Can lower ABC fluid level cause ABC leak near the pump?
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Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Tampa Bay, FL
2014 E350 Wagon, 2009 SL550 no ABC
Can lower ABC fluid level cause ABC leak near the pump?
I know it appears counter-intuitive, but that's what I think may have happened. Due to a small strut leak in the back of the car the fluid level went down. And suddenly I have noticed ABC fluid being leaked and splashed around the pump/reservoir/engine fan area. After topping the fluid the front leaking/splashing disappeared. Could lower fluid level actually cause the pump to somehow blow off the fluid to the outside? And if not, what could be a reason for a leak near the pump which disappears after fluid is added?
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2003 S55 (SOLD) , 2012 S550
Usually when that happens one of the accumulators blew. Depending how old they are replace them all or you will find yourself blowing hoses and spending a small fortune fixing the system.
Good luck
Good luck
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 502
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From: Tampa Bay, FL
2014 E350 Wagon, 2009 SL550 no ABC
Thanks @PillDrive. But that happened just several hundred miles/few thousand miles after I have replaced ALL accumulators as a preemptive measure due to what you have said. Could a brand new accumulator go bad?
But accumulator going bad is basically two things:
1 - loss of the "shock absorber" function for the fluid, which blows hoses as a result
2 - loss of the fluid which now fills the failed part of the membrane
So could the strut failure generate similar symptoms to the accumulator failure? Or could strut failure (lower fluid level - 2) combined with ABC attempts to auto save itself (stiffing up the suspension, I recall that it felt like the suspension went stiffer) - similar to 1 above, generate the same results?
But accumulator going bad is basically two things:
1 - loss of the "shock absorber" function for the fluid, which blows hoses as a result
2 - loss of the fluid which now fills the failed part of the membrane
So could the strut failure generate similar symptoms to the accumulator failure? Or could strut failure (lower fluid level - 2) combined with ABC attempts to auto save itself (stiffing up the suspension, I recall that it felt like the suspension went stiffer) - similar to 1 above, generate the same results?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Tampa Bay, FL
2014 E350 Wagon, 2009 SL550 no ABC
No, my bad, I did not do the rodeo. So it makes sense now, some air trapped in the system could eventually be released, causing symptoms of a blown accumulator, which would cause the fluid to be blown out all of the place around the pump/reservoir. So there could be nothing wrong with the system now (apart from a small unrelated leak at the shock). Does it make sense? Maybe it just needs a rodeo now or was it "rodeod" enough through driving?
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2003 S55 (SOLD) , 2012 S550
At this point i am not sure if it would make any difference.
The Rodeo is pretty hard on the pump and the struts so most experts say not to do it unless really needed, however i have done them a few times and cancelled it after a few minutes just to see if the pump is still strong.
So its up to you
Good luck
The Rodeo is pretty hard on the pump and the struts so most experts say not to do it unless really needed, however i have done them a few times and cancelled it after a few minutes just to see if the pump is still strong.
So its up to you
Good luck
