Dreaded red ABC warning...car stuck in raised position?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 30
From: Texas
M6 Gran Coupe
Dreaded red ABC warning...car stuck in raised position?
Had no issues whatsoever until yesterday. Went on a longer drive....120 miles. I came out and restarted car and red ABC warning...drive slowly, was on. The car was stuck in the raised position. If I hit the lowering button....the button would light up but the car didn't lower.
Went home....car parked for about 3 hours. Restarted it.....light didn't come on. Drove about 30 miles, no issues, car lowered and heightened on command.....no warning light. Stopped for gas....restarted car, warning light came on again when I started car.
So since yesterday.....sometimes I get the red warning light....sometimes I don't get the red warning but I get the normal blue warning light....and other times I get no warnings at all.
Any ideas? I can't see any fluid on ground. I did notice my ABC fluid seemed kind of brownish....which I suppose could be normal (or maybe not) if the ABC pump was never changed and thus now has 60k miles on car.
Any ideas....I had the W215 CL that had ABC issues....but those were obvious issues....just one side of car lowering....or car suddenly lowering while driving. If it were the pump, wouldn't car be stuck in lowered position or sunk real low?
Went home....car parked for about 3 hours. Restarted it.....light didn't come on. Drove about 30 miles, no issues, car lowered and heightened on command.....no warning light. Stopped for gas....restarted car, warning light came on again when I started car.
So since yesterday.....sometimes I get the red warning light....sometimes I don't get the red warning but I get the normal blue warning light....and other times I get no warnings at all.
Any ideas? I can't see any fluid on ground. I did notice my ABC fluid seemed kind of brownish....which I suppose could be normal (or maybe not) if the ABC pump was never changed and thus now has 60k miles on car.
Any ideas....I had the W215 CL that had ABC issues....but those were obvious issues....just one side of car lowering....or car suddenly lowering while driving. If it were the pump, wouldn't car be stuck in lowered position or sunk real low?
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 32
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From: Vancouver, B.C.
2003S600 and 2002c320s
My car had similar warnings. The cause was the power steering pump was not pressurizing correctly and the ABC valve was leaking internally. Both were replaced. The ABC fluid should be greenish in colour.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 30
From: Texas
M6 Gran Coupe
It does not seem to be leaking fluid at all.....it's the same level as it was a few days ago. It seems when I first start it each day it will work.....and I can put the suspension up and down 10 times as long as I don't turn the car off (and get no warnings, etc). However....it seems after a few minutes once I turn the car off.....and then restart it....I start getting the damn warning again and the car won't lower or go higher.
I wouldn't think it's a leaky strut if no fluid is being lost. It just seems odd as to why if it's the pump....why it works intermittently.
The fluid is brownish....making me think it's never been flushed. I am wondering if I have a flush and rodeo test done....if that might fix it.
I wouldn't think it's a leaky strut if no fluid is being lost. It just seems odd as to why if it's the pump....why it works intermittently.
The fluid is brownish....making me think it's never been flushed. I am wondering if I have a flush and rodeo test done....if that might fix it.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 579
Likes: 37
It does not seem to be leaking fluid at all.....it's the same level as it was a few days ago. It seems when I first start it each day it will work.....and I can put the suspension up and down 10 times as long as I don't turn the car off (and get no warnings, etc). However....it seems after a few minutes once I turn the car off.....and then restart it....I start getting the damn warning again and the car won't lower or go higher.
I wouldn't think it's a leaky strut if no fluid is being lost. It just seems odd as to why if it's the pump....why it works intermittently.
The fluid is brownish....making me think it's never been flushed. I am wondering if I have a flush and rodeo test done....if that might fix it.
I wouldn't think it's a leaky strut if no fluid is being lost. It just seems odd as to why if it's the pump....why it works intermittently.
The fluid is brownish....making me think it's never been flushed. I am wondering if I have a flush and rodeo test done....if that might fix it.
Good luck
Johan
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2004 Mercedes SL500
Warranty
I'm new. Just found this forum. Who is Bruce ? Someone that can help with purchasing an MB entended warranty ??
Thank you .
Peddler999
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 62
Likes: 10
From: England
R230 SL500 W211 E220
i had an issue couple months ago i pushed the abc button when i was parked nothing happened it was stuck in high level so i left it went indoors. Came out next day started the car & the red warning came on & the car was still in high position. Next day light was out but still in high position & still is as of now the red light hasn't come on since. Although every so often abc visit workshop comes on i switch off then restart & it goes out.
