Help confirm suspicion - valve block/ABC pump
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 79
Likes: 5
From: Long Island, NY
‘03 MB S600; ‘07 Saab Aero conv; ‘65 Vette; ‘66 vette; ‘05 BMW Z4
Help confirm suspicion - valve block/ABC pump
I'm looking to confirm my suspicion that I have a valve block failure for my 2003 S600 (w/55K miles). A little history:
- In 2010 I blew a hydraulic hose and had it replaced
- I thought shortly after this I had a rebuilt ABC pump installed. I cannot find the service record - and it's hard to keep track (I have 8 cars), but I'm pretty certain it was done. Mileage was likely around 50K
- several years later (5?) and another 5K miles, and I have the following:
1. The car "settles" if it sits for a week. All 4 corners almost sitting on the tires. This has been ongoing for many months. The car raises quickly upon startup.
2. Recently while driving I hear a whining noise. The whine varies a bit as the car goes over a bump in the road - I am pretty certain it is the ABC pump.
3. Sure enough - this afternoon I hear the whine - and after a while I get the "ABC Warning - visit Workshop" mssg (white).
4. Reading up on the forum I'm assuming I have a faulty valve block, causing the pump to run often. Neglecting the faulty valve block is putting a strain on the pump. At this point I probably need both a pump and valve block(s).
I am so done with this car.
Comments/advice appreciated.
- In 2010 I blew a hydraulic hose and had it replaced
- I thought shortly after this I had a rebuilt ABC pump installed. I cannot find the service record - and it's hard to keep track (I have 8 cars), but I'm pretty certain it was done. Mileage was likely around 50K
- several years later (5?) and another 5K miles, and I have the following:
1. The car "settles" if it sits for a week. All 4 corners almost sitting on the tires. This has been ongoing for many months. The car raises quickly upon startup.
2. Recently while driving I hear a whining noise. The whine varies a bit as the car goes over a bump in the road - I am pretty certain it is the ABC pump.
3. Sure enough - this afternoon I hear the whine - and after a while I get the "ABC Warning - visit Workshop" mssg (white).
4. Reading up on the forum I'm assuming I have a faulty valve block, causing the pump to run often. Neglecting the faulty valve block is putting a strain on the pump. At this point I probably need both a pump and valve block(s).
I am so done with this car.
Comments/advice appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 96
From: Just north of Detroit,Michigan
2012 E350 4Matic P2
Don't throw in the towel just yet!
Not sure about the ABC warning. You probably need to have an SDS scan to check pump pressure.
As to the whining and settling, lowering after about 1 week is considered normal and the whining noise could very well be the pulsation damper.
See attachments.
Good luck,
Bob
Not sure about the ABC warning. You probably need to have an SDS scan to check pump pressure.
As to the whining and settling, lowering after about 1 week is considered normal and the whining noise could very well be the pulsation damper.
See attachments.
Good luck,
Bob
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 358
Likes: 14
From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Mercedes SL63 AMG; Mercedes E63 AMG S 4matic; Mercedes C43 AMG; Mercedes S Class, Mercedes GLK
I had a whining noise on my SL and replacement of Pulsation Damper eliminated it completely. A relatively cheap fix for ABC. Although S and SL are obviously different cars, the systems are pretty much the same.
