Totalman

Hi,
With winter approaching, I started to use my '05 CL65 less and less, finally letting it sit in the garage for 2 weeks straight. Came up to it recently, it's practically sitting on the wheels!? Started it up - red warning came up "ABC... Stop, the car is too low", or something to that effect. After a minute or so, it came up itself with message "Car is rising"... During driving the car was fine, no issues...
I let it sit in the garage for another 2 weeks, just to see what happens. Sure enough, same thing, but this time, only left side is lowered, right side is fine!???
Started it up, same red warning, but after some waiting, nothing happened, it didn't come up on it's own, so I used the raise button to raise it once (it came back to normal), than raised it 2 more times (to get back to no raising), it remains as it should. Driving is not affected again...
Can anybody enlighten me on what is the problem here? Should I visit our friends at Ray Catena?

Klinh

That's normal believe it or not. I used to owned a CL 55 and the system bleed itself after an extended park.

Rex Kwon Do

WOW, I was over at my dad's house this morning and remarked that his '04 CL55 did the exact same thing, lowered on the back left corner. He says that it does that all the time and raises each time he starts the car - no warning lights though. He ran into tons of air suspension problems with his S500, I hope that this is not the start of the same stuff.

BlownV8

Sounds like a bad control block or a valve that is not shutting completely. Though this happens to many cars it's not the way the system was designed.

Get a fluid change, flush, and a new filter to see if it helps. There is probably some debris contamination making a valve stick open.

iluvmys65amg

My old SL65 did the same thing too! I just started it up and put in drive and it raised up really quick! its normal.

Believe me, I've owned PLENTY of benz's that have done that! The air suspension just "relaxes" and lowers when its not in use for a couple of days. Its perfectly fine!

Totalman

Thank you, guys! I just didn't want to miss a real problem, while my warranty is still good till 02/2010.
Hate to go to the dealer for no reason, either, they always find something to charge you with...

BlownV8

Take it in while you still have a warranty and get it fixed. It is not supposed to lose pressure anywhere in the system. There is a problem and it will not go away until you fix whatever is causing the leakdown.

Hammer Down

FWIW: after a couple of weeks or so of sitting my car lowers itself as well but once I open the door the compressor kicks on and raises the car back to it's normal (but lowered via star's height).

lexaltezza

Hmmm... I just paid over 4k in total repairs because the front right of the S500 would drop down after a few days of not driving it.

BlownV8

Exactly! If it drops, there is something wrong. Yes, it does this on many cars but there are also many cars with ABC problems now or pending problems in the immediate future that will result in very expensive repairs.

Totalman

Thank you, guys! Looks like it's best to address it now, while I still have warranty...

Bo CL500

After you take it in please let us know what they say because I am having the same problem.

HIGH-VELOCITY

It seems that if left in the same spot such as winter storage some ABC bleed down will occur. I made a set of mini jack stands out of maple wood and cut them at the same height as maximum ABC height placed under the rubber pads by the jacking ports, then put a second set under the control arms and lowered the ABC. This way I was able to take my wheels off without a jack for winter storage.

BlownV8

Kind of like a manual version of an indy car. Cool!

Bo CL500

any update on what the dealer told you on why it's dropping like that?

sound 8

Please less drama!! My 600 was doing the same thing, and it came up with
check ABC body etc.Then visit workshop,drive carefully.
All it is that the reservoir for the suspension is low or empty. My dealer just
topped mine up, now no problem. In fact he found a very small leak on a pipe
under the engine, it cost a grand to fix, so he suggested just topping it up
from time to time. Lift up bonnet, reservoir is apparently on the right ,black
and has a dip stick.
And oh by the way, my 600 used to sink after a couple of weeks, but it doesn't now!!

BlownV8

That little small leak is going to turn into a waterfall and your pump is going to fry and then the $1,000 fix will cost you $3,000. If it is a pipe, it should be closer to $500 - $700 but spending that money will save you over $2,000. This car will bury you if you don't do preventative maintenance and may bury you even if you do.

sound 8

Not so!!
The leak was more like a weep, it's probably taken years to empty.
And when it did empty it didn't cause any damage. If Mercedes says just top it up from time to time, then that's good enough for me. I am not suggesting
that if it was gushing out you didn't get it fixed, but I guess it starts in a slow way. Any way I will check mine every 3 months and top it, if it needs it.

carcommander

My SL500 and SL55 did the same thing. They have to change out the valve body to fix it. If the car is in warranty fix it.

Totalman

I have an appt. scheduled for Jan. 12th, with let you guys know what and how was done to fix this thing. BTW, in reply to one of the posts above, I owned SL600 prior to this one, and it never did it, even though it was 1997, and I only sold it last summer.

Dsmed

There is a TSB about the vehicle lowering itself or raising itself while idling.
The first think will be to flush the system and replace the filter. If it still has issues than valve blocks will need to be replaced. But it is normal for the vehicle to lower after sitting for extended periods of time.

when you take it to the dealer tell them that it lower over the weekend. Or after 2 or 3 days. If you tell them it takes weeks they will do nothing. This way you'll at least get a fluid flush out of it.

I think its a good ideal to have the system flushed every couple years as preventative maintenance.

Bo CL500

how much did this cost?

carcommander

They replaced the valve blocks under warranty. What what it is worth my 06 SL65 has not done this.

cfsafs

+1. Had this situation last year and now this year. Occurs after about 2 weeks and goes back to normal when the car is started. No oil on the floor.
I am now leaving the car in highest hight setting to see what happens and am on my second week without an issue.

neodoc

I don't know about your model years, but my 08 will drop just a little bit while sitting parked for a few hours, then come back up to normal as soon as the engine is started. I feel this slight rise on my calf in the morning if I leave one foot out while sitting sort of sideways in the driver's seat. I understand this is normal and for that reason, I never park anywhere where the front spoiler can eventually touch a curb after the car has sat for a few hours. Such extreme lowering that you're experiencing sounds more worrisome and should be looked at.