Help! Error on screen says stop too low to drive.
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Help! Error on screen says stop too low to drive.
I was driving today and suddenly I get an error
"stop car too low to drive"
And the front of the car appears slammed making it hard to turn the wheels.
Does this mean the Airmatic compressor went out?
Please advise...
Thanks,
G'
"stop car too low to drive"
And the front of the car appears slammed making it hard to turn the wheels.
Does this mean the Airmatic compressor went out?
Please advise...
Thanks,
G'
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Joined: May 2008
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2016 C300
If you're lucky it's just the one rear strut or air line. If the compressor failed the whole thing would drop. It's important not to drive the car with the air system "opened" like that. The compressor can burn itself out trying to replace the lost pressure. Get it towed to a shop.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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If he can hear a compressor- he has airmatic.
And plenty of abc cars have hit the floor as when lose pressure they slam just like airmatic cars.
And abc valve locks rarely fail. They do leak resulting in the car sagging when left over night but will come right up when the car is started in the morning and th car height button is pressed.
Last edited by alx; Jun 3, 2015 at 07:44 AM.
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From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
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2016 C300
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
I can visualize the links compressing the coil inside the strut, but I still don't see how the system can lose compression and slam to the ground. Maybe 1-2 inches at most with full loss of compression. The spring in the strut will still hold the car up.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Southern California
2007 CL550
I had a hydraulic hose failure. This made quite a mess under the hood and soaked the serpentine belt which had to be replaced.
The car behaved as if it had failed shock absorbers. I was able to drive it a few miles to the dealer while going avoiding any bumps in the road and going around corners very slowly. The only damage was the ruptured hydraulic hose and the serpentine belt. Unfortunately, the repair still came to close to one thousand dollars.
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From: Planet Earth
S500
Connect Das-Xentry and check where air-pressure is dropping. There is a menu where you can check the status of pressure in each individual strut.
Its been a while that I used star-diag but this should give you a hint.
Its been a while that I used star-diag but this should give you a hint.
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S500
these cars come with two suspension types
airmatic - where it works with air - and often the level sensors snap off - usually the compressor has been working too hard when the sensors were seized and so its all a bit sorry for itself - at times it will pop the fuse...
or ABC, abc is better but completely different with very different fault conditions - I don't think early cars with the lesser systems get the too low message
either way you mustn't drive the car - find out which suspension type you have, and if you have no idea about what fault codes are, or don't have any kit to get at yours, its likely you'll need to find a garage to help you - it might cost a lot... all four also makes me think no fluid on ABC - if the steering is funny that might also be a clue about ABC as it shares the same fluid - if its ABC and you stopped very quickly might be a popped hose or hideous repair costs
airmatic - where it works with air - and often the level sensors snap off - usually the compressor has been working too hard when the sensors were seized and so its all a bit sorry for itself - at times it will pop the fuse...
or ABC, abc is better but completely different with very different fault conditions - I don't think early cars with the lesser systems get the too low message
either way you mustn't drive the car - find out which suspension type you have, and if you have no idea about what fault codes are, or don't have any kit to get at yours, its likely you'll need to find a garage to help you - it might cost a lot... all four also makes me think no fluid on ABC - if the steering is funny that might also be a clue about ABC as it shares the same fluid - if its ABC and you stopped very quickly might be a popped hose or hideous repair costs
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From: Tampa Bay, FL
2014 E350 Wagon, 2009 SL550 no ABC
(And what do you mean by to "go with the air" - what air?)
To the original poster - if you see white clear plastic lines going to the tops of the front shocks you are in luck. You have the relatively simple and reliable Airmatic, not the nightmare ABC.
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From: Tampa Bay, FL
2014 E350 Wagon, 2009 SL550 no ABC
No, think of it as Airmatic which is using fluid instead of air plus has a huge additional set of pipes/sensors/computers to control it so it's "active" - it's trying to predict ahead what dumping/height level etc may be needed next and applies it. Works great when it works. When it does not work it fails in various spectacular ways, for example entering "rodeo" on a perfectly flat road at high speed and making you feel like you have just started driving at 60mph through foot deep pot holes (ask me how I know).
