airmatic - squeak/squeal when starting off in low mode.
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airmatic - squeak/squeal when starting off in low mode.
Looking to buy from PP a 2001 S500 with 92000 miles. Was driving it.. drove great but noticed this red light on on a dashboard switch. Turns out it as the switch to raise and lower the airmatic suspension. It was in "sport 2" position whatever that it. While the car was in park... turned off the red light and the car slowly lowered itself and indicated "convenience" ride. Thought I heard a ratcheting sound as well. Started to drive slowly and all of a sudden there was a squeek/squeal that sounded like something rubbing against the rotor or some other metal part... perhaps the wheel. It even had a sort of vibrato that increased with the rotation of the tire. after a few hundred yards it quieted down and it didn't do it again unless I stopped the car and put it in park for a while... then took off again and it would repeat it. Sounded like if I moved something or just shot it with some WD40, it would fix it.. but I know that isn't probably the case.
Really love the car but can't afford to buy it and repair it immediately or soon after.. unless it's an inexpensive fix. I've been reading how these airmatic suspensions are a problem but most of the squeaks have to do with bumps.. and not just starting off from a stop for the first time.
What do to... what to do.. any guidance as to what this issue might be and the cost of the fix would help me decide whether to buy this car or not.
thanks
Really love the car but can't afford to buy it and repair it immediately or soon after.. unless it's an inexpensive fix. I've been reading how these airmatic suspensions are a problem but most of the squeaks have to do with bumps.. and not just starting off from a stop for the first time.
What do to... what to do.. any guidance as to what this issue might be and the cost of the fix would help me decide whether to buy this car or not.
thanks
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
There should be two buttons for the suspension - one shows an icon showing lifting the car. This raises the suspension a slight amount.
The other button is to control the stiffness of the shocks(dampers). There are two positions in some cases, three positions in others. This has no effect on the ride height, just the firmness of the ride.
Hands-on inspection is about the only way that you are going to find the source of the noise. It could be a small stone rubbing against the brake, a bent brake shield rubbing against the rotor, something rubbing against a rear axle/half-shaft, etc., etc., etc. Did you apply the parking brake? If so, could be something in the parking brake rubbing.
The other button is to control the stiffness of the shocks(dampers). There are two positions in some cases, three positions in others. This has no effect on the ride height, just the firmness of the ride.
Hands-on inspection is about the only way that you are going to find the source of the noise. It could be a small stone rubbing against the brake, a bent brake shield rubbing against the rotor, something rubbing against a rear axle/half-shaft, etc., etc., etc. Did you apply the parking brake? If so, could be something in the parking brake rubbing.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11
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I didn't use the stiffness switch.... didn't know about it. Just lowered the car. didn't use the parking brake but am wondering how lowering the car would affect the positioning of the brake shield or other components.... but you are right in that it does sound like something rubbing against the wheel or the brake or something else that's rotating.
