ABC Suspension Help W216

[fozi.g]

Hello gents,

I'm hoping someone on here can advise or point me in the right direction. Ive recently purchased a CL500 W216. I wanted to add some lowering links to reduce the ride height and also to replace the factory rods as I read they are weak. I changed all the links and started the car up but the rear of the car lifted to its highest position, actually even slightly higher than when you press the lift button on the dash while the front remained pretty much at standard factory level. There was an ABC fault light that came up on the dash. Not knowing what the issue was I removed the links and put the factory ones back on. Turned the car on again but the rear still remained extremely high whilst the front again remained at factory level. The following day took the car to a local Merc specialist with a Star diagnostics machine. He cleared the fault code, put the car into Rodeo mode which moved all corners of the car up and down in a buckaroo kind of style and then tried to reset the levels which didn't work as it wouldn't accept them even though they were within the parameters given (front 1.4-2.4/rear -1.4 to -2.4) So at present my car is still in this position where the front is at factory level and the rear is super high. I took it to another specialist again with a Star diagnostics and he tried for several hours to resolve the issue to no avail. There are no faults showing so not sure what needs to be replaced if anything. We did think it could be the level sensors but again no faults showing for this. When we tried to take the suspension values to zero the fronts go there but the n/s/r would only go to 41. We adjusted the levels but at the end of that cycle as it doesn't save stating due to the values not being within the parameters.

Apologies I'm not that clued up with the ABC system and have only managed to get this info from when I was watching the specialist going through the diagnostics. If anyone could advise or assist would be greatly appreciated. I would prefer someone that understands or has worked on this system. I could take it to a main dealer but there booking 3-4 weeks ahead and I don't want to wait so long.

Thank you

Foz

 

[Codger49]

Could be worth phoning Steve Garlick at Stevenson Independent Mercedes Specialists in Maidstone.

On several occasions during the past few years I have seen him dealing with problems that other specialists haven't been able to.

 

[fozi.g]

Could be worth phoning Steve Garlick at Stevenson Independent Mercedes Specialists in Maidstone.

On several occasions during the past few years I have seen him dealing with problems that other specialists haven't been able to.

Thank you mate. I will do. Hopefully he can see me asap.

 

[Borys]

Reading through it seems that you damaged level sensor even it will not show the fault
Also make sure that you did not bend the bracket holding the link-it happens specially at rear as the access is limited. Factory links are not touched for years and can be hard to remove at times.
I believe also factory link comes with the bracket when you buy new
A good specialist can adjust ride height with Star, easy have done this before
Remember do nor lower more then 20mm (that is what Star allows) - you’ll end up with alignment issues, been there
If you have money spare are there are not an issue lowering module would be great option


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fast28]

When I bought my W216 the ride height was too high at the back. I could not bring the ride height down to what I perceived as an OEM level using STAR diagnosis, the adjustment range was just too small. I ended up building a set of adjustable links for the rear to bring the ride height down. The links worked well and I was able lower the rear of the car. What I discovered in the process of replacing the links was that the steel ball-ends had become rusty and seized inside the plastic end caps of the links allowing near zero movement of the ride height actuator. Once the ball ends were lubricated I set the links to the original length and all was OK.
What you need to be careful of is getting the actuator arm pointing in the right direction once you reinstall the links. It is very easy to get wrong as the arm can point inwards or outwards, this may be your problem. I forget which direction they should point, Google may be of help here!

 

[fozi.g]

When I bought my W216 the ride height was too high at the back. I could not bring the ride height down to what I perceived as an OEM level using STAR diagnosis, the adjustment range was just too small. I ended up building a set of adjustable links for the rear to bring the ride height down. The links worked well and I was able lower the rear of the car. What I discovered in the process of replacing the links was that the steel ball-ends had become rusty and seized inside the plastic end caps of the links allowing near zero movement of the ride height actuator. Once the ball ends were lubricated I set the links to the original length and all was OK.
What you need to be careful of is getting the actuator arm pointing in the right direction once you reinstall the links. It is very easy to get wrong as the arm can point inwards or outwards, this may be your problem. I forget which direction they should point, Google may be of help here!

Thanks for the reply fast28. That's exactly what I've discovered today. Took the car to another local specialist who pointed out the level sensor arm that attaches to the rod was infact facing the wrong direction. It should of been facing inwards rather that outwards. Thankfully a quick switch around and the car is now sitting as it should.

 

[fozi.g]

When I bought my W216 the ride height was too high at the back. I could not bring the ride height down to what I perceived as an OEM level using STAR diagnosis, the adjustment range was just too small. I ended up building a set of adjustable links for the rear to bring the ride height down. The links worked well and I was able lower the rear of the car. What I discovered in the process of replacing the links was that the steel ball-ends had become rusty and seized inside the plastic end caps of the links allowing near zero movement of the ride height actuator. Once the ball ends were lubricated I set the links to the original length and all was OK.
What you need to be careful of is getting the actuator arm pointing in the right direction once you reinstall the links. It is very easy to get wrong as the arm can point inwards or outwards, this may be your problem. I forget which direction they should point, Google may be of help here!

Thanks for the reply fast28. That's exactly what I've discovered today. Took the car to another local specialist who pointed out the level sensor arm that attaches to the rod was infact facing the wrong direction. It should of been facing inwards rather that outwards. Thankfully a quick switch around and the car is now sitting as it should.