ABC Suspension de-pressurise? and Valve position?

[greekCL]

Hello guys,

I will take off the ABC rear valve on Sunday and replace the o-rings and clean it... as it is sticky. W215 (CL500, 2000model)

What is the process of removing it, does it need for the system to be depressurised or because the rear wheels will be on the air there is no need to?

ie on my Citroen I put the car to the lower setting and that depresurises the system.

Also where is the position of the rear ABC Electromagnetic Valve? Just to save my self from looking about... is there a schematic somewhere?

Cheers in advance.

 

[Vilus]

This link might be of interest....

http://bayhas.com/mercedes/cl215/contents/abc_comploc.htm

Follow the links in the page, it has a lot of info about the 215.

 

[greekCL]

Perfect that answers the position Cheers Vilum

what about how to de-pressurise the system though?
and do the bleeding afterwards when I install it again.

 

[Vilus]

Google should provide all the info you need. This document speaks about depressurizing ABC. I am lead to believe that repressurizing requires STAR using the ' Rodeo' method. Yeeee haw! Good luck tackling this in this weekends weather. It's freezin' down here in Westbrook!


http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/DBAutomotive/2010-11-09_201531_mbabc.pdf

 

[Vilus]

Here you go, pictures....

Mercedes ABC Valve Block Repair - YouTube

I'm thinking this is quite an ambitious DIY fix. Needing all the wheels off the ground before you depressurize the system, then once fixed to repressurize the system and get the power steering back, otherwise the wheels will just sink into the wheelwells and the car will be undrivable? Hope the youtube clip helps.

 

[mercedescl500]

You can repressurization the system by pressing the vehicle height button inside the car approx 20 times up-and-down. To depressurize the system there is a bleed nipple at the strut which will lower the pressure to the valve block.

number 57 is the one.

 

[greekCL]

Perfect feedback guys, I have seen DIY guides about this fix ... but none of them mention about depressurising etc, yet people seem to be doing it with the rear wheels off the ground only ....
Anyhow I will do it tomorrow as long as the rain doesn't come.

I got the ABC fluid, an o-ring kit to replace the perished ones ... and a new rocker cover gasket for one that is sligltly seeping.

 

[greekCL]

I must say it is not difficult to remove the ABC rear valve block. Locate the black box cover which is infront of the passenger rear wheel, open the bleeding screws to release the pressure left on the system ... and thats it. then it is a matter of unscrewing etc.
Once opened the valve the condition is very good, but there werre some tiny shreds of aluminium stuck in there... so we removed them and cleaned it thoroughly ... put everything back together and... started the car up, did the exersice of topping up additional ABC fluid as needed and up and down ... about a dozen times... then ABC White warninf light came on, system was still working ... and then he RED warning light came up again... and the car froze in the 1st height position it was at the point!

I need to get it plugged in again and see if the valve block error persists!
Do you know someone in High Wycombe with a star machine! a good one as I need the car up and running asap

 

[Nitroxide]

Hi GreekCL.
I'm currently looking at reconditioning the valve block on my cl500.(the same job you performed). As the car is noticeably sinking on one side.
I just wanted to know,
1.Where did you purchase the O-ring kit from?
2.If you managed to resolve the issue of the car freezing at a certain height?
3.Did you manage to find someone with a star system and did you actually need it in the end?
And any final comments/suggestions for someone about to attempt this brave task would be really appreciated ?

Thank you so much in advance.

 

[Nitroxide]

*FYI....Anyone else that can answer any of those questions is more than welcome to.....