SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: SL55 + Bugs ?
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 14
From: UK
SL55 AMG
Jeff, at the risk of boring everyone by posting this again, this is the SBC control unit. I posted it before because this is one component you do not want to have to replace out of warranty (>$3000). It is, as you say, the central distibution point. The small cylinder on the left is the pressure vessel which maintains adequate reserves of pressure, boosted by a hydraulic pump. You can see the control umbilical cable connecting at the front.
The finned section on the right is, I believe, a series of solenoids operated valves which control the flow of fluid around the various channels milled into the main block to which the pipes connect. Providing there is pressure (guess the flexible hose is the pump input) and proper control signals, it's going to work. I have had trouble with a similar looking beast in my SL600 to do with the adaptive damping and in that case, one of the solenoids shorted out, rendering the whole $1200 unit useless.
I went to a technical briefing on the car back in February when the technicians themselves were still finding their way and SBC took up 1/4 of a day. It's complex, ground breaking stuff. No excuse for it not working on a production car though.
The finned section on the right is, I believe, a series of solenoids operated valves which control the flow of fluid around the various channels milled into the main block to which the pipes connect. Providing there is pressure (guess the flexible hose is the pump input) and proper control signals, it's going to work. I have had trouble with a similar looking beast in my SL600 to do with the adaptive damping and in that case, one of the solenoids shorted out, rendering the whole $1200 unit useless.
I went to a technical briefing on the car back in February when the technicians themselves were still finding their way and SBC took up 1/4 of a day. It's complex, ground breaking stuff. No excuse for it not working on a production car though.
Last edited by blueSL; Dec 9, 2002 at 11:57 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Texas, Padre Island
2005 SL55
Blue SL,
Thanks for posting the picture, others may have seen it before but it was new for me. The dealer now says that they have actually been replacing the SBC control unit, not the "brake pump" ("but we call it a brake pump" he says) oooh ****....... Meanwhile they are reinstalling the original SBC unit!!! and have called in a regional tech monster to diagnose the problem which, when I pressed the service rep, he admitted it was likely an electrical malfunction. I may have to become the subject matter expert on this electrohydraulic system if only to protect myself in the future.
jeff
Thanks for posting the picture, others may have seen it before but it was new for me. The dealer now says that they have actually been replacing the SBC control unit, not the "brake pump" ("but we call it a brake pump" he says) oooh ****....... Meanwhile they are reinstalling the original SBC unit!!! and have called in a regional tech monster to diagnose the problem which, when I pressed the service rep, he admitted it was likely an electrical malfunction. I may have to become the subject matter expert on this electrohydraulic system if only to protect myself in the future.
jeff
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 14
From: UK
SL55 AMG
Sounds to me like they've jumped in and replaced the first thing they thought of.
SBC uses fuse 24 in the fusebox in front of the driver and fuses 33 - 36 on the opposite side. They should check these fuses and the wiring behind them to make sure they are firmly inserted to make good contact with the fuse link.
SBC uses fuse 24 in the fusebox in front of the driver and fuses 33 - 36 on the opposite side. They should check these fuses and the wiring behind them to make sure they are firmly inserted to make good contact with the fuse link.
