Airmatics goes up and down for no reason
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, CA
2004 MB E-500 & 2000 Honda Accord Coupe
Airmatics goes up and down for no reason
I've been noticing that my suspension will just go up or down for no reason. Is that pretty much normal to you guys?
I read some post that it's normal for the car to go down when you turn off the engine. It does for me ocassionally, not everytime.
When I start the car or when I'm on the road, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down. When I looked at the gap between the fender and the tires, it looks normal to me. I mean, it's not that high (compare to what I see on these forum that looks 4x4) or not that low.
Someone said/posted that when switching ADS 1 or 2 the car will lower a little bit. But this ain't happening. But when I switch from comfort to ADS 1 or 2 you'll notice the difference in comfort ride. But dampening is still the same. Only the body sway/roll becomes stiffer on 1 and 2, comfort float like a boat.
Do you think my ADS is malfunctioning?
I read some post that it's normal for the car to go down when you turn off the engine. It does for me ocassionally, not everytime.
When I start the car or when I'm on the road, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down. When I looked at the gap between the fender and the tires, it looks normal to me. I mean, it's not that high (compare to what I see on these forum that looks 4x4) or not that low.
Someone said/posted that when switching ADS 1 or 2 the car will lower a little bit. But this ain't happening. But when I switch from comfort to ADS 1 or 2 you'll notice the difference in comfort ride. But dampening is still the same. Only the body sway/roll becomes stiffer on 1 and 2, comfort float like a boat.
Do you think my ADS is malfunctioning?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 16
From: NY
2014 E550; 2003 E500
No. All you said is accurate. Setting it on 2 will lower your car 0.6 inches and "raising" the car level will bring you 0.6 inches higher from normal setting. That's the air bag working. The stiffness is the strut closing up air space to allows less movement for air = stiffer. You have a Air bag and a shock/strut in the back and a one piece strut in the front. It should be all in the manual. The car will also lower itself for highway speeds and raise itself to normal height when getting off the highway. It also goes down after turning the car off - depending on the current level. Remember also that the air suspension sightly adjusts itself in less than one second every second to adapt to the road and your driving habits.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, CA
2004 MB E-500 & 2000 Honda Accord Coupe
I know that. But on mine when I start the car sometimes it goes up sometimes it goes down. You'll know it's not slight adjustment because you'll notice a big movement.
On setting comfort, 1 and 2, my ride height does not move.
On the freeway, 78mph and above it does lowers. I notice this because once I exit the ramp and hit a stop, car the goes up.
And the car does not go down when you shut the engine off. Sometimes it does with a hissing sound from the compressor but very very rare occasion.
On setting comfort, 1 and 2, my ride height does not move.
On the freeway, 78mph and above it does lowers. I notice this because once I exit the ramp and hit a stop, car the goes up.
And the car does not go down when you shut the engine off. Sometimes it does with a hissing sound from the compressor but very very rare occasion.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
What you are describing is normal. I've had an '04 & now an '07. Whenever the car determines that the car is not at the height it should be, it either inflates all or lowers all to re set the proper height when restarted. You can't tell by eyeballing the car if it should be higher or lower but the car can tell and adjusts accordingly.
Mine sometimes hisses out air when I unlock & open the door, only to raise the car as soon as I start it.
Mine sometimes hisses out air when I unlock & open the door, only to raise the car as soon as I start it.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, CA
2004 MB E-500 & 2000 Honda Accord Coupe
Hmmm that makes perfect sense. At least now I know I'm not alone.
Does your '04 lowers down when you switch to sports 1 or 2? I don't notice any difference in dampening. Only body roll becomes solid in S1 and S2. Comfort mode sways like a boat but the dampening is terrible. You can feel every cracks on the road. Indy just replaced the lower ball joint and thrust arm/bushing. after a couple of thousand miles it feels like it's about to fail again. The dealer just perform an alignment and tire rotation, now the tires is starting to get noisy again.
Does your '04 lowers down when you switch to sports 1 or 2? I don't notice any difference in dampening. Only body roll becomes solid in S1 and S2. Comfort mode sways like a boat but the dampening is terrible. You can feel every cracks on the road. Indy just replaced the lower ball joint and thrust arm/bushing. after a couple of thousand miles it feels like it's about to fail again. The dealer just perform an alignment and tire rotation, now the tires is starting to get noisy again.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
My '04 was sold. I have Michelin MXM4s on my '07 Sport. These are big wide fat tires... they're gonna be noisier than those on your Accord... but you don't hear anything from outside the car with the windows up. Other brands of tires have been reported as being noisier than Michelins.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 16
From: NY
2014 E550; 2003 E500
Check your wheel bearings to see if they are loose. I had a bad front bearing and when i changed it, the cupping and noise went away - and after new tires. I'm having a ton of problems, and the loose feeling of the steering is of them that is worrying me. Either im thinking inner tie rods or the steering rack itself. The rack does make a slight groaning sound when turning in place. i dont think the alignment is a problem cause the car usually tracks straight without road crown.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, CA
2004 MB E-500 & 2000 Honda Accord Coupe
As I recall, my indy mech just repack the wheel bearing not too long ago. May be I should change the wheel bearing.
Yeah it is quiet on the outside when driving with open window.
Yeah it is quiet on the outside when driving with open window.
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