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I was looking through posts and didn't see anything that resembled my problem. I have an 02" S55 AMG that that is sitting extremely low, the wheel well is about 3/4" above the tires. When I start the car and put it in drive (or reverse) the passenger side will sit up to normal height. The driver side however won't lift up. The tech I saw (who i didnt trust at all based off multiple mistakes that cost me 2.5K) said that it's a faulty water and ABC pump, but the fact that the car lifts up at all makes me think that the pumps are ok. If anyone has seen this before please let me know what the solution was!
Is it losing fluid in the ABC system? If so, find out where. If not, then it's probably a valve issue, never actuating to send pressure to that strut. Valve body rebuild is not hard, rings and stuff are not expensive, but a strut rebuild IS expensive.
You imply that the car settles when parked. It shouldn't, unless we're talking weeks of parked. That also implies a valve problem, maybe in the strut. If the system's not working, the struts should lock at the height and not raise or lower. Again, if the car sags when parked, you're looking at strut issues.
The pump is nearly always a guess, because the guys don't understand the system.
I replaced the struts last year so they shouldn’t be an issue unless faulty. I opened up the wheel well and found a new control arm sensor (which the mech said he replaced) plugged in and dangling next to the arm, while the old sensor was still installed and unplugged... what do I take away from that?
Originally Posted by wfooshee
Is it losing fluid in the ABC system? If so, find out where. If not, then it's probably a valve issue, never actuating to send pressure to that strut. Valve body rebuild is not hard, rings and stuff are not expensive, but a strut rebuild IS expensive.
You imply that the car settles when parked. It shouldn't, unless we're talking weeks of parked. That also implies a valve problem, maybe in the strut. If the system's not working, the struts should lock at the height and not raise or lower. Again, if the car sags when parked, you're looking at strut issues.
The pump is nearly always a guess, because the guys don't understand the system.
Well, that would do it... If there's no meaningful sensor signal to the computer, it's not going to adjust the strut. From what you describe, the new sensor needs to be put in place rather than hanging in space.
Well, that would do it... If there's no meaningful sensor signal to the computer, it's not going to adjust the strut. From what you describe, the new sensor needs to be put in place rather than hanging in space.
Installed the new one and I’ll see if that does the trick.. I’m wondering if I should clean out the valve box since I’m down here just in case. Check the o rings and springs on the valves to see if that’s also an issue?
I replaced the sensor and the car didn’t lift up. I then took out the valve block, cleaned it and replaced the o-rings then did a fluid drain and change. The car still won’t lift up... Could it be an electrical issue? Anyone have any ideas on what I could be missing?
When I went to work on it today, I noticed that there was hydraulic fluid all over the reservoir. I opened up the cap to the reservoir to see whats going on and it's filled to the brim.. but I only filled it 70% of the way after I changed the fluids last night. I know I'm completely in over my head at the moment but I need to figure this out haha. Any help would be appreciated!
The reservoir filling itself means fluid is coming back from elsewhere in the system. Probably nearly failed accumulator has slowly pushed its diaphragm back to its "rest" position. A failed accumulator will fill nearly its whole volume with fluid when pressurized, rather than keeping a gas space behind the diaphragm, and as the diaphragm returns, the fluid goes back to the pump reservoir. If both front and rear accumulators are doing that, then it's even more fluid! Definitely time for new accumulators! They're not hard to do, just fairly hard to get at. The front is behind the plastic in the left front wheel well, and the rear is under the car at the back, just in front of the trunk, if memory serves. That means a lift or jackstands and getting under the car.
Do a web search on changing them out, I found several helpful sites when I did mine. There's a pressure relief nipple in the line, do that before unbolting the lines from the accumulator, because even if it's been sitting a while, there's very high pressure in the system.
The reservoir filling itself means fluid is coming back from elsewhere in the system. Probably nearly failed accumulator has slowly pushed its diaphragm back to its "rest" position. A failed accumulator will fill nearly its whole volume with fluid when pressurized, rather than keeping a gas space behind the diaphragm, and as the diaphragm returns, the fluid goes back to the pump reservoir. If both front and rear accumulators are doing that, then it's even more fluid! Definitely time for new accumulators! They're not hard to do, just fairly hard to get at. The front is behind the plastic in the left front wheel well, and the rear is under the car at the back, just in front of the trunk, if memory serves. That means a lift or jackstands and getting under the car.
Do a web search on changing them out, I found several helpful sites when I did mine. There's a pressure relief nipple in the line, do that before unbolting the lines from the accumulator, because even if it's been sitting a while, there's very high pressure in the system.
I appreciate the info! So would it make sense that the car won’t sit up until the accumulators are replaced?
I don't think the accumulators would prevent the strut lifting. The valve body may have a bad solenoid or electrical connection, or there may be an open hydraulic line to that corner, but I'd think then you'd have an obvious fluid drip somewhere.
Your car needs accumulators, though, from what you've described with fluid overflow at the pump.
Sry for crashing but what if no saging full of fluid and abc warning comes on
Take it to someone who can read the codes. You're not giving any behaviors that point to any troubleshooting help, just saying the light is on.There are about 137,359 reasons the warning will come on.
Hopefully my icarsoft will come in soon before I have to take that route, only because the shops are very limited around here so they like to triple the price any way they can, thanks
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