SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Help! ABC issue and others
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
SL55 AMG
Help! ABC issue and others
Hi All
Have an SL55 AMG 2004, and have a couple of issues that have occurred. yesterday whilst driving in town, I went over a small pot hole, and the ABC warning came on (not red), and the rear suspension went up to max. I switched off engine and restarted and the ride height adjustment will operate, except for the rear left wheel, which remains high in the air. When driving the car the ABC warning comes on again, saying 1 malfunction.
Some other facts - 1. Cant see any fluid leaks from ABC. 2. It has had the pump replace by MB a couple of years ago. 3. the rear 'shocks' look fairly new.
It seems like a valve or something has stopped in the fully up position on the rear left? If so how do I reset it?
I am an experienced mechanic with bmw and porsche's but dont yet have the diagnostic star system for these cars - is it essential to fix this particular fault, or is there another way eg disconnect battery overnight?
Second unrelated problem, is that sometimes when warm, the car will not always open the exhaust valve/accelerate hard, then slow down for a bit, floor it and it goes off like a rocket as usual. I've heard this could be an intercooler problem? Best way to diagnose? Problem seems worst when already travelling at say 100mph, and revs will rise but no power (transmission is not slipping)
Any help appreciated, as I haven't had the car long and already dissapointed with reliability v my M3 and Porsche, although love the looks and noise.
Thanks
Adrian
Have an SL55 AMG 2004, and have a couple of issues that have occurred. yesterday whilst driving in town, I went over a small pot hole, and the ABC warning came on (not red), and the rear suspension went up to max. I switched off engine and restarted and the ride height adjustment will operate, except for the rear left wheel, which remains high in the air. When driving the car the ABC warning comes on again, saying 1 malfunction.
Some other facts - 1. Cant see any fluid leaks from ABC. 2. It has had the pump replace by MB a couple of years ago. 3. the rear 'shocks' look fairly new.
It seems like a valve or something has stopped in the fully up position on the rear left? If so how do I reset it?
I am an experienced mechanic with bmw and porsche's but dont yet have the diagnostic star system for these cars - is it essential to fix this particular fault, or is there another way eg disconnect battery overnight?
Second unrelated problem, is that sometimes when warm, the car will not always open the exhaust valve/accelerate hard, then slow down for a bit, floor it and it goes off like a rocket as usual. I've heard this could be an intercooler problem? Best way to diagnose? Problem seems worst when already travelling at say 100mph, and revs will rise but no power (transmission is not slipping)
Any help appreciated, as I haven't had the car long and already dissapointed with reliability v my M3 and Porsche, although love the looks and noise.
Thanks
Adrian
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
SL55 AMG
Hi , Yes I did try that and the other 3 corners would go up and down but not the rear left - BUT as an update I took the car for out again will several blasts of acceleration - suspension hopped a bit at one point, then stopped the car and hey presto the fault was fixed and all appears normal again. I guess I need to put it on the diagnostic rodeo test at some point though.
So now just need to sort out the intermittent loss of power...
So now just need to sort out the intermittent loss of power...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 85
From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
The power loss does sound like the classic dead or low flowing IC pump which leads to high intake air temps and the ECU shutting down the SC for safety. I know the pump can be tested for proper flow rates, but don't know the procedure. You might be best served to just replace the stock pump with a better unit. A Johnson pump used to be the aftermarket pump of choice, but I now see the E55 guys talking about other pumps that are better. One of them is made by Bosch. You might troll the E55/E63 forum or do a search. The E55 guys seem to be the biggest modders and are a wealth of good info given we share the 55k motor with them.
