Airmatic Problem

[fendoch]

Hi....
I have a 2004 S320 cdi which has all of a sudden come up with a malfunction on the dash..It seems to happen only when the weather is very cold.

The malfunction on the dash is......Airmatic then a symbol of the car with an arrow pointing upwards and underneath this is....Visit Workshop.

On checking the suspension, it all appears level, on raising the suspension, it rises ok and still appears level. I can also press the button for the shocks, changing it from convenience, to sport 1, to sport 2, and then back to convenience....no problems. Could this just be caused by the cold weather on one of the relays or is it something worse

Just returned from down south 650 mile trip....no problems.....next morning -6 degrees temp, within 500 yards of leaving house.....AIRMATIC problem again ?????

 

[television]

Many of these complicated cars do throw up the odd fault code, and I do not worry too much about it these days.

I will take a look to see if there is anything recorded

 

[Cole@MBS]

Its probably the start of the relay going down, its a common fault with the 220,

The relay starts to burn out causing the pump to run on even without the car running!

When a new pump is fitted the relay has to be changed as well, the other fault with them is the connectors at the pump, they get water into the socket and the pump runs slow, hence low pressure and a warning sign on dash!!

 

[television]

I must remember the above SAM thank you

 

[tromppost]

If you have to change the pump also order the bracket that holds the pump to the car. it costs around £25 but the old one is lightly to be rusty and it will save you going back to get it fitted at a later date.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Good point Tromppost! Always one post that wants to snap off!!

 

[fendoch]

If you have to change the pump also order the bracket that holds the pump to the car. it costs around £25 but the old one is lightly to be rusty and it will save you going back to get it fitted at a later date.

Thanks guys So you think that the chances are that its the PUMP....(is that the air suspension pump) that is starting to fail ?????? If so what is the cost of one of these plus bracket (at £25) + relay if needed ????? and where is the best place to buy these items./...... My dealer wants £80 plus vat just to check whats wrong, and then the cost of the parts thereafter......Is that normal practise ???? Where is this situated on the car, is it easy to get too. Another thing I noticed on occasions, is when I switch off the engine after arriving home or whatever, there is a hissing sound sometimes from behind the front offside wheel, as if air is coming out somewhere, is this normal ???? ( not from the tyre)

As SAM says above.....I think it may only be water on the connectors, or you would have thought I would have had this malfunction on my 650 mile trip, which did not occur, but only when the vehicle is sitting overnight outside in these very cold mornings

 

[tromppost]

The bits i.e. pump relay and bracket should come to around £250. Only get them from Mercedes. Fitting should be only one hour (the pump is in the drivers wheel arch) so around £75 to £100. No need to reset any thing after. But you need to make sure thats the problem. How services the car normally? get them to check it.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Have a read here!

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=39347

 

[fendoch]

The bits i.e. pump relay and bracket should come to around £250. Only get them from Mercedes. Fitting should be only one hour (the pump is in the drivers wheel arch) so around £75 to £100. No need to reset any thing after. But you need to make sure thats the problem. How services the car normally? get them to check it.

Thanks m8

My local mercedes garage does the servicing, and it was them that said it would be £80 + vat to check, before the price of any parts required.

So if this is whats wrong, the total price should be around £350....is that correct......Maybe need to get it done down in England somewhere, when I am next down, as they seem to rip you off in Scotland. This is what I have found over the years I have had mercs !!!!!

 

[television]

You could find indies that only charge £25 to £30 to join up to STAR like MB tech in Warrington

 

[pwg]

airmatic problem s500 2000

Have a read here!

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=39347

Hi Guys.

my car simply says 'stop car too low'. Having read the thread, can anyone confirm where the relay on the s class is situated? Furthermore, some posts refer to a 'valve'. Can you confirm where this is? Is the airmatic problem an easy DIY for a novice?

Thanks, Pete

 

[television]

See what I can find in the morning pete, unless SAM post back

 

[Cole@MBS]

The relay is in the o/s fuse box, its the relay at the front on the box, black 4 pin, relay"0"

 

[pwg]

Thanks very much for your help. Off to buy a new one now...hoping that the pump's o.k! Pete

 

[fendoch]

Hi

Further to my initial post, my suspension now will no longer rise......AIRMATIC...VISIT WORKSHOP....now comes on within 500 yards and stays on. If I try the button on the dash to raise the suspension, it no longer rises......It says suspension rising and then jumps back to AIRMATIC....VISIT WORKSHOP......and then back to VEHICLE RISING again.....but nothing happens.

So I take it I am now looking for a new pump, bracket, and relay. Is this correct. Also I believe that these items have to come from MERCEDES dealer....Anyone with ideas as to cost ????? Can these be purchased/fitted by my own garage, rather than the MERCEDES dealership.

Anyone else here who has sourced these parts from an independent or whatever, and idea of costs.

Lastly if these items are replaced privately.....Does the suspension still need to be adjusted at the DEALERSHIP afterwards.

Thanks for all your assistance

 

[tromppost]

Do not drive it to far with it resting on it's self, I think your best bet is to get the bits from Mercedes as orig are always better IMO. Once fitted I think thats it no need to reset any thing.

 

[fendoch]

OK

I bit the bullet....Called mobilife and arranged for my car to be uplifted from the house. They arranged another car for me (for 5 days) and delivered it to the house. Breakdown arrived from the Mercedes dealership, plugged in his lappy to my car, and said that there was a leak in the airmatics, probably just a pipe, but he would recover it to the dealership.

He checked the relay (green one) and said it appeared OK, and he could hear the pump running when he tried to raise the car (without success) I told him that it was my luck that all 3 parts would require replacing !!!! He just laughed.

END RESULT......Surprise Surprise...... Dealership phoned this afternoon, and GUESS WHAT...... All three parts require replacing at a cost of £545 including vat and labour. It never fails, whatever happens, you can ALWAYS GUARANTEE a £500 bill every time your car goes to the dealership.

Parts will arrive overnight and they will start on it Monday.

Anyway thanks for all your input chaps.

 

[hmang]

hope that sorts your problem chum...but don't be surprised if you're told you need a valve block.

your prob sounds like when my valve block went down.
good luck

 

[hmang]

not sure the relay is green either.
it may not matter

was it in the space marked O in the fuse box in rh of engine bay?