SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: 2003 SL55 PSE Pump...Fixed!!

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Old 06-09-2011, 10:01 AM
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2003 SL55 PSE Pump...Fixed!!

Symptoms:

Trunk only opened with key
Top won't open...says "Close Trunk Seperator"
20 AMP Fuse located behind passenger seat blown
When new fuse installed, pump runs, then slows down, then fuse blows again

Problem:

The PSE Pump is not being told to stop.

Solution:

1) PSE Pump is on left side of trunk under the roof pump.
2) Remove 4 nuts and rotate roof pump out of the way.
3) Remove sponge covering black box
4) Lift and move black box towards centre of the trunk as wires and yellow tubes will allow.
5) Disconnect the two wiring plugs near the back.
6) There is a small grey recessed clip holding each of the yellow/grey air lines in place. Use thumb/slot screwdriver to hold tab back while pulling to release each air line. Grey line may release pressure when removed.

7) LABEL each air line as removed!!!

8) Black box containing PSE pump can now be removed from car.
9) Use slot screwdriver/hand pressure to "split" open black box. Try to open it slowly as the actual PSE pump is fairly unsecured and will flop out.
10) Remove the 2 grey air line connection hubs by inserting slot screewdriver into the four slots to release tabs.
11) Remove 3 screws.
12) Circuit board now loose. There is a white 3/8" round plastic part attached to copper strip. Beside it is a second copper strip.
13) Look carefully and you will see this copper strip is actually 2 copper strips. Looks like they are there for some option my car doesn't have.

If they are touching each other the pump circuit is closed and the pump will not stop.I sleaved a plastic protector over 1 of these two copper strips to keep them apart.

Pump now operates normally.

If you know what to look and can work with needlenose pliers etc. the copper tabs are visible and can be inspected/repaired without removing the pump from the car and skipping steps 5-8 and 10-12.
Old 06-09-2011, 01:10 PM
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2004 R230 Sl500
Great resolution and write up .
Any pictures ?
Thanks
Old 06-14-2011, 08:10 PM
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Mercedes Sl500 2003
Thumbs up Nice Post!

I should have tried that too. I bought my pump brand new from this guy instead and now its working... Anyways, ill try to fix my old one and maybe sell it to whoever might need it here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_500wt_1182
Old 09-01-2011, 02:53 PM
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SL500
hello, i took apart the PSE pump and followed your directions is this what you are talking about? I see 2 prongs and one of them has this white plastic thing thats keeping one of the sets together I have a 2004 sl500

Old 09-04-2011, 11:27 PM
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SL 55 PSE Pump

Great picture!
My problem was that the pump would not shut off. It would run till the fuse blew. The pump was not being told to shut down. If you have different symptoms, my solution may not work.
There are 2 sets of metal contacts as shown near the left in your picture, one that is in use by the white lifter (if I remember right when the pressure gets high enough the white lifter lifts, makes contact and turns off the pump and a "spare" set (for who knows what).
My spare set of contacts was making contact with each other, which continued to supply power to the pump. The "spare" set of contacts must NOT be making contact with each other. It was a while ago now but if I was guessing I'd think it's the lower set in your picture.
I separated the two metal contacts and sleaved one in plastic, which solved my problem.
There is also a set of 4 identical small doides on the board which are known to fail. Any electronics repair place could tell you if they are faulty.
Good luck!!
Old 09-04-2011, 11:42 PM
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SL 55 PSE Pump Fix

In the attachment I have marked up your picture to better identify the contacts that need to be separated.
Attached Thumbnails 2003 SL55 PSE Pump...Fixed!!-sl55-pse-pump.jpg  
Old 09-05-2011, 04:09 AM
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CL500 216
On this thing on these pumps the carbon type rotor built into the pump can shatter when the weather drops to 0c, the reason is that the hole in the rotor is too small, the rotor shrinks and splits rendering the whole pump faulty, it is always this when the pump blows the 20 amp fuse. there are no parts for these pumps.

I can always make up a good PSE pump from a water damaged one, and the broken rotor.
Attached Thumbnails 2003 SL55 PSE Pump...Fixed!!-pse-pump-rotor.jpg  
Old 09-05-2011, 08:10 AM
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Different Problem

Television...it is not "always" a broken rotor. With a broken rotor I don't think the pump would run, the fuse would just blow immediately. My PSE pump ran for 5-10 seconds before blowing the fuse. The pump was not being told to stop pumping when it achieved the corrrect pressure.
Different problems.
Old 03-07-2012, 12:34 PM
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SL55 AMG
Can someone tell me what PSE stands for?
Old 09-06-2012, 10:54 AM
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Second GoRound

PSE Pump failed (blowing fuse immediately). Took it apart, cleaned and lubricated, reassembled....all fine.
Old 02-28-2015, 09:22 AM
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SL55 AMG 2004
Ebay seller has a replacement (rotor and 8 x blade) kit for SL55 PSE pump

Originally Posted by Television
On this thing on these pumps the carbon type rotor built into the pump can shatter when the weather drops to 0c, the reason is that the hole in the rotor is too small, the rotor shrinks and splits rendering the whole pump faulty, it is always this when the pump blows the 20 amp fuse. there are no parts for these pumps.

I can always make up a good PSE pump from a water damaged one, and the broken rotor.

When my PSE pump failed due to a shattered rotor, I obtained a replacement graphite rotor and 8 x blades kit from ebay seller ... germanpartz1 ...
Old 02-28-2015, 04:52 PM
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SL63 (R230), CL500 (C215), SL55 (R129), CE300-24 Cabrio (A124)
Originally Posted by blueSL
Can someone tell me what PSE stands for?
Pneumatische SteuerEinheit
Pneumatic Control Unit
Cheers, Frank
Old 04-23-2015, 12:46 AM
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2003 SL 500
PSE Pump - reset requred after replacing??

I just replaced my PSE pump and things are still not working as they should be. The trunk will not do a soft close, the locks are still not working properly- the fuel door remains locked and the roof will still not open. It says on the screen to "visit workshop". I pulled all the fuses behind the passenger seat in the console to "reset" and still nothing.
Any other suggestions??
Old 05-23-2015, 12:07 PM
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sl350 pump

Originally Posted by iammalibuboy
PSE Pump failed (blowing fuse immediately). Took it apart, cleaned and lubricated, reassembled....all fine.


My PSE pump runs intermittently I have taken the "black box" out but not split it terminals look dry and free of corrosion. I can hear something "switching" when I press the door remote. any ideas please?
Old 05-23-2015, 12:40 PM
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thanks will give it a try
Old 04-04-2017, 09:30 AM
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mercedes sl500
carbon rotor shattered , just one ring.

Originally Posted by Television
On this thing on these pumps the carbon type rotor built into the pump can shatter when the weather drops to 0c, the reason is that the hole in the rotor is too small, the rotor shrinks and splits rendering the whole pump faulty, it is always this when the pump blows the 20 amp fuse. there are no parts for these pumps.

I can always make up a good PSE pump from a water damaged one, and the broken rotor.
I have bought a new pump motor and went to change the carbon rotors over only to find one shattered in about 50 pieces , guess the cold got to it . does anyone know where i can get another rotor ring .

thanks everyone
Old 12-07-2019, 10:31 PM
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2006 CLS55 & 2011 G55 & 2xE55 Wagon
Originally Posted by iammalibuboy
Symptoms:

Trunk only opened with key
Top won't open...says "Close Trunk Seperator"
20 AMP Fuse located behind passenger seat blown
When new fuse installed, pump runs, then slows down, then fuse blows again

Problem:

The PSE Pump is not being told to stop.

Solution:

1) PSE Pump is on left side of trunk under the roof pump.
2) Remove 4 nuts and rotate roof pump out of the way.
3) Remove sponge covering black box
4) Lift and move black box towards centre of the trunk as wires and yellow tubes will allow.
5) Disconnect the two wiring plugs near the back.
6) There is a small grey recessed clip holding each of the yellow/grey air lines in place. Use thumb/slot screwdriver to hold tab back while pulling to release each air line. Grey line may release pressure when removed.

7) LABEL each air line as removed!!!

8) Black box containing PSE pump can now be removed from car.
9) Use slot screwdriver/hand pressure to "split" open black box. Try to open it slowly as the actual PSE pump is fairly unsecured and will flop out.
10) Remove the 2 grey air line connection hubs by inserting slot screewdriver into the four slots to release tabs.
11) Remove 3 screws.
12) Circuit board now loose. There is a white 3/8" round plastic part attached to copper strip. Beside it is a second copper strip.
13) Look carefully and you will see this copper strip is actually 2 copper strips. Looks like they are there for some option my car doesn't have.

If they are touching each other the pump circuit is closed and the pump will not stop.I sleaved a plastic protector over 1 of these two copper strips to keep them apart.

Pump now operates normally.

If you know what to look and can work with needlenose pliers etc. the copper tabs are visible and can be inspected/repaired without removing the pump from the car and skipping steps 5-8 and 10-12.
Pulled B1021 code with scanner on my 2004 SL500 , Top was not working, I was getting display message "Close trunk partitioner", was thinking its the partitioner sensor went a head and replaced the sensor with used sensor and ended up with same error, then I ended up cutting and joining the connector wires that go to the partitioner sensor to odd out the sensor problem. Still getting same problem. Google'ing the code and this threat was first one to pop out, got some ideas from here and ended up pulling my PSE, guess what? Major water damage on the board and pump motor. Since PSE didnt communicate with the car and gave a error message about the partitioner being not closed so it never turned on the hydraulic pump to operate the top. Vacuum pump itself does not play role in top movement but your PSE pump needs to communicate with rest of the car to allow the top to work. Attached my nice PSE inside. I connected a used PSE without even connecting vacuum lines and voila. Top working without problems. Cheers


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