Sl500 R230 ABC Issue

[H24k]

Hi Guys my sl500 r230 2002 Right hand drive has had the same problem since I bought it about 8 months ago which is the radiator fan is running constantly so have had to disconnect it and i have a red symbol on the water temperature gauge even when car is cold, and the warning low coolant visit workshop however the coolant is full!??

The other issue I had was the central locking not working which was resolved with a recon pse pump, (not cheap!)

But the main problem is the dreaded ABC warning and the front drivers side wheel arch being lower than the rest of the car and it pulls to the right when driving, ive allways had the same ABC symbol on the dash since I bought the car but its not the red one its the light blue or white message and it hasnt changed since ive owned it, Ive noticed that when I press the lowering button for suspension it defo lowers the car but takes a while, you cant actually see it lifting or lowering but after a while driving it becomes extremely stiff and bouncy but at the same time when i put into the lift up position the car seems to lift far too high and resembles a kangaroo! lol

However at the moment its more in the Hyena look mode as the front right is lower down!

I had a guy come down with star and we found the following code C1126-001 Fault in component B22/4 left front travel sensor however its the right side thats lower not the left unless you are standing at the front of the car looking towards the windscreen then it would be the left?

No other faults came up regarding the ABC so im wondering if this would trigger the ABC message and stop the car from lifting correctly? Ive also noticed that when driving the car when turning round corners a bit fast I get the yellow triangle flashing for a few secs on the dash, so im not sure if this is linked?

Ive not noticed any loss of fluid or any leaks from the struts etc!

Any advice would be appreciated as I cant afford to take the car to garages and get ripped off however if i can locate the part then simply try and fit this myself!

 

[LostKiwi]

Sounds to me like the valve block isn't operating as it should. They are rebuildable but make sure you use decent quality components (Craig on here can help).

 

[AMGeed]

An ABC warning message for 8 months, but ignored?

Take it to Terry at Wayne Gates in Harrow. He won't rip you off.

http://www.mercservicing.co.uk/

 

[Craiglxviii]

Don’t ignore ABC warnings or Bad Things Happen.

 

[John Laidlaw]

You might not have had noticed any fluid loss as it’s low or poor quality anyway.
8 months ignoring any ABC warnings is incredible that your pump hasn’t imploded, and the valve block!
DIY ABC work is really not recommended unless you are either an extremely good hydraulics engineer or a Mercedes specialist with specific ABC experience. As said above, contact Wayne Gates - sadly it’s going to cost money but every day driving it as it is, is nearer the day you will be looking at replacing both components....and that will be even more expensive!
Or to summarise as Craig above “don’t ignore ABC warnings or Bad things happen”

 

[gramey]

And there in lies the reason why I'm so reluctant to jump into an R230 as much as I love the look of them, my OCD with having things working properly wouldn't allow me to go 8 days with that warning flashing at me let alone 8 months!

 

[LostKiwi]

And there in lies the reason why I'm so reluctant to jump into an R230 as much as I love the look of them, my OCD with having things working properly wouldn't allow me to go 8 days with that warning flashing at me let alone 8 months!

Within 8 seconds I'd have it shutdown and waiting the big yellow taxi!

 

[John Laidlaw]

And there in lies the reason why I'm so reluctant to jump into an R230 as much as I love the look of them, my OCD with having things working properly wouldn't allow me to go 8 days with that warning flashing at me let alone 8 months!

I totally sympathise and recognise that. When I bought my 230 from Malcolm he told me the flappy paddle changers were inoperative, he and Cole had tried but couldn’t solve the issues - we both agreed we never used the blessed things and we agreed the sale. However my OCD got the better of me and I just couldn’t have something on the car not working!
Move forward 8 months and I had a bill of 1k but operative paddles!
The bills sadly didn’t stop there...

 

[John Laidlaw]

Within 8 seconds I'd have it shutdown and waiting the big yellow taxi!

Is right Alastair!! Don’t understand anyone leaving it alone to be honest!

 

[drmw]

Is the message "code C1126-001 Fault in component B22/4 left front travel sensor" not a clue?

 

[John Laidlaw]

You’d have thought so David- I don’t have Star but maybe someone who has could comment?

 

[John Laidlaw]

In saying that I did a code check on B22/4 on some of the old cr&p I had and that’s a plunger travel sensor.
Would suggest a recalibrate on Star but the OP also describes a ‘kangarooing’ effect- that is more likely to be pump related surely ? (Was in my case and ended in a new pump)

 

[John Laidlaw]

This .....

 

[nicholas15]

What could possibly go wrong with something so simple!

 

[alexanderfoti]

Is the radiator fan running full speed or slow when connected. That warning will come up when it's disconnected

 

[Craiglxviii]

In saying that I did a code check on B22/4 on some of the old cr&p I had and that’s a plunger travel sensor.
Would suggest a recalibrate on Star but the OP also describes a ‘kangarooing’ effect- that is more likely to be pump related surely ? (Was in my case and ended in a new pump)

And in my case, a new strut. The plunger travel sensors are internal...

 

[alexanderfoti]

And in my case, a new strut. The plunger travel sensors are internal...

+1

 

[alexanderfoti]

In saying that I did a code check on B22/4 on some of the old cr&p I had and that’s a plunger travel sensor.
Would suggest a recalibrate on Star but the OP also describes a ‘kangarooing’ effect- that is more likely to be pump related surely ? (Was in my case and ended in a new pump)

Leaking valve bodies cause this. The car sinks whilst the engine is running so it opens the valve, car goes up. Closes the valves, car sinks rinse repeat.

 

[m2287]

Check the level sensor on that corner of the car. Disconnect it and make sure the arm is free, give it a good lube up then reattach.

 

[John Laidlaw]

And in my case, a new strut. The plunger travel sensors are internal...

Indeed they are Craig- I was only commenting to what the OP had quoted as the fault code and part, think he’s run away now after reading some of the thread he’s created!