2003 SL500 ABC suspension leaking

Bongolord

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Help please - I have had the warning messages on the display & the fluid is now leaking from the front near side. Any potential causes and solutions (and idea of £)?
Thanks,
 

Cole@MBS

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New leg, £1000 worth,

Welcome to the forums
 

television

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Hello and welcome with you not so good news.


Now I have had just about all the faults that you can have with these things on the same car.

First you need to determine where it is coming from. If the whole wheel arch inside is coated in fluid,,the the fault should be in the valve block in the front section of the wheel arch. This cover can be removed, inside you have the valve block and what can happen is one of the alli washers that sits under the sensors can leak.

I have put a picture in the link,,if it is the upper one,,then this is in the return line and not under any pressure.

The 2 just under the top one cannot be removed without de pressurizing the whole suspension


320 in the link

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GA=722.633&CT=F&cat=65P&SID=32&SGR=235&SGN=05
 

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Welcome to the forums

may not be ;):D if the fluid is only on the strut and inside of the wheel then yes,, if all over the underside of the arch,,then on the valve block
 
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Bongolord

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Thanks for the quick replies. I'm off work tomorrow, so will investigate further then when hopefully in a better frame of mind! The cars run perfectly for 2 years and in the last 3 weeks its had a new alternator & new ball and lower control arm joints...! Thanks for your help so far
 

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Thanks for the quick replies. I'm off work tomorrow, so will investigate further then when hopefully in a better frame of mind! The cars run perfectly for 2 years and in the last 3 weeks its had a new alternator & new ball and lower control arm joints...! Thanks for your help so far

Do park the car with the wheels straight ahead or you can lose a front wing
 
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Bongolord

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Ok, I have just been out and checked it.
There is fluid everywhere! A bit around the arch, some in the engine bay around the ABC resevoir, and fluid is now quickly dripping from the u/s of the bottom of the engine cowling. I have parked it with the wheels dead ahead in a position that it can be easily recovered from!
Any further advice for me guys?
Thanks
 

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Ok, I have just been out and checked it.
There is fluid everywhere! A bit around the arch, some in the engine bay around the ABC resevoir, and fluid is now quickly dripping from the u/s of the bottom of the engine cowling. I have parked it with the wheels dead ahead in a position that it can be easily recovered from!
Any further advice for me guys?
Thanks

Yes the fault is in the valve block,,, you will need to remove the wheel and the wheel arch liner,,I will send you the details on how to do this.

I would get a aerosol of engine cleaner,,you will need it as it will be in a real mess,, spray it all over and rinse it off,it will also take away any stains on you drive way. also get a liter of ABC fluid from MB and nowhere else.

I just think and hope that it will be the washer that has failed.

I will find my thread on this and post back
 

Cole@MBS

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Could also be the pump, seen a few front pump seals go!!

Just another possible Malc:D:D
 

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Could also be the pump, seen a few front pump seals go!!

Just another possible Malc:D:D

True we shall see,,at least my car will never go rusty on the nearside front :D:D
 

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Nor the n/s Rear Malc:D:D

That only has a film on it and it does not drip or leak,,as the other 2 struts have been replaced that leaked, it will not go rusty anywhere
 
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Bongolord

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Should I risk driving it to the local garage? It's only about 2 miles max, but if there's any risk that I can cause further damage then I'll get it recovered there.
 

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Should I risk driving it to the local garage? It's only about 2 miles max, but if there's any risk that I can cause further damage then I'll get it recovered there.

Sorry for the late reply is this really something that the local garage can do,,you can drive it slowly,and it will tell you on the dash,, you must put some ABC fluid in and not let it empty.

If the local garage are doing it if they need any advice, then they can ask here
 
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Bongolord

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Thanks, I decided not to risk it and had it recovered to the local independent Mercedes specialist I use. Just spent half an hour looking at it with them, the system is holding no pressure. They hope it's just leaking out a washer or similar. Fingers crossed, and thanks very much for your help so far!
Neil
 

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It should just be the washer under the top return sensor,,the torque has been increased for this and better to use a copper washer
 
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Bongolord

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Unfortunately for me it was indeed the pump that had broken, so another sting in the wallet coming up!
I very much appreciate your swift assistance & advice to me, thanks both.
 

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