ADS2 - pump priming/system bleeding

Justin85

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Hello everyone,

Please can you help a noob?!

I've just refitted the tandem pump on my 2000 R129 SL500. I didn't lose a lot of hydraulic (ZH-M) fluid in the process - indeed the level in the the reservoir on the front wing barely dropped - it has remained just on the max mark.

Does anyone know if I need to prime the tandem pump and if so, how? Do I need to bleed the ADS system? I note from the ADS2 shop manual (available on Brian Clifton's R129 site) that the system should be self bleeding, but others the suggest that the system might need the Rodeo proceedure carried out. I thought the Rodeo bleeding procees was only for ABC?

Any help much appreciated.
Thanks,
Justin.
 
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Justin85

Justin85

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Thanks chaps. The weather stopped play today but I'll take another look after I've changed the harmonic balancer later in the week.

If I do need to get it on a Star/HHT system, can anybody recommend a mobile specialist who would travel to Oxford?

Justin.
 

LostKiwi

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Speak to me nicely and I can bring my Star down... I work near Kidlington.
 
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Justin85

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Thank you very much for your kind offer. I may well be in touch!
 
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Justin85

Justin85

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Just an update. Thanks to Alastair, we managed to pull a "Y36/6y1 Error" from the car. We also managed to raise and lower the rear using HHTWin, but the front remains unresponsive. This morning the car was sitting very low on the O/S/R and the ADS remains out of order.

I haven’t done a lot of Googling yet, but it seems pretty clear that the fault code we saw relates to the solenoid valve y1 which is the “raising front axle valve”. This is one of the four solenoids fitted on top of the valve block.

A few people have reported issues with the wiring between the connector on the strut top and the solenoids. Indeed, one chap found that the wires were shorting against the metal solenoid body giving him an intermittent fault.

I think my next step may be to try and test the wiring between the Y36/6x1 connector block on the front offside wing and the solenoids on the valve body. I guess the next step would be to remove the valve body and solenoids and try and inspect/rebuild/send off for repair...anybody know anyone that can rebuild ADS 2 valve bodies?

Cheers,

Justin.
 

LostKiwi

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Craig on here successfully rebuilt his ABC valve block - the biggest thing being finding the correct size/material seals - @Craiglxviii is this something you could possibly help with if Justin gets it out and apart?
 

Craiglxviii

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Yup. Take it (or send it) to Phil @Welwyn Merx , he has o-rings in stock and a clean station he built specifically to do the work. Very reasonable labour rates, he is my go-to Indy.
 

Craiglxviii

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Nb I can obtain the finest of fine quality o-rings if ADS-2 solenoids are different to ABC, and I don’t think they’ll be much of any different.
 
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Justin85

Justin85

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That's a great help, thanks guys.
I suppose if it's the solenoid actuator itself there's not much to be done. I'll get investigating.
The fun never stops!
 

LostKiwi

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That's a great help, thanks guys.
I suppose if it's the solenoid actuator itself there's not much to be done. I'll get investigating.
The fun never stops!
It may be interchangeable with an ABC one if you're lucky (and I know where there is a spare one of them).
 
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Justin85

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Not much time tonight, but I did manage to get the multimeter out. I'm no electrican, so forgive me if this is a nonsense, but I thought I'd try and test the resistance from the connector to the valve block solenoids. The connector has 5 terminals numbered 1-5. 1 is the largest terminal - the earth for all 4 solenoids I assume. The other 4 terminals are the 12v feeds to each solenoid. I measured 9 ohms resitance at two of the terminals, 6 ohms at the third terminal, and 0 ohms on the final terminal, 2. I haven't found a wiring diagram yet that shows enought detail, but I assume terminal 2 is the live feed for the solenoid y1 which is the front raise one in question.

As said, I don't really know what I'm doing, but would a reading of 0 ohms suggest an open circuit? So the solenoid is shorting out (or the cable feeding it is)?

Cheers,
Justin.
 

LostKiwi

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0 ohms would suggest a short circuit. Definitely suspicious!

I've seen a few posts suggesting the wires can chafe and short to the body. I think you may be heading under it next time for a really close look. Do not put 12v on it as it could damage things further.
 
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Justin85

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I do rather hope it's an external wiring issue. Friendly dealer has one complete unit in stock but would like £1,064.00 for it. Can't see any see any on the used market either, barring one NOS item in Japan for about £600.00...
 

LostKiwi

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I found a few used ones but they were all more than the Japanese one. If the solenoid id duff I have an ABC valve block we could cannibalise if necessary (and if it will fit).
 
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Justin85

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Bit more progress..

I've got the valve off the car and cleaned it up. No obvious wiring defects sadly, and the local small motor/solenoid place has a had a good look at the unit this morning as said they are not repairable as they don't come apart.

I've also spoken with the the solenoid manufacturer, Rapa (now owned by Juntec) who are unable to offer a rebuild service or a replacement solenoid as they are obsolete. They also don't resemble any ABC solenoids, which are relatively available.

So, I have ordered a replacement valve body from MB, which I should be able to collect on Tuesday, and hopefully fit Tuesday/Wednesday...

And I thought Porsche parts were expensive!

Justin.
 
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Justin85

Justin85

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New valve in and fitted....and all seems to be working just fine (fingers crossed!). As soon as I started the car after changing the valve the system started filling and after a few minutes at moderate engine speed, whist making sure that the hydraulic fluid reservoir was topped up, the system was full, self bled, and the car started to rise. The ADS light extinguished and the car raises and lowers as one would expect.

Interestingly, pre '95 cars with ADS have an additional plastic cover inside the wheel well which protects the valve from the elements. This was apparantly discontinued after this date leaving the valve block open to the elements. Not fantastic, for a component costing four figures! Yet to determine if the pre '95 cover will fit a newer R129.

Justin.
 

LostKiwi

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You could possibly knock a cover up out of aluminium?
 


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