I have a 2000 S430 and I noticed the front end of the car was really low a week ago. The sign came on in the front saying "Stop, car too low". I rushed and took it to a local mechanic and he looked at it and said he thinks its the Airmatic compressor pump leaking and he changed it for $600.00 including labor and tax. But the problem is now the front part of the car is fine but the back part of the car is raised up a good 6 inches from the wheel. The mechanic doesn't know what it could be. He said it might be the Airmatic Computer Unit but he's not sure. The struts are pretty new and were replaced by the previous owner, so it cant be the struts. Can you guys please help?

 

Have him check the ride height sensors and also the valve block. Better yet, since he has no clue, take it to a dealer ior to a certified MB independent with experience in Airmatic systems.

 

was it fine after he changed the compressor, and then the problem in the rear developed shortly after?

or was it never right from the moment he changed the compressor?

Could be something as simple as disconnecting the battery to reset the system./

 

He checked the height sensors and the valve block and did not see a problem in them, I'm most likely going to take it to a dealer.....just not to excited about the huge bill they might slap me with. As for the height increase, it was never right from when he changed the compressor. I will disconnect the battery and get back to you guys ASAP.

 

I took the battery out for a day and kept it off overnight, I just plugged it back in and no change. I am noticing the car is getting a little (2 inches) lower from both the front and the back. I think the car is going to be lowered again from the front in a week or so like it was before i took it to the mechanic. GREAT!

 

Have you driven the car any distance?

Perhaps it needs to be driven (at varying speeds, including freeway) for the system to settle in? I know my car lowers itself at freeway speeds, and comes back up a bit upon exiting at the first stop sign.

 

I have a S280 W220 year 2000, everything is fine on the Airmatic,
But when I park it, it goes fully high and normal when we start it...
Any ideas? Thanks.

 

damn i wish i can help.. but i didnt even know w220 can go that high !!

 

I have noticed that the Airmatic takes the car higher when parked up IF I lock the car... then if I unlock the car from the house, it re-locks and the height goes to normal.. Any ideas? Thanks

 

Hello im having the same problem with my S430...when I turn my car and wait for 10 to 15 minutes the car rises extremly high and when I turn the car back on it levels off....Did you ever find out the problem or can you help?

 

kenneth, I ended up taking it to a dealer and asked them to diagnose the problem. I thought I was going to end up spending thousands to fix this nightmare but it turned out there was a wire in the system half fried so they just replaced the wire. They charged me 2 hours of labor for it which was like 200 bucks. I recommended going to the dealer for a diagnoses rather than a private mechanic because they have more insight with this whole airmatic contraption.

 

My 2005 s500 too low in front won't rise up I can here the compressor working

 

Hi did you know which wire was it and where it is located? My car does the same and they want me to replace the valve block which is around $1000!

 

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I know this is an old thread but would anyone have a pic or location of the wire that causes the c1338 error for the airmatic compressor

 

It is the pressure relief valve, a part of the compressor (round attachment) check this out it may help
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/s4...c1338.1475775/

 

Thank you for the link. I've searched everywhere and don't see any broken wires leading to the airmatic compressor. Could a bad valve block cause a similar issue. If anyone knows of a diagram of the wire location that could help. Sorry I know this is a very old thread

 

Sometimes the relief valve itself is not functioning properly. Unfortunately the part cannot be bought individually, just together as integral component of the compressor. But it can be removed and cleaned. But taking it apart, requires caution, as it is spring loaded and you need to ensure to get parts (3-4, not many) back together in the right sequence. The valve block is not known to be weak. The part which is mostly likely to fail after 100.000mls or so is the compressor, as it wears over time and looses the ability to hold pressure in the system or not even generating sufficient pressure. Is your car to high at the rear axle? then the first thing to check is the level sensor and the level sensor rod next to the differential. If this is broken, corroded or loose, the level cannot be set correctly any more, and the car goes high.

 

The first component(s) to test after checking power supply are the height sensors. Of course if the linkages are messed up---broken, bent, loose--they will cause incorrect heights. Sometime the sensors do not read right and can be 'revived' by 'exercising them--simply disconnect the linkage and work the sensor shaft back and forth a dozen or so times--full travel

 

The height sensors have all been recently replaced, front and back. I think it's a dirty release valve. Going to get in there tomorrow and clean it out. Hopefully that'll fix it *fingers crossed* Thank for the info. Much appreciated.

 

Thanks for the info. Gonna get in there tomorrow. Hopefully it's just a blocked release valve