Airmatic "Malfunction" message

[J4CKO]

Have occasionally had this pop up though the suspension seems to be working fine and it isnt dropping when left, or at least not by a huge amount, no more than it ever has done.

My dad has a generic ODB2 code reader and tried using that to get clues but it didnt find a single code, is it that it isnt a good enough code reader, or Merc specific or is it clearing the codes ?

I have been messing around changing ball joints and stuff so I put it down to perhaps me upsetting something but would like to know what code it is so I can assess what may need changing.

 

[Trickythemerc]

I doubt very much that a generic OBD tool would read airmatic codes. I would look at an MB specific code reader like icarsoft MB 11

 

[J4CKO]

£150 plus, just on the off chance it has stored a code ! might call a local Merc specialist and see how much they charge to read the codes, suspect it may be the pump, which are actually pretty cheap, £105 delivered, though I did see something about changing the piston ring, think that was Wheeler Dealers on a Range Rover.

 

[Stratman]

The Wheeler Dealers episode featuring the Range Rover and its air suspension had Edd saying he searched high and low for a pump repair kit but they weren't available so he had to buy a new pump.

Since then the demand for a repair kit seems to have been fulfilled

 

[J4CKO]

Cheers, £20 or so and an hours work would be a good result, are all the compressors pretty much the same ? ok, they are cheap nowadays but £20 is better than £100, probably worth a try but getting the codes read is key, any recommendations of a place to take it ?

 

[KennyN]

any recommendations of a place to take it ?

That all depends where you live.

Kenny

 

[J4CKO]

That all depends where you live.

Kenny

Indeed ! South Manchester.

SPR motors in Stockport and there seems to be one in Poynton called Nick Webster.

Whats the going rate for the codes to be read ?

 

[Major774]

Most likely the airmatic pump.

Mine had no leaks and was getting the message at random times. Got PSC to replace the pump and no message since.

 

[J4CKO]

Most likely the airmatic pump.

Mine had no leaks and was getting the message at random times. Got PSC to replace the pump and no message since.

Yeah, sounds like it, may be worth just taking a punt and getting one, its 9 years old with 116 k, doesn't look hard to do.

There are a few choices with the pump on Ebay, from £105 to £300 plus are they all the same ?

Also, anyone used the refurb kit, kind of thinking I may do that, but part of me says, whilst I have it apart may as well just wang a new pump on it, for the sake of seventy quid, but I also like the fact its been fixed rather than just replaced, more efficient, but I did read the wiring gets dodgy with age.

Still, looks like I am keeping it, sorted most of the groaning from the front suspension, sorted the oil leaks from the back of the engine, worth a few quid to get rid of this error.

 

[merc85]

Having been through all this, You have to ask the question why is the compressor in need of a re-build? Running all the time?

It was Premature failure due to leaking Suspension on the front of my w211

I tried a rebuild kit 1st but the Bolts snapped that held the cylinder head on the pump, So i had to but a new unit in the end.

 

[Trickythemerc]

Indeed ! South Manchester.

SPR motors in Stockport and there seems to be one in Poynton called Nick Webster.

Whats the going rate for the codes to be read ?

Nick will charge you £25.00 to run Star diagnostic, he is very good with fault finding.

 

[french]

I tried one of those repair piston ring kits from E bay, rubbish, fitted new pump & all good.easy job , just take your time.

 

[J4CKO]

Having been through all this, You have to ask the question why is the compressor in need of a re-build? Running all the time?

It was Premature failure due to leaking Suspension on the front of my w211

I tried a rebuild kit 1st but the Bolts snapped that held the cylinder head on the pump, So i had to but a new unit in the end.

Its 9 years old and has 116k miles on it, doesnt seem to be running all the time, the suspension seems to hold pressure when its stood.

Sounds like the refurb may be a non starter !

Might be worth £25 to get some clues, will give Nick a ring.

Did consider changing it for a Scirocco TDI I am selling for a mate, nice car, quite punchy, then I got back in this and decided that wasnt going to happen.

 

[J4CKO]

Booked in with Nick Webster on the 26th for a Diag check, very busy, booked up until then !

Will get the codes read and then decide what to do, in the meantime its working fine, if not I have breakdown cover !

 

[AMGeed]

This article on airmatic is worth a read.

Air Suspension Troubleshooting Guide Airmatic - Visit Workshop

 

[Londonscottish]

Most likely the airmatic pump.

Mine had no leaks and was getting the message at random times. Got PSC to replace the pump and no message since.

Mine did that at 9 or 10 years old and 125k-odd miles. Intermittent message on the dash.

 

[zipdip]

When one of these pumps is worn the suspension stays up but within the electronics the pump has so many seconds to replace air used in the air tank,what happens is that a pump may every now and then fail this internal test,if you find a guy with a star he will put a test on the pump where the tank is emptied and the pump asked to refill,when my pump failed it was able to fill the tank 3 times out of five,that is why you get the message only now and then,a new pump fitted will be the best option,also check for leaks on system as Merc85 said one of the common ways for a pump to fail is trying to compensate for a leak which is what happened to me.

 

[Londonscottish]

When one of these pumps is worn the suspension stays up but within the electronics the pump has so many seconds to replace air used in the air tank,what happens is that a pump may every now and then fail this internal test,if you find a guy with a star he will put a test on the pump where the tank is emptied and the pump asked to refill,when my pump failed it was able to fill the tank 3 times out of five,that is why you get the message only now and then,a new pump fitted will be the best option,also check for leaks on system as Merc85 said one of the common ways for a pump to fail is trying to compensate for a leak which is what happened to me.

In my case there was no leak, just a failing pump.

 

[John]

In my case, it had been failing the "test" from the first day I had it (at 6 years old and maybe prior).

4 years later it failed and I had no leaks at all at any time.

So it can just die of old age.

I read 5 > 10 years was a fairly typical life depending on the usual factors.

After a pump change, my error never came back.

 

[J4CKO]

Cool, all good stuff, going to quell my enthusiasm to just buy a pump, no mad panic, will see what Nick has to say, for £20 it is worth getting the info and knowing for sure, or as near as possible rather than just replacing stuff.

Are all the pumps on Ebay equal ? seems to be a lot of variation in price.