SLFox

First of all, Hi everyone, after a very long time i managed to buy myself an sl mercedes. Its a black low mile car thats been sitting for a while.

I have experienced the worst problem already and joined to hopefully make some new friends and help possibly to fix my car.

The situation is nothing happens when abc is hit. There is fluid all over the floor but the rear end is sitting high and the front slammed to the ground. The resovoir is empty and there doesn't seem to be an obvious leak near the block valve.

However under the front middle of the engine i can just about see fluid sitting there but can see from exactly where its coming.

I am very good with cars and stripping them etc so any ideas what and where the leak could be from. Also what should i do to temporarily raise the car.

Please help.

Thanks

Viper98912

If you have no fluid, then you're not going to get the car up. Check the main hydraulic line coming off the pump, that one's known to rupture.

SLFox

Thanks for the reply viper. So if i did fill it up again, i could possibly get it to raise? The thing i don't get is the rears jacked up like a 4x4

Viper98912

There's separate blocks for the front and rear (I honestly don't remember the specifics), so it's detected the loss in pressure and probably closed the valves up. Do some searches here for more info, I own one of these but haven't done the work myself just yet.

kittyandgary

DO NOT START/RUN THE ENGINE without fluid in the reservoir (or let the reservoir run dry if the hose is leaking fast). IF you do, you'll probably need a new ABC/Power Steering pump in addition to a new hose/pipe that is apparently ruptured.

fxrs1955

You might check the accumulator too.

SLFox

By the sounds of it, im guessing ive already killed the pump? The car was running for very short pauses while being loaded onto a truck, so its probably killed it. Ive read all the links and figured out this.

My options is to get someone with Sds and refill the fluid and check if it pressurises. And if so check for leaks. Will also tell me if pump is dead.

But im guessing if the block valve has locked the rear suspension to the height it was set at before system failed. Then the vehicle was set at the highest position and the front has sagged down.

This must mean that the front block valve is not holding pressure or both front struts have gone. Most likely its the block valve though.

All in all i think it will cost me like £800 for a new pump. And then whatever has ruptured.

Hmm is it worth me thinking about coil over conversion? And will it allow me tp set the ride height low so that the car looks reasonably planted. I really do hate the gap between tyre and arch.

coldhammer

Not necessarily. The first time i had a line blow the front dropped to the ground but i was up in the mountains and drove it all the way home 50+ miles and the abc pump was still good. I believe it still managed to keep enough fluid in the system to not burn out the pump.

The second time i had a line bust though it completely drained the system and burned out the abc pump in about 5 miles.

If the entire front end has dropped it most likely not the valve block. IFR bad valve blocks drop left / right of the car not front/back. More than likely you ruptured one of the main lines coming off of the abc pump. The one behind the driver fender well if i had to guess. Hopefully its not that one as that really sucks. the part itself is about $250 but its close to $1400 in labor because they have to take off the whole side of the car to get the line out.

I just rebuilt my entire system right before the coil over system became available. If i ever have to do it over again i will swap it out for coils and ditch the abc altogether.

SLFox

A quick update...

So i refilled the hydraulics fluid, and bingo, the car raised. But its pissed out the fluid i put in but i cant see from where. Looks to be from underside of the pump.

I also noticed when i toggled through ride heights. One rear side stayed slightly raised and wouldnt fullyy drop, it does however raise to the 2 lift settings, but will not go down to lowest setting. Its just one rear side.

kbob999

SLFox...pull the LF wheel, then pull off the fender liner (2 parts, 8 & 10 mm sockets). Pretty sure the source of the leak will be obvious.

What I would do is: clean up the mess, replace the part, flush the system, put in a new 3 micron filter, then tackle the back end.

Keep up the progress reports. Let us know if you need help.

SLFox

Another update so finally i tracked the leak.

My abc pump is leaking from one of its seals. Its the seal that goes all the way around the pump its self. I noticed the leak coming from where the main reservoir hose attaches to the pump ( right below this is the seal on the pump) its coming from there.

What are my options? Other than buying a new pump at a cost of £1000.

Surely a seal can be sorted?

Also my pump has a LUK sticker on it, is this original? Looks kind of new.


I noticed the electric connector on the right side of the pump, the connector on the car side was different to the pump side. It was just sitting on top without actually fully clipping on.

kittyandgary

The LUK sticker is fine. That company was the manufacturer of the tandem pumps. Was later bought out by Ixetic (I think that is the company's name). These pumps can be purchased in the US for about $1000 to 1200 new from several companies. Shipping to UK shouldn't be too much. Here's one link:

http://www.partsgeek.com/mparts/powe.../mercedes.html

SLFox

So after looking for a long time.. I finally tracked a parts shop that sells the pump. (Eurocarparts) for those in the U.K.. I rang Arnott Europe and they only seem to do replacement struts.

Looking at about £500 $7-800 for the part.

Waiting for some good weather, and the weekend to tackle this job!

Frank_S500

Hi xxx.

The most pumps installed by unskilled personel are being damaged before the car is lifted the first time.
For example the oil reservoir needs to be pressurised, before starting the engine the first time.
My advice: Get the install procedure from MB before you begin.

Cheers, Frank

SLFox

Help...


Where can i get the procedure to pressurise abc system? After fitting new pump? And does it need de pressurising before removing pump.

Managed to source a pump.

Thanks

sgaar

The whole pressurizing is a load of BS. Attached is the process for R/I of the power steering pump. As you know it also acts as the ABC pump.

There is nothing special about this and can be done by anyone who knows which end is up on a screwdriver.

Pay attention to bullet 3 and 4 in the notes.

SLFox

Lol phew... Removed some stressed off my head, i thought im screwed basically thinking id have to get car towed to a dealer after i fitted the pump. Thanks sgaar. i will read the pdf's now.

SLFox

Ok i know what im doing now. Just one more thing, does the car need to be off the ground fully? and will i require to bleed the system. From each strut (while the car is up,

. Car in air (does it matter what setting suspension is on)
.make sure enough fluid in the reservoir
Bleed each strut through bleed valves?

Is this the bleeding process.

Thanks in advance, you guys are very helpful.

sgaar

I would get the car fully off the ground to releive the preassure. The system is self-bleeding. Just make sure it doesn't run dry when you start the car the first time.

SLFox

you are a star!! Thank you, you explain things so simply.. Roll on the weekend, i will let you know how i got on.

sgaar

Glad to help. If you don't have a SDS system, raise and lower the car until you feel confident thy had all the air is out. If you do have one, let out do a rodeo for a few minutes.

ibeforreal

Another thing to remember is that once you get it up and running the accumulators can easily be checked just by pushing down on the four corners of the car. If you push down and the car moves then most likely you have a bad accumulator. The car should be stiff if they are all working properly. Check them with the car not running. There are 4 in total if you count the pulsation damper.

ibeforreal

Sgaar, where are you located in NC? I'm in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.

sgaar

Charlotte. Down the road from you..

SLFox

Made some progress...

I have the banjo to remove, along with all the mounting bolts, and the pump should be out.

The power steering line bolt was a bstard!!! To remove. it kind of rounded off, i thought im fcked!! managed to get it off using mole grips in the end. I almost gave up.

Im scared the banjo will round off somehow with my luck

The weather is absolutely **** here, it was pissing down and very windy, didn't help the situation.