Hello people , my s55 AMG 2003 with 167k miles has just started throwing the ABC drive careful light when i drive over small bumps / dips and sometimes over big ones. today it started doing it just about every bump. i have read that it could be the pump or the accumulator. it is completely stock just looking for more info on what to replace / where to start. i have checked the ABC fluid level and it looks full. sometimes it comes on in RED over bigger dips most time just white. thank you

I went to eurostarter.de in germany on german ebay and bought a new power steering pump complete. LUK brand is the OEM. Local dealer was 2400AUD and I got my part for 1700AUD. This might save you a few bucks if it gets diagnosed that it is the problem

First step is change ABC fluid and filter. If accumulators haven’t been changed, I’d do that next. It’s not likely the pump at this stage. More likely pressure spikes over bumps which at minimum indicates bad accumulators. Many here have been down this road, so proceed methodically and keep us posted. Changing the pump without doing what I’ve advised above is a complete waste of money.

GL

maw

For reference, the front and rear axle accumulators are 220-327-01-15. One for each axle. The pulsation dampener (located by the right, front wheel is 220-327-02-15. The return accumulator is 220-320-04-15 and this one rarely needs to be replaced.

Hello, thank you for your reply i took the car to my local euro mechanic shop and told him about the problem and he said that it would be pointless to change the fluid and the filter since it is " self bleeding system" i am not well educated on what he was referring to so then i just asked how much it would be to replace the accumulator , i do think it i only the rear that need to be replaced. he said he'll get back to me with a price since he has to price the parts out. I looked on FCP Euro and they sell the kit for about 510 USD. does anyone know how much or estimate on price it should be around to get it replaced. thank you

Replace all the accumulators.

Do you have any thoughts as to why people say the rear return accumulators don’t need replacing? I’ve heard that too, from MB dealers even, and my response has been the same as yours… “just do them all please.”

maw

I do not know if my reply to maw posted because i do not see it visible but ill write it again, sorry if visible. took the car to local euro shop owner said replacing fluid and filter is useless , i proceeded to say okay then how much to replace accumulators he said hell get back to me on pricing when he can was very busy. FCP Euro sells the kit for the accumulators for 510 USD , GrepAwk said replace all accumulators which i probably should but i think it is only the rear because it beep with the light when the back tires go over the bumps. will update with pricing unfamiliar with how much it should cost if someone could give me a range. thank you

That's a first for me... changing the fluid and filter is like an oil change ("how frequent is too frequent?")... it's almost never useless and this is the first time I've ever heard a mechanic say it is... in over 12 years of ownership and speaking on a frequent basis with some of the best in the business (of old MBs)... believe what you will about that but definitely replace the accumulators.

maw

Alright i know it has been a couple days since last post shop has not called me back , so i'm taking that as a F off. where is a good euro shop in arizona. phoenix preferably i will just order the parts and take them to the shop? and would i just need to buy this

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...-2203270115kit
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...tor-2203270215

or what else is needed if anything , sorry i am unknowledgeable about this

You might track this thread… https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...c-phoenix.html

GL

maw

How do you know this, and how do you know if it needs replacing? Can it be pulled and inspected?

Google Mercedes TSB Pulsation Damper.

As for testing, I've seen some people take them off and push a pencil in to see if the diaphragm is still intact or broken (which is how they fail internally). Or something like that. This all seems foolish to me, given that prior Mercedes ownership has shown most people that the "nitrogen spheres" (VERY old Mercedes tech) go over time, and generally need replacing every 10yrs, 100k-150k miles. That's 100% of these cars at this point.

So between the TSB and, you know, experience, pulling the thing off, "testing" it, and putting the same old tired part back in because "you think it's still good" makes zero sense.

It would be like removing the engine oil, inspecting it, determining on some basis it's still good, and then putting it back into the car. I've seen salvage yards do this but no one else.

maw

Agree with myself . Just do them all.

Used to cost around $150 each (Corteco) from memory. One big ball for the rear, one big one (same part) for the front, and the pulsation dampener near the front for the pump.

The pulsation dampener is a bit more $.

Then a couple of gallons of Pentosin CHF-11S and the 2 micron filter for the reservoir.

Here's a link to a document provided me when I bought my '05.
Mercedes Benz ABC System Troubleshooting Guide.pdf.
Howdy to 8899 & Maw1124
Doesn't seem to open. Just Google minus the pdf. You'll find it.