YY4U

Hello,


I posted this in the SL forum and got no response. This may be the right place.

I just bought a 2006 SL600, 44k mi and have no history on it. It has the visit ABC workshop message ever since I've had it (not red). It won't raise or lower. The RR side is an inch higher than the LR, but it seems to drive great.


The ABC fluid was low and I thought for sure that was the problem. Topped it off, almost the whole liter, and no diff.


I ordered a cheap Chinese scanner, an iCarsoft i980, which is supposed to be just for MB ($140). Hooked it up today, seems to work great. In ABC I pulled code C1129: Fault in component B22/6 (Right rear plunger travel sensor). It's showing 255 mm, the others are between 9mm and 82mm, I assume of travel. It's sitting up at +8mm, the other 3 are between -4 and -17mm, pressure sensor at 190-200 bars. When I cleared the code, there was a loud gong and the ABC workshop message came right back on. The car dropped down a hair.


So this is what I need to know: Before I spend hundreds on a new strut and pay someone big bucks to install it (if I can't find a good DIY), what are the chances this will solve my problem? On one thread a guy mentioned if the ABC control unit (ecu?) under the dash is bad or has a bad connection it can throw false codes. And there are dozens of other possible culprits here.


I hate nothing more than spending money to not solve a problem. Please give me your opinions if you think I should just order the strut, check something else first, or any comment you may have. Thanks.


Oh, I was wondering if this little scanner would do the rodeo test. Any ideas on how I would do it? I didn't see anything in the menus about it.


Thanks again,


YY

YY4U

Any MB techs with an opinion? Since the travel specs are so off, is the RR strut almost certainly the problem?


When I clear the code, the car begins to raise or lower (depending on the setting) for just a microsecond until the gong and the "ABC visit workshop" message reappears, and then it instantly stops raising (or lowering).


Anyone?

mrbobby

I would bet on the strut going bad. I just had the same problem on my S55 with the rear right strut. New strut - now no problem.

gmphertford

New strut required

gmphertford

The sensor is built into the strut and does not come separate, have changed them before for the same problem

YY4U

Ok, it looks like this iCarsoft scanner is not capable of calibrating the plunger travel sensors or doing the rodeo. I'm exploring other scanner options and sending this one back.


Even though there is no interest in this forum at this time, I'll post an update when I get it all sorted to help others who may experience this issue in the future.


YY

YY4U

Hello all,


I won an eBay auction for a Dell D630. Like new, 3 gigs of RAM, for $97, shipped.


I ordered a C3 with cables and an hdd for the Dell from Mr Cartool Shop on AliExpress for $289, shipped:


http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DHL-F...812745070.html


4 day shipping via DHL, very impressive.




I installed the new hdd in the Dell. I wasn't sure from reading the forums, but I disabled the wifi and changed the system date to Jan 1 2014. The software version is dated Nov 2013. I don't know if this was necessary.


The Xentry program does not open, I get an error message that says "no found dongle". The unit came with a flash drive; I assume there is a key number in it that the Xentry program needs to open. I'm fooling around with it now. Any help with this would be appreciated.


Any tips or precautions I need to take? I would hate to get this MUX locked up.


Thanks,


YY

YY4U

Plugged in the usb flash drive and Xentry started to open, then got an error message:


"No access authorization code! You must contact the User Help Desk".


Xentry is marked "Software-Version: 14.1.5.0 Data-Version:11/2013".


I changed the system date to 1/9/14. This unit appears to have quite a learning curve. My work is cut out for me the next few days!


Any help?

YY4U

It looks like I'm going to have to contact the seller to get a code to get in Xentry, but I was able to use DAS. It's reporting the same trouble codes as the other scanner. Right Rear plunger travel sensor.


I'll continue to work with the scanner while I wait for the strut to arrive, but for this job DAS and WIS should be all I need. I can calibrate and do the rodeo test from DAS. I'll report back when I get the strut fitted.


By the way, this C3 WILL NOT work unless the car is running. Even with a trickle charger connected to the battery.


Too Wise

jnash

That sucks that the car needs to be running.
You have keyless go right? Is there an ignition switch to use the key to turn on the ignition or not?

YY4U

I thought the SL has keyless go, but maybe not. You have to insert the key fob into the ignition switch to turn it on.


Could the problem be the battery is weak? With the charger connected you would think it would be ok, regardless. Star shows 12.4v with the charger connected and the ignition off, 14-14.7v with the engine running.


YY

YY4U

The vendor, via TeamViewer, remotely took control of my system and configured everything. Everything looks good and I'm off to a shop with the car, strut and laptop/scanner.


Too Wise

YY4U

It took a couple of weeks for my busy mechanic to fit me in. We didn't need the Star; he looked at everything, figured out what he needed to do, and did it. It took about 3 hrs.


I drove the car home, calibrated the strut and did the rodeo, and all lights and warning messages are gone. The car raises and lowers properly.


Was it worth it? You decide. The dealer would have charged about $3k for the job. I spent $420 for the strut (Strutmasters rebuilt via parts geek), $300 for labor and $385 for the C3 & laptop for a grand total of $1,105. Since I get to keep the Star for the next job, yeah, I think it was worth all the hassle. But I can see how many may disagree.....


Peace,


Too Wise

YY4U

One more thing: I'm glad I didn't try to do the labor myself and I wouldn't recommend anyone who's not a motor head to try. My guy has 40 yrs experience and every tool ever invented (and a bunch he made himself). A couple of times he got through spots where I had no idea what to do. And I was gonna try to do it on jack stands....




YY

tusabes

So do you not recommend the icarsoft 980??

Should we get a real laptop with star instead ?

YY4U

It depends. If all you want to do is scan, the iCarsoft i980 should be fine. It will not calibrate and code, however.

I would put that money toward the Star and be done with it.


Good luck,


YY