Airmatic ecu part numbers

[robmc52]

Hi all, I want to swap the existing ecu in my W220 to pinpoint a problem but wondered if a change of part number would necessitate re-coding on Star?
Looking on the ecp there seems to be 3 different numbers, presumably updates through the model life, the ecu in my car is A220 545 38 32, the middle number of the 3.
Anyone know if I could use the later number, A220 545 41 32 as a straight swap?

Cheers
Bob

 

[robmc52]

Well I now have an MB2 scanner, which I had hoped would give me an idea of the problem I'm having with the airmatic, but of course it has really just created some more...! Basically what's happening is that the pump will run for 5 or 6 seconds and when it stops I get the 'visit workshop' message on the dash. The pump will not run again until I've restarted the engine, when the malfunction message will have cleared.
This started happening about 6 months ago, but only occasionally. Now it happens every time the car is started, it may happen 2 or 3 times at the start of a journey, but then not reappear for maybe 2 or 3 hours if I'm travelling any distance, and then appear again as I'm reversing onto the driveway after covering 200 odd miles. All throughout the journey the suspension will work perfectly, actually I have noticed now I've got the scanner that it's working as it should do when there's 16 or 17 bar in the system, if I start it up when there's less and drive off it's certainly not as smooth, but after stopping and starting it a couple of times the pump is pressurising the system ok.
Now this must mean that on a journey of any distance the pump must be going on and off as it's supposed to, or surely after so long the car would be on the deck, and throughout all of this the ride height is maintained at all times, I might only use it once a week and it never drops whilst parked up.
Anyway, now I've noticed something odd when the scanner is plugged in, all the time I'm looking at the suspension module the raise button and sport button don't work, well they don't light up when pressed, so what happens is, the pump will run for a few seconds (and during this time will pressurise the system ok) then it cuts out and I get the 'C1517-128 suspension strut unreasonable' fault, now if I clear it and then come out of the suspension module, the pump will then run again and the fault will register again, and then the buttons will work until I clear the fault (but the car doesn't raise up, or I imagine, won't alter the ride if the sport button is pressed)
So my bullet points from all this are
Brand new pump fitted last week
new valve block a month ago
substitute ecu
am in the middle of checking electrical connections from the ecu to the struts
already checked the wiring to the pump and valve block, 2 intermittent wires found and fixed

this will turn into a Nordic saga I'm sure

 

[mioba]

It will turn into a saga unless you get it looked at by a competent garage.

 

[robmc52]

Very true, but I've got plenty of time on my hands at the moment

 

[CrustyClam]

Just thought I'd mention that the sport/comfort button is disabled on mine when I plug my mb2 scanner in, whilst connected to airmatic module.

 

[robmc52]

Just thought I'd mention that the sport/comfort button is disabled on mine when I plug my mb2 scanner in, whilst connected to airmatic module.

Thanks CrustyClam, useful to know.

 

[robmc52]

I spent a couple of hours yesterday cleaning the solenoid connections on the struts. The condition of them under the covers varied from pristine on some, to mega rusty on others. They seem quite open to the elements although the actual pins were all clean. Anyway, the car is now sitting as if the raise button is permanently on! If I turn it off the front end gradually drops to the normal height, but the back stays put, so much for cleaning the level sensor connectors and lubricating the linkages, which I did yesterday!

 

[CrustyClam]

I'm going to book mine in soon. One side always looks about 10->15mm lower than the other. It's a tiny amount but I notice it. When I lock the vehicle in sports mode nothing much happens. When I lock it in comfort I always get a pressurised rush of air being released, and it doesn't settle even.

My car has 4 level sensors, link arms to level sensor look ok.
I think it rides to high, so going to ask for it to be lowered slightly and see if the side that sits lower can be levelled out.

 

[robmc52]

Just thought I would update this after finally getting to the bottom of the problem.
Having bought a code reader, the only fault logged was C1517-128 suspension strut implausible, which didn't really make sense, as the ride was good, and the struts worked as they should when the sport button was pressed.
My indy said "it's the valve block" even though I had put a new one on and the fault still remained from the original one.
Well anyway, he had a used block on the shelf, so that went on and now no more error message! That was about a month ago, and so far it's working absolutely fine.
So that's taught me an interesting fact, knowing the fault codes is only half the story...