sthoms

Ok, joined the Mercedes world 2 weeks ago by aquiring a nice 2004 E55. Luck would have it, I just got introduced to the "Visit Workshop!" message. Picture of a car with an up arrow, which I easily deduced (with the owners manual) to be a problem with the Airmatic suspension.

What I know and have found:
Pressing the raise suspension button, car says its raising but doesnt.
While "raising" I dont hear a pump, nor any leaking.
The 40A fuse F61? under the hood, is fine.
Sport I and II settings feel to still be working.
Wheel to fender gap appears correct. ~1-2"

Can I raise the car without the engine is running? That way I can be sure the pump is not running.

Is there a relay or another fuse I can/should check?

Can I use a voltmeter to check for power to the air pump? (while "raising)


Thank you!!!

S430LUCKDRAGON

hey I had I similar problem with my airmatic pump , but my car is an s 430 , it kept blowing the fuse I found a cracked hose connexted to the pump and replaced that hose & now the airmatic is working again I also cleaned the ground wires to the airmatic pump I would suggest a quick visual instpection before any thing else , ny friend however had the e 55 and had the same problem as you they sold him a whole new pump but I think he got ripped off , hope it all works out well for you

sthoms

I saw a thread on a cracked hose, will pull the skirt(s) and check.
Still cant get it to "run", so I need to find the fuse first. (for above test)
I checked the 40A under the hood.
Heard there is a relay also, you knowe the location/number?
Is there another fuse on the driver door side, or in the trunk?

Thanks!!!!!!!

S430LUCKDRAGON

im not sure about the relay but if you find out I would love to know

sthoms

Ok, so MB blows when it comes to documentation. Luckily snooping on forums like this got me the info I needed.

The 40A fuse is in a "pre" fuse panel under the passenger floorboard, pain in the a$$ to get to. Fuse looks ok, bummer.

Relay is on the driver side of the dash, top right. Also in there is a sad excuse for fuse documenation. It only shows 2 of the 4 fuse blocks I now know about. I haven't tested the relay yet.

Tonight, I am going to see if I am getting 12v to the relay. That wil confirm the fuse being ok. If I have power, I am oging to jump the relay to see if the pump runs.
If it does, I will replace relay (and maybe pump). If not, I replace the motor.

:-)

S430LUCKDRAGON

sonds rough let me know what happens nay way

sthoms

40A fuse tested fine. Unfortunately, the K76 relay in "slot" S (underhood, WAY back right corner) is near impossible to get at. ;-(
If the weather gets better, I am going to try to check for power at the pump. (since i will have to remove it anyways if it is getting 12v)
Otherwise, off to the dealer. Pretty sad that with all the money in these cars, something as straight forward as this is so difficult.

sthoms

Ok, Mercedes won. I brought the car in. Bad front strut(s) was the diagnostics. Judging from the rear fender clearance, it sounds correct. I can hear the air pump (key on, engine off) when it is in the garage. It is a lot quieter than I expected. So, still conforms to bad front struts.

Ordered Arnott's, Advance Auto had a great price.

sthoms

Ok, now I am pissed/confused/sad. Arnott's are in and ended up doing all the ball joints.
Set the car back on its wheels, wont pump up. Slammed at 24" to wheel arch.

Did I get a faulty diagnosis, or does it take a while to inflate new/empty struts?
Turned the key to "Run", but so much noise in the engine bay, I don't know if the pump is pumping. Car is idling now, will let it for a few minutes, fingers crossed.

S430LUCKDRAGON

Im sorry to hear that but we have to keep trying , my air suspension is still not perfect !
whatever can brake can be fixed I don't think it was a bad diagnosis my air pump has been quieter as of lately I guess there is a filter in the pump its self ? check all the connector hoses from the air compressor itself might just be a leak some where good luck bro !

sthoms

Ok, never lifted. Damn. Even jacked it up a bit to turn off the red warning light, just had the white warning light. Hoping it would maybe try pumping then. Nope. (check by removing a hose from one strut.

F' the Mercedes diagnostic, now I need to diagnose the pump? (will get my money back if I am right) What is the pin-out of the electrical connector?

sthoms

Pump is out of the car.

Can you check for 12v at the wiring harness?

My pump will not run when 12v is applied to the pump directly. (+12v to Red/White, Ground to Brown) Should it?


Thanks!!!!

S430LUCKDRAGON

Sounds like the pump is bad

sthoms

That was my take too, but no way to confirm as far as I found on the forum. So I bought an Arnott one as a reasonable "guess". With the new pump in hand, I can confidently say that 12v applied to the Red/White (+) and Brown (-) wires on the pump WILL make it run. So my original, which did not spin, is dead. Also, as reference for future Airmatic victims, 12v applied to the other connector will operate the solenoid on the pump. (forget +/- orientation)

sthoms

Have not installed to test the system yet though. Found a crack in the ~3/8" rubber intake? hose. (A2113270182) While there, I also am replacing the filter on that hose. (A2203200069) Also, found a bad rub/wear mark on the ~1/8" nylon pressure hose to the valve body. (A2113271345)

macosx

I am having problems with the system also:

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...r-tilting.html

The old compressor was taken out and a new one put in. Will try 12V to see if the old one is really dead.

Do you have some pictures of the parts you mentioned here? Would like to make sure mine are ok or not.

Thanks very much.

sthoms

Can see the schematic at...
http://www.mbpartsworld.com/showAsse...sembly=1076724

I didnt take photos, but Google image searches for the part numbers seem to work good.
Remove the "A" at the beginning for best results.

macosx

Google image worked great. Thanks.

sthoms

Thought I had posted the final status, but doesn't look like it.
The air pump was bad and the Arnott replacement lifted the car as soon as I installed it and powered up.

So:
- Mercedes said leaking strut, have my doubts, but now I have Arnott struts and they are working great. Install was a bit of fun, but doable.
- Replaced ALL ball joints, found bad uppers (were VERY loose) while doing the struts. Lowers were for good measure. (all from Autohaus)
- Replaced the air pump. Bench testing confirmed before ordering.
- Replaced "air filter" intake hose and the hard line to the distribution block due to wear.

Yorkshire

Can anyone explain why the Service Manuals for MB cars does not include checking / inspecting / servicing the suspension ??

This means you can religiously have your car serviced but be driving an unroadworthy car. As has occurred to me.

It is clear by all these entries that there is a need for a close inspection to be included in the services as they do with the tyres, as Daimler have failed to design a reliable quality product that one would normally expect from Daimler.

macosx

In my case (2008 E550), there WAS another use, which was under the footwell of the passenger side. Without the MB technician telling me, I would have never found it. It's nowhere in the users manual.

sthoms

See post #5. "The 40A fuse is in a "pre" fuse panel under the passenger floorboard, pain in the a$$ to get to." I do believe it is called out in the schematics, just not noted where it hides. :-)

*AMG123

Hi guys, I am owner of an E55AMG'05. My car has an airmatic problem. The diagnosis gives these fault codes (5132-left side airmatic sensor/5142-right side airmatic sensor/5152-rear airmatic sensor)
Airmatic kompressor works fine up and down.
The problem is that car's left side is 12mm down then right side or opposite! (right side is 12mm upper then left side)
While we connect the car to diagnosis,we made felt and right at same balance but whenever disconnect from diagnosis and try to up or down the airmatic, the problem occurs again.
I think a wire contact to chasis,also deaits of the fault code says the same.
If somebody had the same problem,then help me where to start?
Thanks. I am sorry about my english,hope you understand well.
Note: sensors are fine,sockets are fine.