Chasing a low pressure ABC fault
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Joined: Dec 2007
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2005 S500 Designo
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 980
Likes: 224
2005 S500 Designo
Please don’t take my advice for anything more than just rambling, I may be completely wrong, a DAS system might not be necessary, or you might do damage to your car by installing the wrong control module.
That being said a DAS system is always handy to have when owning these cars.
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 122
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From: Burlington, Ontario
S211 E55, R129 SL500 + others
Where did you get a DAS system from?
Please don’t take my advice for anything more than just rambling, I may be completely wrong, a DAS system might not be necessary, or you might do damage to your car by installing the wrong control module.
That being said a DAS system is always handy to have when owning these cars.
Please don’t take my advice for anything more than just rambling, I may be completely wrong, a DAS system might not be necessary, or you might do damage to your car by installing the wrong control module.
That being said a DAS system is always handy to have when owning these cars.
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
I've bought three from China - all worked fine. The hardware, especially the cables, looked like aerospace quality. (I had a long career in aircraft manufacturing.)
That being said, there is a pretty steep learning curve on the system - it is a large, powerful set of software.
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That being said, there is a pretty steep learning curve on the system - it is a large, powerful set of software.
0
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 980
Likes: 224
2005 S500 Designo
How much does one cost? I want one from china
[edit]
it doesn't have to be china, actually i'd prefer one not from china, but rather, cheap
[edit]
it doesn't have to be china, actually i'd prefer one not from china, but rather, cheap
Last edited by Fried Chicken; Oct 3, 2019 at 01:56 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
That is not a simple question - there are quite a few options. In descending order of price and ease:
- Buy a complete turnkey system from a local vendor (if you can find one).
- Buy a complete turnkey system from a Chinese vendor.
- Buy everything as a system except for the laptop. The software will be on a conventional hard drive or an SSD. Build your own laptop from eBay.
- Buy the pieces where you find them at the lowest price.
I opted for the middle choice. Bought several Dell D630 and D830 laptops, bought the fastest CPU available, maxed out the memory, new battery, etc. Bought the rest of the system from a Chinese vendor. Total cost was between $500 and $600.
A friend has a complete system like the one that I use that he wants to sell. I think that he wants about $500 for it. He just sold his S430.
This is a complex subject that has been discussed online for several years. There are numerous threads on the Mercedes forums...
- Buy a complete turnkey system from a local vendor (if you can find one).
- Buy a complete turnkey system from a Chinese vendor.
- Buy everything as a system except for the laptop. The software will be on a conventional hard drive or an SSD. Build your own laptop from eBay.
- Buy the pieces where you find them at the lowest price.
I opted for the middle choice. Bought several Dell D630 and D830 laptops, bought the fastest CPU available, maxed out the memory, new battery, etc. Bought the rest of the system from a Chinese vendor. Total cost was between $500 and $600.
A friend has a complete system like the one that I use that he wants to sell. I think that he wants about $500 for it. He just sold his S430.
This is a complex subject that has been discussed online for several years. There are numerous threads on the Mercedes forums...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 122
Likes: 11
From: Burlington, Ontario
S211 E55, R129 SL500 + others
I ordered a multiplexer and HDD with the software. I have a couple of old laptops that will hopefully work (with serial ports). Still hasn't shipped though. I paid 260USD shipped.
Wait and see...in the meantime I tried replacing both ABC fuses on the off-chance something might be awry, but no luck. Still very stiff.
Wait and see...in the meantime I tried replacing both ABC fuses on the off-chance something might be awry, but no luck. Still very stiff.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2016
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From: Burlington, Ontario
S211 E55, R129 SL500 + others
Got the DAS today. Tried every possible test and actuation, the car passed everything perfectly with no faults and aggressive bouncing. The replacement ABC module should arrive later this week.
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Joined: Jan 2019
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2015 S550 4MATIC
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 980
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2005 S500 Designo
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 122
Likes: 11
From: Burlington, Ontario
S211 E55, R129 SL500 + others
This was nearly 4 years ago. I never fully resolved it, sold the car instead when I lost most of my work during covid.
DAS was ordered off Aliexpress. Still works great.
DAS was ordered off Aliexpress. Still works great.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 428
Likes: 96
From: Houston
001 s600, 94 sl600
The un-solvable issue you had with the ABC system is exactly why many Owners gave up on ABC. I gave up after I did a good evaluation of flex hose replacement -cost forecast, me doing the labor, hydraulic shop hose replacement, and reluctantly switched to strut-overs.
The certainty of future strut failures and the unavailability of replacements drove me out.
The certainty of future strut failures and the unavailability of replacements drove me out.
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Joined: Mar 2023
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mercedes c55
I solved part of the problem: the PSI supply fault was caused by the pump which, every 30 seconds or so, would momentarily drop pressure to about 40 bar (lasting about 1/2 second), before rising again. This happened too fast to register on a digital gauge, but was detected by an analogue gauge we hooked up to the pressure sensor.
Changed the pump again, that problem is now gone. However, the harsh ride remains, as does the "ABC control lock on" message on the Icarsoft. No fault codes whatsoever anymore though.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Changed the pump again, that problem is now gone. However, the harsh ride remains, as does the "ABC control lock on" message on the Icarsoft. No fault codes whatsoever anymore though.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 980
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2005 S500 Designo
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 428
Likes: 96
From: Houston
001 s600, 94 sl600
You need to bleed the air from everywhere in the system. If the ABC is locked off, it must be reset using the WIS (Mercedes) software/hardware system. It will NOT show the lock-out on any other scan tool. Lots of owners give up when this 'stumped them'. When you encounter a 'what is it' situation, no substitute for a good system diagnosis from a skilled tech FAMILIAR with rhe MBZ software diagnosis system, This is not a system to 'learn on.'
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 428
Likes: 96
From: Houston
001 s600, 94 sl600
The single biggest problem with older ABC systems is the certain failure of all the flex hoses. Mercedes rubber jacket fails and allows moisture to rust the plain steel wire reinforcement. I regret giving up and installing strut-overs. The ride is very good. The certainty of strut failure eventually and the non-availability of rebuilt or new replacements is what convinced me to switch.
