SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: ABC Woes - Driver side of the car is on the ground

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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 07:52 PM
  #1  
45turns's Avatar
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2003 SL55, 2001 911 Turbo, 1987 944 Race Car
ABC Woes - Driver side of the car is on the ground

I'm new to working on my 2003 SL55, and it would seem I've got my first ABC issue to diagnose. Driving around today with the top down in unseasonably warm weather, just loving everything about this car when suddenly I get the ABC "Car too low stop" warning. I pull over and stop the car, noticing the front driver side wheel is very low. I restart the car and play with the raise / lower button and it comes back up to height and I'm able to limp the car home. I get home and pull out my MBII to pull codes, I press the suspension raise button (to bring the car to it's highest position) and the entire driver side of the car falls below it's lowest setting.

My question for the group is, am I on the right track replacing the level sensor or is there something else in the system (possibly valve blocks) that I should be looking at first?

Looking at values on my MBII scanner I've got low voltage (possibly bad?) level sensor, the readings are:
B22/8(Left Front) 0.47v
B22/9(Right Front) 2.10v
B22/7(Left Rear) 3.65v
B22/10(Right Rear) 2.57v

System Pressure at Idle 195Bar

And the codes:
P152500
P152544
C1136 - Fault Right Rear Level Sensor
P113602
C1134 - Fault Left Rear Level Sensor
P113402
C1133 - Right Front Level Sensor
P113302
C1132 - Left Front Level Sensor
P113202

Thanks for any input and help!
-Eric




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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 10:28 PM
  #2  
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From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
If your left front was still very low, that level sensor reading might be fine. I would start with the control circuit on that corner. I'm not sure what all you can do with that scanner, but there should be actuations for the blocking and control valves and you should be able to manually raise and lower that corner. It should also show amp draw on the solenoids, so you can see if they are being driven. My guess would be a valve/solenoid problem, but there are other possibilities.
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Old Mar 7, 2021 | 07:44 PM
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2003 SL55, 2001 911 Turbo, 1987 944 Race Car
Well mystery solved! Couldn't be happier with the fix. It turns out that the arm of the level sensor on the front driver side popped off at the pivot point. Pushed it back in, started the car and all is well again.
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