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Blown ABC line - which is the most likely culprit?
All -
Had an ABC line blow last night. Fluid all over the left front tire and inside wheelwell. Ride height stayed constant with red "ABC Drive Carefully" in the display.
Before I start taking everything apart on that side of the car, is there a particular hose that is a usual suspect? Since the height held (for a few hours), I have to think it is a feed hose from the pump to the valve block.
Also, once the system has bled down and the car is slammed to the ground, any hints on raising it enough to be pulled up on a flat bed or get it towed?
The accumulator was replaced about 6 months ago - doubt that's the issue. Drive car about 2 miles or 5 min before I found a safe place to get off of highway.
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
which accumulator? You should have replaced all 4. there are 3 hoses that go bad. one that goes from pump to pressure relief valve (located in the rear of the driver's front wheel well), and the 2 that go from the front valve block (located in the front of the driver's front wheel well) to the 2 front struts. these 2 hoses cross under the radiator. These 3 hoses are pressure hoses and get subjected to the most heat. If it is the pump to pressure relief valve I have a rebuilt unit and had AN fitting welded onto so that each hose section can be replaced individually and without removing the whole thing, which requires AC compressor removal. With the way I did it you just cut the factory rubber hose and can easily get the whole thing back out and new one back in without removing the AC compressor. If you are interested in this hose you can PM me.
see pics below for the hoses. With the valve block and pressure relief valve all in the left wheel well it could be lots of different hoses possibly, but it is likely the pump to relief valve if car is staying up. when a red ABC message appears all the locking valves on the valve blocks close to no longer let any fluid in or out between them and the struts. take a close look at the end of each hose where it is crimped. if it is wet and starting to weep near the end, than that hose also needs replaced to avoid a repeat of what happened to you.
Top pic is hose going from pump to press relief valve on v8 cars
hose 60 and 90 are what i was referencing
Last edited by carguyshu; Apr 24, 2017 at 12:03 PM.
Thanks for the info. I know I should have done all the accumulators and have just put off the rear accumulator and pressure relief (just changed the alarm siren, so I was right there on the pressure relief valve!)
I'll get started disassembling and let you know if I need the hose you have modified...
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
i believe that hose goes to the rear valve block and would be found on this diagram as either 330 or 320 (which is the only one I didn't post). I'm guessing it is the pressure side and not the return side. It won't be easy to replace. It might be cut off the metal line right after where the rubber portion ends and have a hydraulic hose shop replace the rubber portion and put on the end either a compression fitting or weld a AN fitting onto the metal part while it is still on the car.
Hose 130 is the one that has that black cap on it and if memory serves me correctly goes to the distribution block on top of the front valve block and is short.
BTW: I also have an extra brand new pulsation dampener (the accumulator that goes on the pressure relief valve) if you need that.
I'm at a loss here trying to identify these hoses, it runs along the front of the subframe, one hose go to the high pressure line that snakes around the engine and bellhousing, the other is just capped off? Both trace back to the Pump, i have a 2005 SL600, if anyone know which hoses these are in the diagram, can you help me?
since you have the v12 it is the hoses in the bottom picture.
Yeah rudeney confirmed it with me, it's the hoses in picture, number 500. Looks like a pain to change, since i have to get access to the pump, which means i have to remove a lot of stuff.
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
Originally Posted by FxFormat
Yeah rudeney confirmed it with me, it's the hoses in picture, number 500. Looks like a pain to change, since i have to get access to the pump, which means i have to remove a lot of stuff.
check the CL forums. The v12 routing is very similar with those. I’d suggest having the hoses rebuilt with AN fittings welded on that way in the future you can just remove the flexible part that is bad rather than the entire line. That’s what I did on my Sl55.
check the CL forums. The v12 routing is very similar with those. I’d suggest having the hoses rebuilt with AN fittings welded on that way in the future you can just remove the flexible part that is bad rather than the entire line. That’s what I did on my Sl55.
I checked every forum on here, a lot of time the thread is so old nobody is active, or the pics are all dead..photobucket sucks, if you have a thread that you did your AN fittings on, can you link me? I plan on doing something similar just need an idea so i can give to my hydraulic shop. Can AN fittings take the 3000PSI these pumps give out?
I had a high pressure line go out a while back and to get the original hose, it had to come from AMG in Germany (Don't know why). The AN fitting suggestion from carguyshu is a good idea/alternative.
Yeah rudeney confirmed it with me, it's the hoses in picture, number 500. Looks like a pain to change, since i have to get access to the pump, which means i have to remove a lot of stuff.
That hose isn't bad to replace at all. You can access the bolt on pump by dropping the left front torque strut and pushing the plastic liner to the side. Lower the subframe a little in the front to make it even easier.
i believe that hose goes to the rear valve block and would be found on this diagram as either 330 or 320 (which is the only one I didn't post). I'm guessing it is the pressure side and not the return side. It won't be easy to replace. It might be cut off the metal line right after where the rubber portion ends and have a hydraulic hose shop replace the rubber portion and put on the end either a compression fitting or weld a AN fitting onto the metal part while it is still on the car.
Hose 130 is the one that has that black cap on it and if memory serves me correctly goes to the distribution block on top of the front valve block and is short.
BTW: I also have an extra brand new pulsation dampener (the accumulator that goes on the pressure relief valve) if you need that.
Im pretty sure that is in fact either 320 or 330. Is so then have fun. It goes into engine bay behind heat shields, up and over the steering shaft, then down to the separation point kind of behind the front left wheel. If he can repair like you described would be best. Get a fitting welded on and a custom short line made.
That hose isn't bad to replace at all. You can access the bolt on pump by dropping the left front torque strut and pushing the plastic liner to the side. Lower the subframe a little in the front to make it even easier.
I did it a different way, i removed the fan shroud and stuck a flexhead 19 to get the banjo out, and then placed it back in. Didn't have to remove anything out, not even the reservoir. If I did it again, 30 minutes tops. What took me so long was putting the banjo back in, i completely forgot to remove the ABC Pump's pulley, after i realized it i took that off and putting the bolt in was pretty easy. You need a very flat ratchet that locks at a 30 degree angle, and a very shallow(stubby) 19mm to get to the banjo.
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