains your car’s value
• Enhances your car’s performance
• Increases and maintains your safety (as well as other’s on the road)
• Saves you money in expensive repair bills
• Reduces the number of times you’ll encounter performance problems

Those are just some of the more salient reasons for remaining diligent with your car’s specified maintenance schedule, which can be found in your owner’s manual. It is also especially important to make sure you find an automotive shop that specializes in the specific type of car you drive, so that you can ensure you receive the highest quality of care and replacement parts.

In this article, we’ll go over five basic areas of your car that should be maintained consistently. This list is nowhere near exhaustive or conclusive, so it’s important to collaborate with an automotive professional and stick to a strict maintenance routine.

1. Engine Oil Maintenance

Most drivers underestimate the importance of their engine oil, which can be a grave mistake. Engine oil is the most essential fluid for your car’s ongoing performance, reliability, and longevity. Here are a few things you should do routinely:

• Inspect the oil
• Flush and change the oil
• Replace the oil filter

2. Air Filter Replacements

Your car’s air filter is what “filters” the air from the outside. This means that it’s removing toxins, debris, contaminants, pollen, and dust from the air entering the engine, which can build up over time. When the air filter becomes clogged, it can take a serious toll on your engine health and performance, and will eventually lead to significant issues. It is usually recommended that the air filter be at least inspected each time you have your engine oil changed, making it an easy, one-stop-shop deal.

3. Brake Servicing

Needless to say, your brakes are one of the most important aspects of your vehicle to maintain consistently, as they play a huge part in your ongoing safety on the road. Brake systems vary depending on the type of car you drive, so it’s important to consult with a specialist near you. Here are some components that may need servicing as time passes:

• Brake rotors
• Brake wheel cylinders
• Brake drums
• Brake calipers
• Brake pads
• Brake lines
• Brake hoses

4. Tire Health Servicing

Your car’s tires are what see the most road contact, and this causes them to wear rather quickly. Here are just a few elements that will affect how your tires wear over time:

• The weather where you live
• Frequent driving conditions (like heavy traffic, gravel areas, road imperfections, or dirt roads)
• Driving habits, such as frequent, sudden braking, burning out, or taking turns quickly
• The time of year – in the summer the tire material expands and can wear quicker
• Quality of the suspension system – issues with suspension components can lead to uneven tire wear

It’s best to stay on top of routine maintenance tasks such as:

• Wheel balancing
• Wheel alignments
• Tire rotations
• Tire replacements
• Tire repair (when damaged)
• Maintaining the tire pressure to desired level (recommended by manufacturer in owner’s manual)

5. Cooling System Checks and Maintenance

Your car’s cooling system is essential to keeping the engine temperature at the appropriate level, despite the temperature outside. There are many different cooling system components, but the core features are most important:

• The radiator
• Radiator cooling fans
• Water pump
• Head gaskets
• Intake manifold gaskets
• Bypass system components
• Thermostat
• Cooling fluid (antifreeze)

How We Can Help You

The European import experts here at Euro Automotive provide ongoing, routine servicing and maintenance for a number of different vehicle brands, such as: Volvo, Volkswagen, Porsche, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz. Rated the #1 European car service shop in the areas of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, TX, we take pride in our work. If you’d like some help staying on top of your car’s maintenance schedule, please get in touch with one of our automotive experts to schedule an appointment today.