Very strange ABC suspension problem

[m2287]

Ok so basically this morning I was driving to town and all of a sudden when I was stuck in rush hour traffic the whole drivers side of the abc system dropped to as low as it can. No abc warning came up and when I pressed the level up/down, the passenger side worked perfectly as normal.

I limped the car to my parents (not far), the blue warning eventually came on.

Now when I start the car it has no blue warning but still does the same, the drivers side is slammed and the passenger side works as normal.

I have checked the links and they look fine! Anyone got any ideas???

 

[pstock]

Not sure how many valves there are on the car but seems to me the one servicing the right side of the car is stuck open,

Try raising / lowering the car say 15 times and see what happens,

Mine did a similar thing but rear only, did as above and cured the problem ! nothing since.




Just found this http://bayhas.com/mercedes/cl215/contents/abc_comploc.htm

However this only shows front and back valves

(Very strange)

HTH

 

[pstock]

Just a thought the ABC is supposed to correct any body lean during cornering, so perhaps there is a sensor mounted somewhere on the car giving a false reading,

Sounds like a job for S.T.A.R

 

[m2287]

I too thought about a sensor but it seems that the front and rear are controlled independently, and each strut has its own sensor. It seems strange that both the front and rear of the drivers side have both been effected at the same time when they seem to be independent of each other.

There are a lot of threads on abc systems which drop on one corner when the car is off, but I Can't find any which have the same symptoms I'm experiencing!

 

[m2287]

Also should add I have tried raising and lowering ALOT of times and that has no effect

 

[m2287]

OK this car is SO weird!!!!! Just started it up and it's working perfect!!!

 

[pstock]

Glad its sorted. They are great cars when they are running properly.

 

[BaldGuy]

It's having a down day.......

 

[mercedescl500]

Any luck yet Aidan ?

 

[m2287]

Yea its been fine ever since that day. it was doing it all morning up untill 2.30, thought id start it up before I picked up my daughter from school to see what it did and it was perfect!

Not missed a beat every day since! If it happens again ill get it scanned, in the meantime, if anyone finds another car that has done it, it could be useful in the future!

 

[mercedescl500]

The problem is

Yea its been fine ever since that day. it was doing it all morning up untill 2.30, thought id start it up before I picked up my daughter from school to see what it did and it was perfect!

Not missed a beat every day since! If it happens again ill get it scanned, in the meantime, if anyone finds another car that has done it, it could be useful in the future!

Aidan,

As I have pretty much encountered every ABC related problem over the 8 years I have had my car I believe I have the answer to yours. DO NOT DRIVE until you check the following : Front Acceleration sensors and 1 rear acceleration sensor. There are 3 in total (2 front, 1 back). The front ones are located on the suspension top mounts, open the bonnet and you will see one on each side. Check the numbers on these sensors, there are updated sensors available. W215 had a major problem with acceleration sensors and a big recall campaign. My car decided to drop and raise itself as fast as possible at 70mph. The unexpected ride height change could make you lose control of your car as there is no way of predicting when it might happen. So drive carefully if you must drive it at all bud.

Here is the "official" explanation ;

Level changes occur intermittently and predominately after driving for extended periods. The vehicles level adjusts without obvious cause and usually quickly moves upwards or downwards and then rapidly corrects back to the specified level.

The Random Level Control is the result of contact issues on the printed circuit board of the body acceleration sensors (front left, front right and rear right-Model 215/220), in combination with the sensors heating up after an extended period of driving.

The contact issue can result in a higher internal resistance on the printed circuit board causing the sensor to output an incorrect signal, thus initiating an ABC adjustment.



For Model 215/220

Equipped with Code 487 (Active Body Control) RANDOM VEHICLE LEVEL
If the vehicle lowers randomly while driving or sporadically after stopping the vehicle, replace the body acceleration sensors with a manufacturing date greater than year 2002 wk. 01.

Note: Do not replace any other ABC suspension components.

Qty= 3; Part Name= Acceleration Sensor; Part Number= A004 542 35 18

Replace the two FRONT (left and right) Accel. Sensors for ABC and the REAR (right) Accel. Sensor for ABC.

Labour should be about 0.6 hrs for each of the two front sensors and 2.2 hrs labour for the right rear sensor. Call your dealer for parts pricing.


I bet that this is your problem. Only a STAR will pick up the codes for these sensors. Hope that helps you out.

 

[mercedescl500]

The manufacture date of the sensors is directly printed on the sensors under the part number. They should have a date greater than 02 W 01 (02 = Year W = week 01)

 

[BTB 500]

My car decided to drop and raise itself as fast as possible at 70mph. The unexpected ride height change could make you lose control of your car as there is no way of predicting when it might happen. So drive carefully if you must drive it at all bud.

Someone I know broke her neck (survived) when the new-ish LR Discovery she was a passenger in had a suspension glitch and went off a motorway embankment ...

This was a few years back, don't remember which Disco version it was.

 

[mercedescl500]

Someone I know broke her neck (survived) when the new-ish LR Discovery she was a passenger in had a suspension glitch and went off a motorway embankment ...

This was a few years back, don't remember which Disco version it was.

It all happens so quick that unless you were expecting it you would be in the lap of the gods. I was very lucky too, had there been a car on my nearside I would have veered into it

 

[m2287]

OK so my front sensors are dated 00W43... They will need changing!

Do you know where the rear sensor is located?

Bit confused about the recall part, does that mean Mercedes will swap them for free if I call them up and explain the situation, or is this something that is going to cost me £££?

The front sensors look like a 10 minute job to swap so I can probably do those myself...Even if the car needs a rodeo, I have a friendly indy near me.

Thanks so much for this by the way, this is why I love this forum !

 

[mercedescl500]

OK so my front sensors are dated 00W43... They will need changing!

Do you know where the rear sensor is located?

Bit confused about the recall part, does that mean Mercedes will swap them for free if I call them up and explain the situation, or is this something that is going to cost me £££?

The front sensors look like a 10 minute job to swap so I can probably do those myself...Even if the car needs a rodeo, I have a friendly indy near me.

Thanks so much for this by the way, this is why I love this forum !

The recall is VIN specific not sensor date unfortunately. The sensors can be picked up on eb@y for approx £20 each. Check the dates first though. The rear sensor is right next to the top of the drivers side rear suspension strut. You will need to remove the rear parcel shelf to get access to it. Not particularly difficult, just takes a little time. Give me a shout if you get stuck. HTH.

Simply replace sensors. No coding or rodeo required.

 

[mercedescl500]

The recall is VIN specific not sensor date unfortunately. The sensors can be picked up on eb@y for approx £20 each. Check the dates first though. The rear sensor is right next to the top of the drivers side rear suspension strut. You will need to remove the rear parcel shelf to get access to it. Not particularly difficult, just takes a little time. Give me a shout if you get stuck. HTH.

Oh, no coding or RODEO required. Simply remove and refit with new updated sensor.

 

[m2287]

The recall is VIN specific not sensor date unfortunately. The sensors can be picked up on eb@y for approx £20 each. Check the dates first though. The rear sensor is right next to the top of the drivers side rear suspension strut. You will need to remove the rear parcel shelf to get access to it. Not particularly difficult, just takes a little time. Give me a shout if you get stuck. HTH.

Simply replace sensors. No coding or rodeo required.

OK thanks alot, Ill try merc first and see if mine should have had the recall or not.

I replaced the rear passenger strut already, and removed most of the parcel shelf to get to it (didnt realise you could just whack the speaker looking cover off lol )...

Thanks again!!!

 

[mercedescl500]

OK thanks alot, Ill try merc first and see if mine should have had the recall or not.

I replaced the rear passenger strut already, and removed most of the parcel shelf to get to it (didnt realise you could just whack the speaker looking cover off lol )...

Thanks again!!!

Lol. I made that mistake too. But to remove the sensor the shelf has to be lifted upward or completely out. HTH

 

[m2287]

Lol. I made that mistake too. But to remove the sensor the shelf has to be lifted upward or completely out. HTH

Haha, i was stumped untill I realised there was no speaker under the grille!!! Im pretty confident with getting it out now though...

Ordered three sensors from ebay Germany (cant be bothered to faff about with Mercedes, last time I gave them my VIN they swore blind it was an ML until i showed them it parked outside the dealership) worked out at around £50 for all three (09, 07, and 05).