ABC ride
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2004 CLK 500
ABC ride
Hey guys I don't have a humming noise to think the dampener is bad and the front suspension is all brand new genuine MB but I feel like I can feel every bump and crack in the road. The pump and fluid are about a month old too. As are the two accumulators.
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2014 E63s
There are 4 accumalor. Two large, one return line and the pulsation dampener. Also log you abc pressure while driving. Should not dip below 160 ever. If it does you have a bad accumulator and/or pump. The return line accumulator is the most expensive and the smallest. Not the rear accumulator under the exhaust. Then if that is not your problem the rubber on top of the abc struts is toasted and torn. Requiring strut replacement
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2004 CLK 500
Okay, thanks! What is the best way to monitor it while driving? I just looked and he replaced two that were $130/ea and I remember them saying one was in the rear that caused the ABC light to come on if hitting a bump.. So I guess I should replace this return line accumulator. Can you tell me where it is? I assume this can be the cause and not give off a humming? The ABC pump is a month old, and it was just a rebuilt, but it wasn't a cheap rebuild it was a Meyle. Doesn't mean it's good I know.. However the old pump did give a warning of low pressure but this one hasn't.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
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2014 E63s
The return line accumaltor is connected to the rear valve block. It is in front of driver side rear tire. It is about $280 part. Get a iCarsoft i980, that will let you read all the benz codes and systems, and give you live data for data logging.
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2004 CLK 500
Doh! Which brand did you get? I was going to go brand new because of the bad things I've heard about rebuilds but my Mercedes specialist friend said yes there are a lot of bad ones unless you go with a quality company rebuilding them. That's why we went with Meyle.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2011
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2004 CLK 500
Thanks for your help! I have the Mercedes Star Diagnostics but I just ordered the i980 too for the live information! Is replacing this rear accumulator as easy as the dampener? Thanks!
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2014 E63s
Yea I would go as far as saying the return line accumulator is the easiest to do.
Mercedes-Benz Suspension Accumulator (Active Body Control) (ABC) - Genuine Mercedes 2203200415
the icarsoft doesn't do accusations or adaptions but its easy lets you clear limp mode. Its what I put in the cars my wife is driving just in case. or if i want to monitor IATS or Trans temp, etc....
Mercedes-Benz Suspension Accumulator (Active Body Control) (ABC) - Genuine Mercedes 2203200415
the icarsoft doesn't do accusations or adaptions but its easy lets you clear limp mode. Its what I put in the cars my wife is driving just in case. or if i want to monitor IATS or Trans temp, etc....
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From: MD
2005 S55 AMG, 2005 S500
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 933
Likes: 25
2004 CLK 500
Yea I would go as far as saying the return line accumulator is the easiest to do.
Mercedes-Benz Suspension Accumulator (Active Body Control) (ABC) - Genuine Mercedes 2203200415
the icarsoft doesn't do accusations or adaptions but its easy lets you clear limp mode. Its what I put in the cars my wife is driving just in case. or if i want to monitor IATS or Trans temp, etc....
Mercedes-Benz Suspension Accumulator (Active Body Control) (ABC) - Genuine Mercedes 2203200415
the icarsoft doesn't do accusations or adaptions but its easy lets you clear limp mode. Its what I put in the cars my wife is driving just in case. or if i want to monitor IATS or Trans temp, etc....
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Posts: 287
Likes: 28
2014 E63s
No diy
No funny enough I haven't found one. There is another factor with the bumps. I would wait to get the iCarsoft i980 and drive around and get idea how our pressure holds. If it holds well, above 160 bar basically no matter what it's not the pump or accumulator. Another really big one is lower control arms!!!! Forgot to mention it if they go you really feel everything (through the steering wheel especially) only get Mercedes lower control arms, all the rest of the parts I would get from lemforder. Lower control arms and the ball joints of the spindle. I would inspect those(if they haven't) replace those asap. These three parts will make your car feel brand new.
lower control arm
front thrust arm
front ball joint on the spindle
lower control arm
front thrust arm
front ball joint on the spindle
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 287
Likes: 28
2014 E63s
No diy
No funny enough I haven't found one. There is another factor with the bumps. I would wait to get the iCarsoft i980 and drive around and get idea how our pressure holds. If it holds well, above 160 bar basically no matter what it's not the pump or accumulator. Another really big one is lower control arms!!!! Forgot to mention it if they go you really feel everything (through the steering wheel especially) only get Mercedes lower control arms, all the rest of the parts I would get from lemforder. Lower control arms and the ball joints of the spindle. I would inspect those(if they haven't) replace those asap. These three parts will make your car feel brand new.
lower control arm
front thrust arm
front ball joint on the spindle.
lower control arm
front thrust arm
front ball joint on the spindle.
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2004 CLK 500
Thanks but the front end is all brand new with all genuine MB parts. The only thing I didn't do was the tie rods as they seemed fine. The car feels like the tire pressure is super high and you can feel every little bump. It just seems way to stiff for a Mercedes. If I check it with the carsoft which will be here the day after tomorrow and see a pressure drop are you saying that could be the accumulator or the pump? What should it stay around? Thanks
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2014 E63s
The pulsation dampener doesn't effect ride quality, what tires are you running? If the front end is all new. I would lean on your abc strut top bushing being bad than. With everything being new the return line accumaltor won't change ride quality as much as the big accumaltors did for your ride. We will wait and see what results of the logging are!
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2004 CLK 500
Okay thanks! But if it goes low how can you tell if it's the pump or the accumulator? I don't really understand what these accumulators do but if the two cheaper ones are new that just leaves the return line one and the dampener.. maybe I should just do both..? Unless without a loud humming noise the dampener can't be bad? Thanks again!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 933
Likes: 25
2004 CLK 500
The pulsation dampener doesn't effect ride quality, what tires are you running? If the front end is all new. I would lean on your abc strut top bushing being bad than. With everything being new the return line accumaltor won't change ride quality as much as the big accumaltors did for your ride. We will wait and see what results of the logging are!
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Posts: 287
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2014 E63s
Accumlator
The Accumlator are pressure resavoirs for the hydraulic system. If the strut has to perform a action and needs additional pressure to perform the task required the Accumlator supplies this pressure, also in reverse if you hit a bump and the system needs to eat excess pressure it goes there. The return line Accumlator helps regulate the pressure and shock that goes back towards the pump.
Thread Starter
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2004 CLK 500
Ah, okay thanks! And I assume when they go bad they don't make any noticeable noise? Could these cars just ride rough because of being an AMG and 19" wheels? To me it just seems it should absorb more.. it seems over big bumps it's great but over the little things it's got no absorption
