Airmatic not rising. Clicking sound.
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
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2014 GL450
Airmatic not rising. Clicking sound.
2014 GL450 x166 78,052 miles
Struts and air bags all new over the summer.
Newer compressor about 5,000 miles.
Valve block and relay about 10,000 miles.
No leaks or sagging.
Noticed an intermittent click near front right while driving/idling.
Ride feels very stiff/harsh on bumps now.
Rising function does nothing to ride height and eventually times out the compressor.
Is this more valve block or relay?
How do I test the relay?
thanks as always
Struts and air bags all new over the summer.
Newer compressor about 5,000 miles.
Valve block and relay about 10,000 miles.
No leaks or sagging.
Noticed an intermittent click near front right while driving/idling.
Ride feels very stiff/harsh on bumps now.
Rising function does nothing to ride height and eventually times out the compressor.
Is this more valve block or relay?
How do I test the relay?
thanks as always
Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 78
Likes: 21
2015 GL350 Bluetec
Google "Mercedes ride height sensor". You'll get some images of what I'd look at first. If you hear something in the right front, I'd take that wheel off first. Find the sensor and check to see if it looks mechanically sound. Maybe it's something easy. I checked FCP Euro and a new sensor is $50. I think you may have to calibrate these after you change them.
Jeff
Jeff
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2014 GL450
The clicking noise is definitely from inside the bumper near the compressor. The front right ride height sensor moves freely. The clicking seems to correspond to the compressor running. When pressing the raise button the compressor starts, but the car doesn't raise, and the clicking noise starts. When I press it again, as if to lower the car, the compressor stops and the clicking stops. I feel like this points to the valve solenoid but I have no sagging at any of the corners....
Can the solenoid/control valve be bench tested?
Can the solenoid/control valve be bench tested?
Thread Starter
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2014 GL450
Today I checked the fuse and tested the relay. The compressor behaves properly so I swapped the valve block out. Seems to be operating properly now. Car raises and lowers and the ride is softer and less harsh.
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2014 GL450
I spoke too soon. Each time the compressor comes on I have the repeated clicking noise. It’s an Arnott compressor about a year old. Luckily FCP Euro has lifetime replacement. Only problem is I’ll have another piece of Arnott garbage. Every part of theirs has failed immediately or quickly and I am getting tired of doing jobs twice.
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2014 GL450
I replaced the battery today, it was 10 years old. I also swapped my compressor out. The car doesn't sag, rides nicely, compressor doesn't run a lot, and now it raises and lowers properly. Driving around town on bumps it sounds like my wheels are loose. Very sloppy and clunky at all 4 corners. EVERYTHING is new now with the airmatic system. I'm wondering if all this Arnott garbage just sounds awful in the cold weather.... This car is a 2014 with 78,000 miles and is in great condition. I'd hate to sell it but the suspension noises are just causing me too much trouble now. I can't imagine all the bushings or ball joints being equally bad at all 4 corners to sound like this...
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2014 GL450
I recently installed new front and rear sway bars. When the clunking front end persisted I had my indy take a look. Everything looks fine. He drove the car several times while troubleshooting and his conclusion is the front struts need to be replaced. I replaced these months ago, less than 1,000 miles. Arnott with Eibach struts. Over 40 degrees F, everything sounds and works fine. Under 40F, it sounds like both front wheels are loose. I can't source OEM front air struts so I suppose that's it and I'll have to get used to it for 4 months of the year. I have sunk thousands of dollars, not to mention the time and effort, into this suspension and really regret it. I feel like Arnott is just a poorly made product and in this area, you get what you pay for.
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Joined: Jul 2016
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From: NE OHIO
1998 SL500,2011 GL550,2009 ML350,past 1995 E320 Cabrio ,2005 ML500,2006 ML500,1996 SL500,1972 280SEL
Mercedes STAR system
I highly advise if you plan on keeping the mb to buy a complete Star System. The only system I know of to completely checkout the air ride. Also monitor the minutes your compressor runs at least every oil change.
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GL450
the Arnott parts you bought, are they made in china? i just replace all the parts in my suspension. some of their parts were made in china and some were made in gernany. the chinese made were much cheaper. just curious.
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2014 GL450
I'm not sure. I got them from Rock Auto. They're the ones with Eibach shocks so I thought that would be better. It is 100% temperature dependent. After a night inside the garage at 50F I went out to do some errands and it took about an hour of being outside in 30F to start feeling clunky on bumps again. It also doesn't seem to do it at highway speed when the car is lowered. Maybe I just can't hear it. The car raises and lowers fine, handles fine, compressor doesn't run often, etc. I recently replaced the front and rear sway bars just in the spirit of refreshing things. The Strutmasters coil conversion at about $1,500 was the way I should've gone. The entire air suspension except the lines is new now and I dread taking the car out. I should have also known better after putting the Arnott rear bags and struts in and ultimately replacing the struts with OEM after the Arnotts were clunking constantly.
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2014 GL450
I just read two posts regarding the front lower strut mounts needing to be torqued with the car on the ground. I did this job on jack stands and torqued the lower mounts in the air. I will raise it and loosen the bolts then drop the car and re-torque them, but does this sound like an actual fix?
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2014 GL450
I have now torqued my lower front strut mounts with the car on the ground. No change. It seems 50 degrees F is the number. Under that, small bumps cause clunks in the front end. Above that, I don't hear or feel anything. The last part of the front suspension to change is the lower control arms. Mechanic said the bushings look fine. I'll have it done anyway since I'm at 80,000 miles and may as well have a whole new front end now....
If the sound continues after that I think it will be Arnott's fault...... ONCE AGAIN.
If the sound continues after that I think it will be Arnott's fault...... ONCE AGAIN.
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2014 GL450
Local indy replaced the front lower control arms and ball joints at my request and the clunk persisted. Seems like both sides. They did the tie rod ends also, and now everything in the front end is new withing several months. The clunk is still there. Mechanic said it sounds and feels like the struts need to be done. I refuse to do this again and will deal with it in cold weather for a while. I will NEVER buy another ARNOTT product as long as I live. Every single one of them I have installed has failed and quickly.
The LCAs and ball joints, tie rod ends, trans service, and coolant flush was right around $1,500 and I supplied the suspension parts and trans kit from FCP Euro. Now the front and rear suspension are new, and all the fluids have been done including diffs and transfer case. Hope to keep the car going for a while.
The LCAs and ball joints, tie rod ends, trans service, and coolant flush was right around $1,500 and I supplied the suspension parts and trans kit from FCP Euro. Now the front and rear suspension are new, and all the fluids have been done including diffs and transfer case. Hope to keep the car going for a while.
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From: NE OHIO
1998 SL500,2011 GL550,2009 ML350,past 1995 E320 Cabrio ,2005 ML500,2006 ML500,1996 SL500,1972 280SEL
clunking
Local indy replaced the front lower control arms and ball joints at my request and the clunk persisted. Seems like both sides. They did the tie rod ends also, and now everything in the front end is new withing several months. The clunk is still there. Mechanic said it sounds and feels like the struts need to be done. I refuse to do this again and will deal with it in cold weather for a while. I will NEVER buy another ARNOTT product as long as I live. Every single one of them I have installed has failed and quickly.
The LCAs and ball joints, tie rod ends, trans service, and coolant flush was right around $1,500 and I supplied the suspension parts and trans kit from FCP Euro. Now the front and rear suspension are new, and all the fluids have been done including diffs and transfer case. Hope to keep the car going for a while.
The LCAs and ball joints, tie rod ends, trans service, and coolant flush was right around $1,500 and I supplied the suspension parts and trans kit from FCP Euro. Now the front and rear suspension are new, and all the fluids have been done including diffs and transfer case. Hope to keep the car going for a while.
Can you produce the clunking while jumping on the running boards with decent weight rocking the car?
