SL55 (R230) - ABC Visit Workshop

C A R S E

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Hi,

I bought my 2003, 35k miles SL55 last year and have dreaded the day when I would start getting an ABC suspension issues.

I have started to get an 'ABC Visit Workshop' error on the dash which seems to go away when I turn the engine off and on, however it doesn't take long to come back on when I drive the car. Once warning message appears, the rear ride height lowers and the suspension goes all bouncy...bouncy. I have also noticed that the car has started making a rattle rather noise than a knocking noise from the rear which may or may not be related.

Any suggestions on what I should check first?
 
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drmw

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Hi,

I bought my 2003, 35k miles SL55 last year and have dreaded the day when I would start getting an ABC suspension issues.

I have started to get an 'ABC Visit Workshop' error on the dash which seems to go away when I turn the engine off and on, however it doesn't take long to come back on when I drive the car. Once warning message appears, the rear ride height lowers and the suspension goes all bouncy...bouncy. I have also noticed that the car has started making a rattle rather noise than a knocking noise from the rear which may or may not be related.

Any suggestions on what I should check first?

Aside from your wallet (sorry ;)) - look for any fluid leaks. One of the more common is under the very front of the car in front of the nearside wheel. There's a valve block there which can leak from corroded washers - easy fix. Failing that I'd guess you need to get to a workshop with STAR facilities & see if any faults have been logged. Good luck & keep us up to date
 
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C A R S E

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When I bought the car I noticed there was a small leak at the front near side wheel which as you said turned out to be a corroded washer. I fixed this at the time by replacing it with a new copper washer which done the trick.

This time its something else, so a little lost what to do.
 

drmw

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Hmm - pity about that. Next stage (assuming fluid reservoir is at correct level) isn't likely to be easy DIY.

Were it me I'd get the car to a good indie to find out if it's logged any issues. I'm on my third SL and had several ABC problems on the first two.

Without scaremongering, I've never had an ABC strut failure - two replaced due to worn ball joints and one replaced trying to solve what turned out to be the simplest electrical fault (the wire from the top of the strut had an intermittent break so it did go all bouncy castle on me), but I also had to have the dual pump replaced which is not a cheap job :(.

Don't go to a main dealer as they will likely work on a swap it out & see basis which is hellish expensive. Take it to someone that isn't bound by manufacturer's guidelines who can look logically and possibly repair.

Could be a valve block or the pump or indeed other things - no easy way for mere mortals to tell.

Hopefully others will contribute with suggestions.

All the best
 

Mic

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Take David's advice......when mine went ''bouncy'' it was a new pump job at £1241 in November 2010 at Star Motor Services......good quick accurate diagnosis and replacement unit. I still have the old unit hoping that one day there will be a cost effective refurbishment option which there wasn't in 2010.

Do not go to a main dealer for this issue.

Mic
 

Philedge

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You need to get the codes read to see what fault is being logged as it could be any part of the system thats faulty.

When the system detects a fault it locks the hydraulic fluid in the struts to put the suspension into a limp home mode. The bouncy feel you get will be the locked suspension.
 

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Not an easy one, the ABC will only work providing there is no message in the dash, hence the turning off and on brings it back to life. If during the time there is no message, if the car is at the correct height, then maybe not the pump unless it is just managing to raise the car.

It will need STAR to guide you to where the fault lies.

Do you have a good indie near you.
 

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Forgot to mention that you have checked the reservoir oil level? Dont run the engine if the level is very low or you'll risk wrecking the pump.
 
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Had a similar problem recently that turned out to be a level sensor problem.
The two small rods behind the back wheels were corroded and one had snapped.
One end of each rod is fastened to the chassis via a small ball joint. The other end of each rod is tied to a level sensor arm also via a ball joint.
There is a similar setup behind each front wheel.

Worth a look. :D
 

Philedge

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Had a similar problem recently that turned out to be a level sensor problem.
The two small rods behind the back wheels were corroded and one had snapped.
One end of each rod is fastened to the chassis via a small ball joint. The other end of each rod is tied to a level sensor arm also via a ball joint.
There is a similar setup behind each front wheel.

Worth a look. :D

Worth having a look as they are fairly easy to see but if a link has come astray switching the ignition on and off is unlikely to clear the fault and allow the car to run for a while. Codes need reading to get an idea of whats going on.
 

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Level sensors on a 230 use the headlamp level sensors, they are dual purpose.
 
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Thanks everyone for your posts.

I'm still scratching my head over what to do, Mercedes are looking for £60 for 30mins diagnostic but cannot guarantee it will result in finding the issue. Hmm...I don't have much faith in the main dealers ability of problem solving at my expense.

I came across this blog which sounded pretty good: http://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully...08/overview-abc-system-isthe-key-part-of.html

In this blog my symptoms ("ABC Visit Workshop" appears for a few seconds when hitting a bump or dip in the road) indicates that I should start by replace the two main Accumulators (Part no.220 327 01 15).

If the above fails then I will need to hunt for a decent indie garage in my area (Edinburgh/Glasgow).
 

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Thanks everyone for your posts.

I'm still scratching my head over what to do, Mercedes are looking for £60 for 30mins diagnostic but cannot guarantee it will result in finding the issue. Hmm...I don't have much faith in the main dealers ability of problem solving at my expense.

I came across this blog which sounded pretty good: http://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully...08/overview-abc-system-isthe-key-part-of.html

In this blog my symptoms ("ABC Visit Workshop" appears for a few seconds when hitting a bump or dip in the road) indicates that I should start by replace the two main Accumulators (Part no.220 327 01 15).

If the above fails then I will need to hunt for a decent indie garage in my area (Edinburgh/Glasgow).

There are so many reason I would not change a thing till a STAR read out


TJ O'Neil - Independent MB Specialist
0141 778 5314

http://www.deutschmarque.co.uk/
 

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Do you have an indie nearby with Star who could run the test? As said above main dealer will do just swap out etc... I had the same issue on my sl55 and it was the abc valve block, part alone is over a grand (sorry!), I also had a broke wire that my local indie (PMW) found and fixed, fingers crossed it is something silly.
 

silver CL55

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I can assist with Indies in the Lanarkshire/Glasgow area if required. Sorry I cannot help with the East coast. (Devils country!)
I use a chap in Hamilton.
You really need someone with specific experience of R230's, pity Wayne Gates is not local!

If the above fails then I will need to hunt for a decent indie garage in my area (Edinburgh/Glasgow).
 
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Took my car to "Independent Mercedes" in Livingston who performed a diagnostic at the cost of £59 which turned out to be £70 after vat (Not any cheaper than the main dealer but they fitted me in straight away so I took the hit).

Unfortunately it didn't look like a STAR has been used on the car for a while so there were loads of errors which needed cleared, all four struts had low errors and the passengers strut was showing slightly low pressure.
He performed a RODEO on the car which brought all four struts up to the same pressure, the pump pressure started at about 150-190 psi and went down to just over 100 (very briefly) before going back up to about 190 where it stayed steady, however as expected before I reached home the dreaded "ABC Visit Workshop" came on the dash. I hope when I phone the garage in the morning he will agree to plug it back into the STAR to see what the actual error is now that the old errors have been cleared.


I read in a previous forum about an SDS diagnostic test which could be performed via STAR to Rule out the accumulators being at fault however the mechanic had never heard of this?????

I will keep you all updated on how I get on tomorrow.


"Silver CL55" can you please give me the contact details of the guy in Hamilton as that's not too far from me (West Lothian).
 
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Philedge

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That sounds like fairly good news as your pump is giving a good pressure. If theres no leaks anywhere then you might well be looking at an accumulator problem. Could also be an intermittent fault on a sensor or a valve issue but the valve blocks can be cleaned.

See what fault you've got now and take it from there, hopefully not another £70! The guy I've used with STAR only charges £30 for a code read so might be worth shopping around.
 

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Looking like possible rear valve block, I know Colin MBS takes them apart and cleans them with good results.
Could this be the mercedes indie, no web site.


Aby Autos

Tel: 01698 200681

Unit 5, Cadzow Bridge Square, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, ML3 7GZ
 
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The results are in, drum-roll please.........

STAR output:
C1526-004 - Fault in hydraulic circuit at rear left suspension strut

Possible cause and remedy:
-Inspect ABC for leaks.

-Mechanical fault of component Y36/2 (ABC rear axle valve unit)
-Component 'Y36/2y1 (Left rear suspension strut control valve)' sticks.

-Mechanical fault of component Left rear suspension strut.
-Component 'Left rear suspension strut' sticks.


End of Test.
 
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