V12TTenthusiast

So I finally got an ABC message to visit the workshop(Blue Message not Red). It goes away if I'm lucky enough after a few starts (it's really random) I know it's a leaky strut and my shop got the strut today so I'm trying to get the car to my indy and have them swap the strut out.

Is there anyway to turn off the message so I can drive to my indy shop? I would drive it if the top speed was 45 but I need to go on the freeway and I wouldn't take that chance. Anyone have any suggestions to help me out?

theintelligent1

Do you get it only on start up?...............

I dont think the blue message stops you from driving at all........only red.....


Blue think only means pressure drop to 160bar from 190-200

IngenereAMG

You should be fine to take the car to the dealer. If you don't feel comfortable driving it, if you are a AAA member, the tow is free.

V12TTenthusiast

Replaced the strut that was leaking on the front passenger still got the ABC message, tried to rodeo and turns out there is a error in the front driver strut and wont let star before the rodeo

Is it a glitch or no cause 1/2 the time when I start the car and see the error I turn it off and on and it goes away. I'm thinking if I can get the ABC message to go away I can rodeo the car

jagata

This maybe a silly question but I have never encountered the term "rodeo" in auto repair, what does that term means?

Artero

It is a test that is done typically under shop supervision and connection to the Mercedes Star system via computer. The Rodeo test, as I understand goes through a series of lifts and drops to each of the four corners to test the movements of the ABC.

There are some Utube videos of the test being done if you are interested. Hopefully, I got most of this right.

jagata

Thanks, I've seen the test before but never knew the term.

shardul

iTrader: (1)

You can clear the fault and do the rodeo right after that

B-tsai

Did the indy use star to double check the ride height after the replacement?

I found that in my case, no error code, but the piece at the crown (the travel plunger sensor) of the new strut was faulty.

It allowed me to rodeo (and drive) still but it didn't go up down as smoothly as the other struts nor did it travel up and down fully.

We narrowed it down to the sensor because Star showed the height/extension of the strut was off compared to the other 3. Easy fix as we took the old plunger sensor and swapped it with the faulty new one.

Another possibility is that sometimes a dying accumulator gives an intermittent error code, but usually when you're driving over bumps.

Good luck and let us know what happens either way!

V12TTenthusiast

Looks like Front Left Strut is toast but warranty is covering it

So far claimed:

Bushing & Labor: 600
Engine Mount, ABC Pump & Labor: 3700
Ignition Coils & Labor: 2700
Tire Rod, Wheel Bearing, Front Right Strut, PSE Pump & Labor: 2500
Front Left Strut & Labor: 840

Total Warranty Payout: $10340
Cost of Warranty for 4 YRs/50k Miles: $3700

Got 3YRs/30k Miles so glad I bought a warranty

BlownV8

What warranty did you purchase? I was looking at an SL65 and getting the warranty through USAA but it was only a 2 year 24k mile warranty for around the same price.

V12TTenthusiast

So need a little help guys tried putting the strut in but couldn't get the old strut off the line, its literally jammed in there. Gonna try to find a way to loosen it but if not I might to swap the line that is connected to it.



It's #18 on the diagram that wont budge, does anyone know that line is connected to and what the part number is? I'm thinking its just an ABC line

byronburns

You may have to find a way to release the hydraulic pressure. If it is pressurized it is almost impossible to remove. And. potentially dangerous. Be careful.

GT Bill

So V12,
How many miles on your car?
Do you have an after market lowering module installed?

V12TTenthusiast

Bought it Dec 2012 at 38kish miles its now its Feb 2014 at 59kish. Was gonna do lowering links, but with the bad strut I didn't put them in

RaceHorse

Who is doing your warranty work? Seems weird that you'd need to come to the forums for advice for something like this. Dealers and any certified mechanic should have seen and addressed this problem time and time again. Hopefully you get everything sorted. Have you had a chance to re-dyno with your intake setup? Any pics of it installed?

kittyandgary

If you haven't already done so, I suggest you read the posting on this forum titled: "ABC system maintenance - great article" Many of us with the ABC system are going to follow the maintenance procedure recommended by that company (and some are interested in obtaining the magnet filter - I'm working on getting info for a group buy).

Gary

Artero

Tonight went for a drive visited my aging mother and had the top down to start. When I left it was dark so put the top up, but only started to do so after I started the car. Went into drive and saw the red warning.

Immediately back to park and shut the car down waited about 15 seconds then restarted. No Warning light. Drove for about 10 min. Made a stop, top is now up went to reverse to back out, Red Warning light for ABC comes on.

Immediately stopped the car back to park turned it off, waited and then restarted after about 15 seconds, no warnings. Also, the malfunctions history shows nothing wrong.

Any ideas or suggestions guys would be appreciated. The fluid in ABC is correct and is green. I was going to be in a new filter just for good measure.

Artero

Decided to change the 3 micron filter just for maintenance. Filter changed and checked oil level, found it to be low. Added petosin started car and within seconds got a ABC warning, shut down. I was thinking that maybe the return line needed to be primed so doubled checked and found it full of oil.

Followed the above procedure several times then went back and found I needed to add more oil. Brought level up to recommended levels, between the two marks at a minimum. Restarted the car and was able to cycle through raising asnd lowering car, no warnings and all corners appear to be working properly.

I am hoping no internal damage was done and to date since then no warnings and all seems good. The fluid level was low by one liter and I believe this may have been causing the ABC light to come on, especially when it occurred on a pretty good size dip in the road at moderate speed.