W220 Airmatic Problem, Car too high!
08-25-2010, 12:16 AM
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2000 s430
W220 Airmatic Problem, Car too high!
I have a 2000 S430 and I noticed the front end of the car was really low a week ago. The sign came on in the front saying "Stop, car too low". I rushed and took it to a local mechanic and he looked at it and said he thinks its the Airmatic compressor pump leaking and he changed it for $600.00 including labor and tax. But the problem is now the front part of the car is fine but the back part of the car is raised up a good 6 inches from the wheel. The mechanic doesn't know what it could be. He said it might be the Airmatic Computer Unit but he's not sure. The struts are pretty new and were replaced by the previous owner, so it cant be the struts. Can you guys please help?
08-25-2010, 09:52 PM
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2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
Have him check the ride height sensors and also the valve block. Better yet, since he has no clue, take it to a dealer ior to a certified MB independent with experience in Airmatic systems.
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drjoe (12-02-2019)
08-26-2010, 06:54 AM
#3
was it fine after he changed the compressor, and then the problem in the rear developed shortly after?
or was it never right from the moment he changed the compressor?
Could be something as simple as disconnecting the battery to reset the system./
or was it never right from the moment he changed the compressor?
Could be something as simple as disconnecting the battery to reset the system./
08-27-2010, 02:07 PM
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He checked the height sensors and the valve block and did not see a problem in them, I'm most likely going to take it to a dealer.....just not to excited about the huge bill they might slap me with. As for the height increase, it was never right from when he changed the compressor. I will disconnect the battery and get back to you guys ASAP.
08-28-2010, 01:47 PM
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I took the battery out for a day and kept it off overnight, I just plugged it back in and no change. I am noticing the car is getting a little (2 inches) lower from both the front and the back. I think the car is going to be lowered again from the front in a week or so like it was before i took it to the mechanic. GREAT!
08-29-2010, 04:13 AM
#6
I took the battery out for a day and kept it off overnight, I just plugged it back in and no change. I am noticing the car is getting a little (2 inches) lower from both the front and the back. I think the car is going to be lowered again from the front in a week or so like it was before i took it to the mechanic. GREAT!
Perhaps it needs to be driven (at varying speeds, including freeway) for the system to settle in? I know my car lowers itself at freeway speeds, and comes back up a bit upon exiting at the first stop sign.
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10-15-2010, 08:42 PM
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I have noticed that the Airmatic takes the car higher when parked up IF I lock the car... then if I unlock the car from the house, it re-locks and the height goes to normal.. Any ideas? Thanks
04-18-2011, 11:42 AM
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Hello im having the same problem with my S430...when I turn my car and wait for 10 to 15 minutes the car rises extremly high and when I turn the car back on it levels off....Did you ever find out the problem or can you help?
04-18-2011, 02:06 PM
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kenneth, I ended up taking it to a dealer and asked them to diagnose the problem. I thought I was going to end up spending thousands to fix this nightmare but it turned out there was a wire in the system half fried so they just replaced the wire. They charged me 2 hours of labor for it which was like 200 bucks. I recommended going to the dealer for a diagnoses rather than a private mechanic because they have more insight with this whole airmatic contraption.
08-15-2013, 04:52 PM
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w220 03 s430 black, 20 inch Mandrus
kenneth, I ended up taking it to a dealer and asked them to diagnose the problem. I thought I was going to end up spending thousands to fix this nightmare but it turned out there was a wire in the system half fried so they just replaced the wire. They charged me 2 hours of labor for it which was like 200 bucks. I recommended going to the dealer for a diagnoses rather than a private mechanic because they have more insight with this whole airmatic contraption.
11-01-2019, 02:52 PM
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It is the pressure relief valve, a part of the compressor (round attachment) check this out it may help
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/s4...c1338.1475775/
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/s4...c1338.1475775/
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MBGuy305 (11-01-2019)
11-01-2019, 11:20 PM
#17
It is the pressure relief valve, a part of the compressor (round attachment) check this out it may help
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/s4...c1338.1475775/
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/s4...c1338.1475775/
11-02-2019, 02:54 PM
#18
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Sometimes the relief valve itself is not functioning properly. Unfortunately the part cannot be bought individually, just together as integral component of the compressor. But it can be removed and cleaned. But taking it apart, requires caution, as it is spring loaded and you need to ensure to get parts (3-4, not many) back together in the right sequence. The valve block is not known to be weak. The part which is mostly likely to fail after 100.000mls or so is the compressor, as it wears over time and looses the ability to hold pressure in the system or not even generating sufficient pressure. Is your car to high at the rear axle? then the first thing to check is the level sensor and the level sensor rod next to the differential. If this is broken, corroded or loose, the level cannot be set correctly any more, and the car goes high.
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MBGuy305 (11-03-2019)
11-02-2019, 08:16 PM
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Airmatic height not right easy test
The first component(s) to test after checking power supply are the height sensors. Of course if the linkages are messed up---broken, bent, loose--they will cause incorrect heights. Sometime the sensors do not read right and can be 'revived' by 'exercising them--simply disconnect the linkage and work the sensor shaft back and forth a dozen or so times--full travel
Sometimes the relief valve itself is not functioning properly. Unfortunately the part cannot be bought individually, just together as integral component of the compressor. But it can be removed and cleaned. But taking it apart, requires caution, as it is spring loaded and you need to ensure to get parts (3-4, not many) back together in the right sequence. The valve block is not known to be weak. The part which is mostly likely to fail after 100.000mls or so is the compressor, as it wears over time and looses the ability to hold pressure in the system or not even generating sufficient pressure. Is your car to high at the rear axle? then the first thing to check is the level sensor and the level sensor rod next to the differential. If this is broken, corroded or loose, the level cannot be set correctly any more, and the car goes high.
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MBGuy305 (11-03-2019)
11-03-2019, 06:55 PM
#20
The first component(s) to test after checking power supply are the height sensors. Of course if the linkages are messed up---broken, bent, loose--they will cause incorrect heights. Sometime the sensors do not read right and can be 'revived' by 'exercising them--simply disconnect the linkage and work the sensor shaft back and forth a dozen or so times--full travel
11-03-2019, 06:57 PM
#21
Sometimes the relief valve itself is not functioning properly. Unfortunately the part cannot be bought individually, just together as integral component of the compressor. But it can be removed and cleaned. But taking it apart, requires caution, as it is spring loaded and you need to ensure to get parts (3-4, not many) back together in the right sequence. The valve block is not known to be weak. The part which is mostly likely to fail after 100.000mls or so is the compressor, as it wears over time and looses the ability to hold pressure in the system or not even generating sufficient pressure. Is your car to high at the rear axle? then the first thing to check is the level sensor and the level sensor rod next to the differential. If this is broken, corroded or loose, the level cannot be set correctly any more, and the car goes high.
