SL/R230: abc error
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
abc error
2003 sl500
Drove to work, walked out 8 hours later and saw puddle of ABC fluid on the ground (front)
Opened the hood and saw the dipstick for the reservoir was dangling and abc fluid and gotten all over the reservoir and surrounding areas. Put the dip stick back on properly and started driving. Got white abc error and minutes later followed by red abc error.
Before I drop this off to my mechanic I'm thinking I fill the reservoir back up again. Maybe light came on because of low fluid?
Drove to work, walked out 8 hours later and saw puddle of ABC fluid on the ground (front)
Opened the hood and saw the dipstick for the reservoir was dangling and abc fluid and gotten all over the reservoir and surrounding areas. Put the dip stick back on properly and started driving. Got white abc error and minutes later followed by red abc error.
Before I drop this off to my mechanic I'm thinking I fill the reservoir back up again. Maybe light came on because of low fluid?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 520
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From: Scottsdale AZ
2015 SL550 & 2012 S550 4matic
Yes definitely fill that reservoir and do not drive the car if the leak is other than a faulty dipstick seating. Your pump will be ruined without proper levels in the reservoir. Major $$$$ to replace. Consider a flat bed tow.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
Dropped the car off Saturday. Fluid was a little below the MAX line BEFORE start up. I to was thinking accumulator. Will keep you guys posted
FYI- I bought the car with Strutmasters installed. Worst ride ever. I spent money and put ABC back on
FYI- I bought the car with Strutmasters installed. Worst ride ever. I spent money and put ABC back on
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Member
Joined: May 2019
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From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
'07 CL550
Keep an eye out for any ABC warnings when driving over bumps. You’ll get momentary low pressure errors when the struts need fluid rapidly if an accumulator is bad. It wouldn’t surprise me if one of your accumulators blew and put a bubble of nitrogen in the system that caused fluid to spew out of your reservoir. Driving with bad accumulators also increases the risk of blowing hoses or damaging struts. ABC accumulators tend to need replacement every 10-15 years.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
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From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
Exactly what wizee said. You can run the pressure drop on shutdown test to check accumulators. My experience is that a bad from accumulator will throw ABC warnings on bumps, but the rear is not as likely to. Blown accumulators add high stresses to the system, they were put there for a reason.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
Exactly what wizee said. You can run the pressure drop on shutdown test to check accumulators. My experience is that a bad from accumulator will throw ABC warnings on bumps, but the rear is not as likely to. Blown accumulators add high stresses to the system, they were put there for a reason.
One thing I noticed is that there is pully noise coming from the pully connected to the pump. After the car warms up, it goes away. Another thing I have to look out for now. Wasn't there when I took the car in. Not sure what they did. It has been very cold here in DC- 15 degree nights so hopefully that had a role to play in the noise?
I now make it a habit to start the car once a day to get the juices flowing. Also bought a cold weather extension cord so I can run it to the the trickle charger (50 feet away from closest outlet).
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95 SL600
I would guess a bad accumulator would rupture and the gas that’s in it would cause the “air” in the system as well as displace the hydraulic fluid, pushing it out through the reservoir like you had.
My guess is that filling and rodeo got the “air” out and there is no more faults from that. The accumulators absorb the shock from bumps , the system doesn’t have a fault code for bad accumulators.
As above, the warning will come on when bumps are hit. If the accumulator is bad, the rest of the system is taking the shock load. I would take the advice above and get the leak down test done to rule this out.
My guess is that filling and rodeo got the “air” out and there is no more faults from that. The accumulators absorb the shock from bumps , the system doesn’t have a fault code for bad accumulators.
As above, the warning will come on when bumps are hit. If the accumulator is bad, the rest of the system is taking the shock load. I would take the advice above and get the leak down test done to rule this out.
