My first post, I have a 2002 S500 which recently since the cold snap had airmatic issues, it seems that the car starts off in the proper ride hieght at start-up but after a few minutes the "airmatic low stop car " comes on and the front drops down, I stopped the car turned the key off and restarted and then the suspension lifts back up. I parked the car over night and the hieght stayed at the normal hieght, but once I drive it it will intermittently lower and drop down again, I do not believe there is a leak because the ride hieght stay up overnight, is there some sort of air release valve that may be hanging up due to the cold weather? I am afraid that the dealer may misdiagnose the problem and telle that the pump will need replacing, any insite?? Thanks, Johnny O
First thing to look at is the Airmatic relay - especially if this began in cold weather. Because the car stays up at night, it would seem not to have a leak problem. Because the car lifts back up after shutting down and restarting, it is probably not the pump. The relay is now made by Hella and is more reliable than the original. About $85 through a dealer, $35 through a car parts place. But don't delay replacing it.
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2005 S500 4-Matic
with Gateway 500 iPod integration
Formerly: 2000 S500
with Ice>Link iPod integration
Moto V710 phone with MikBox
Upgraded Voice Control
Thanks or the response!! My research on this forum would seem to indicate a relay issue as you pointed out, I just came back from the auto parts store and gave them the part # 0025421319 for the Hella relay they said it did not come up on the data base? Is there another part # for the relay? my car is a 2002 S500 Thanks Again, Johnny O
Hey johnnyo, I just went through the same thing and i changed the relay to the hella.
Thanks to skylaw and the boys in here. But had taken it to the dealer just to have it looked over because I did not want it to drop somewhere far from a mb mech. It also happened on a cold day. They ended up changing the infamous upper struts. Problem solved! Not! went out yesterday at -20c and low and behold the car is in the race ready position. Call MB back and they told me this is common on cold days start it and it will come back up and it did. This is starting to be a summer car.
This might sound dumb but how old is your battery? Reason I ask is that on several cars I find that on starting several intermittent issues tend to pop up if the battery is older.
Just three mornings ago it was 6F outside. When I started the car after 3 days it started very rough for about a minute. Then everything cleared EXCEPT the CEL popped on. Just watching the car, the lights on the inside dash and feeling of things made me think the car was not getting proper voltage to everything on the start. CEL stayed on all day, no matter how many cycles I ran it.
Next morning car started normal, no CEL. I am going to the shop tonight and check on dates for the battery but it seems to me that cold and battery might be combining to cause some of this.
Update: Changed relay, 100 miles later no problems, you would think the dealer based upon my description of symptoms would have recomended the relay as a first possibility instead of my drivng home with a potentially hazardous condition, also they stated that it would be a 3 hour labor cost for an analysis? Well let me say its great having this forum as a venue to help diagnose problems. Again thanks Skylaw for your insite, Johnny O
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