AIRMATIC ISSUE: REAR NOT LIFTING
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
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2009 GL 320
Just making sure - Is the compressor coming on at all? Also if the other rear bag is popped and not able to hold air, the one you just replaced may not rise. Spray soapy water everywhere around both bags and lines and see if bubbles show up.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
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SL550, CLS550, GL450
At first I didn't hear the compressor running. This morning, I heard it running but still getting no air. How is it possible that the other bag is preventing the entire rear from inflating? Shouldn't one side be getting air and the other not? Either way, I don't hear any hissing when the car is turned off like I did when I thought the bag was leaking.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
If one bag is blown the other will not inflate properly… The car always tries to level itself.
Did you allow the bag to inflate while no weight was placed on it or did you let the car down completely onto the bump stop and then let the pump would inflate it? If you did the latter you may have already holed the new bag as well.
If it sort of worked before when you had a leaky bag, then the fault lies in some thing related to the removal and installation of those bags.
i’m thinking the likely culprit is that the other bag has blown, or the new bag has sustained damage in installation. your compressor it’s doing its thing.
I would first verify like others have said that you are in fact getting air back there and you have no leaks.
Did you allow the bag to inflate while no weight was placed on it or did you let the car down completely onto the bump stop and then let the pump would inflate it? If you did the latter you may have already holed the new bag as well.
If it sort of worked before when you had a leaky bag, then the fault lies in some thing related to the removal and installation of those bags.
i’m thinking the likely culprit is that the other bag has blown, or the new bag has sustained damage in installation. your compressor it’s doing its thing.
I would first verify like others have said that you are in fact getting air back there and you have no leaks.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
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SL550, CLS550, GL450
It all started with the driver's side rear losing air intermittently. Then over time, both tires in the rear would be down but would get air when the car started. Sometimes the driver's rear bad held air and sometimes it didn't. Eventually, neither side would lift, thus began the repair. I'm checking for leaks right now. Compressor is working, but I don't hear any hissing or anything from the rear, so I don't think it's the bags either. They aren't getting air at all.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Have you checked that the level sensors ans arms move freely? One could have been disconnected or popped off during r/r of the driver side bag.
If you’re not truly getting air back there something is not commanding your valve block to release air and that would be the level sensors.
If you’re not truly getting air back there something is not commanding your valve block to release air and that would be the level sensors.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 31
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SL550, CLS550, GL450
I checked, and the passenger rear bag wasn't getting air. Swapped it out and still no air on the other side. I don't think it's the ride height sensor. I believe it's either the bag or the valve block.
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Joined: May 2014
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W164 320CDI
Hi, did you manage to fix the problem?
I have W164 and for several days the both rear does not rise. I doubt the problem is in the rear module itself because my fuel shows it's full to the top, and a bunch more errors about the lights.
At first my turn signals, wipers, brake light disappeared, but i opened the rear sam module and cleaned it with alcohol. The lights came on, but there were errors written on the board computer.
Thanks!
I have W164 and for several days the both rear does not rise. I doubt the problem is in the rear module itself because my fuel shows it's full to the top, and a bunch more errors about the lights.
At first my turn signals, wipers, brake light disappeared, but i opened the rear sam module and cleaned it with alcohol. The lights came on, but there were errors written on the board computer.
Thanks!
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
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From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
Hi, did you manage to fix the problem?
I have W164 and for several days the both rear does not rise. I doubt the problem is in the rear module itself because my fuel shows it's full to the top, and a bunch more errors about the lights.
At first my turn signals, wipers, brake light disappeared, but i opened the rear sam module and cleaned it with alcohol. The lights came on, but there were errors written on the board computer.
Thanks!
I have W164 and for several days the both rear does not rise. I doubt the problem is in the rear module itself because my fuel shows it's full to the top, and a bunch more errors about the lights.
At first my turn signals, wipers, brake light disappeared, but i opened the rear sam module and cleaned it with alcohol. The lights came on, but there were errors written on the board computer.
Thanks!
Newbie
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 9
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W164 320CDI
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
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From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
The valve block can fail, particularly if you live in a humid environment and have had an unrepaired leaky bag. The dryer in the pump gets overwhelmed and so moisture-containing air gets pumped through the valves, which corrode.
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I live in coastal Florida so not sure where can be consistently more humid in the US. Maybe I was just lucky.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
Maybe you never ran for an extended period with leaky bags. I don't know; this is just my interpretation based on a Mercedes tech commenting that sometimes he replaces valve blocks, and finds that the solenoid valves are corroded.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
It's not so much humidity intrusion through the bags that kill the valve block, it's humidity being sucked into a leaky intake / missing filter and passed into the system through the compressor.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
lol no, it's not air going into the valve block from the leaky bags, it's the pump running so much that the dryer, which is silica gel in the pump body, gets overwhelmed with moisture and the pump starts pushing that moisture into the valve block.
When you compress air, the moisture condenses out. That's why you have to drain water out of an air compressor tank.
When you compress air, the moisture condenses out. That's why you have to drain water out of an air compressor tank.
