Mercedes Airmatic Suspension Fault - Step By Step DIY Diagnostic

In this video I investigate the air suspension failure on a Mercedes AMG E55 5.4 V8 with the right hand side of the vehicle too low and a stop, car too low! warning on the dash & fault codes 5500 & 5501 critical vehicle level at the front and rear axle.
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Disclaimer:
GerardBurke is a qualified motor technician who has completed modules & courses in manual handling and all aspects of workshop safety. These videos are not intended to be used by anyone who is not trained and or qualified to carry them out.
Due to factors beyond the control of GerardBurke, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. GerardBurke assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. GerardBurke recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of GerardBurke, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not GerardBurke.
#Airmatic #Mercedes #AMG

[@patkelly7999]

Great job Gerard, never knew Mercedes had such a system in some of their cars, every day is a learning curve:):)

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

It's certainly is Pat, I get reminders all the time 😉👌 More knowledge More power 💪👍

[@stevenweseman1473]

Thank you for the very helpful video. The manner in which you describe the various possible issues is a great pace for me. You suggestion about inflating the strut manually was well taken. It is my recollection that one would need a way to open a normally closed solenoid valve in order to add air to the strut. I had at one time thought it was a check valve type arrangement that the control system only released for lower/removing air. When I attempted to inflate the strut without actuating the main (normally closed) valve, I learned "the hard way." I am the opposite of an expert. So, that observation should be read as a hint and not confirmation. Regards, thanks again.

[@MiracleMAX]

Well done mate! Good logical thinking. Sometimes with all the tools now-a-days with bells and whistles, we can forget about the basics and how to test them. Great idea with the ever useful squirty bottle with soapy water, compressed air and pressure gauge. Outside the box thinking - awesome! 😉

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Yep absolutely mate, I try to remember all the problems that were solved before many of the tools (I now have) were purchased and how we navigated them issues. Thanks for the kind words mate :)

[@MiracleMAX]

@@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage Yup, start with the basics.😊

[@matthewanderson7118]

Awesome video,Very well explained and clear.

[@demonbox666]

Just had a W212 roll in for the same fault. Good video mate.

[@castrolgtx5064]

Thanks for sharing Ger great information as always👌💥 My brother (Rip) when he worked in the NCT centre he did a NCT on a Mercedes similar to this one E63 Amg and one of the other mechanics came over to him and said watch this Dennis,, he placed a two euro coin on edge on the rocker cover or some place on the engine and the coin didn’t budge that’s how well balanced the E63 engine was👌 now that’s engineering for you…. In Germany the mechanic who builds the AMG engine is allowed to put his or her name on the engine plate.

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thanks for sharing Eric. Rest in peace to your brother 🙏🙏

[@brentenschultz3403]

Very good thank you

[@CONEJOBLANCO]

GOOD job

[@vermbird8393]

my 2008 w211 e550 has dropped down right front and right rear. kind of strange. getting the stop vehicle too low, don't drive. have you seen this?

[@keithsmall1055]

Good job

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thank you buddy, I appreciate it.

[@akashtalon]

Any advice on the fact two of the rear airmatic shocks was replaced, yet one side is slightly lower than the other. The fronts have already been replaced. Could this be a fallukty level sensor on a 2003 E500

[@tomahawk5373]

I was testing out my recently purchased 02 S500 was giving it some good throttle and on high-speed I heard a noise thought it was more motor or transmission related Park the vehicle went into the store shopping when I came out it was drooping from the left hand side only any help would be appreciated thanks in advance.

[@mustangbelly1]

Brilliant mate. I have a CLS500 and the Airmatic warning came on the dash "Visit workshop" I was just about suicidal..🤣🤣🤣🤣. But after watching your video made me realise the system is not as complicated as first thought. And you don't need a degree in Harry Potter wizardry to test and eliminate things. To that end I have ordered a new air shock. And after I pick myself up off the floor when they told me the price I will fit it as soon as it comes. Easier to fit than a coil spring strut. Thank for the confidence boost with this video.

[@KJB9566]

Inspected your vehicle and listen for leaks,

[@michelleklubben8565]

Oh no was it THAT expensive??

[@mustangbelly1]

@@michelleklubben8565 Our local Mercedes dealership wanted £1600 for the part and £300 to fit. Then they said it had to go on the "Star diagnostics" machine to be calibrated. So I contacted an independent Mercedes specialist who told me very much the same but was £200 cheaper. In the end I took it to my friends garage who I have used for years. He got the part ( The same part number the independent specialist was going to fit) and did the whole job for £600. No need for star diagnostics, just used his Snapon system to take off the "Visit workshop" fault code. So yeah, be very careful as having a car like that some with rip your eyes out.

[@williamsanders1819]

I have an 2004 e500 Mercedes and a visit to workshop came on my dash and I wanted to know what that mean when I switch thu car off I can hear thu pressure relief off my air shocks

[@emikgafarov]

hello. I have a problem with my mercedes gl450. the air compressor lifted the car up, but now the car does not go down. what could be the problem?

[@ryanjade2836]

Hi I have a 2007 CLS 550 and its throwing the airmatic code: "Power Supply Valves Short Circuit to Ground" I checked for continuity on each electrical plug going into the valve block and there wasn't any. The resistance was greater than 1.5 ohms. Is there supposed to be continuity or is there only when the relay activates? Do i likely have a break in the wire? Can you please help me im really stuck!!!!

[@Salvatore3333]

Help me out Gerard i have a Fiat scudo 2007, rear airmatic, i reconditioned the pump at home testing it with a battery it works, when i attach it to body harness it doesnt, vehicle sitting low, tried to pump air into system via the pump..no joy, tried to pump air into system directly to air hoses, grey and black and green to reservoir and black,,,no joy, please let me know.

[@bjn8937]

Great video. However my vehicle has new rear struts and... Went up after replacement but once on the highway it went down and stayed super low. Can I solve this without star system?

[@MM-pv8zp]

there are so many variables. scanner is a necessity

[@gustavososa4364]

Hi, nice video! I am thinking to buy a Mercedes benz w221 S500 from the year 2008. The car has all the services made on time. But I would like if the problems you showed in your video can be preventively avoided if the regular services are made on time. Or if that happens. Because the car cannot be used when the suspension is too low and then you have to take a taxi to go home. Please let me know what you think, it will help me a lot to decide what to do. Thank you very much.

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

They are a good vehicle but like all others they have some faults, if the suspension drops you will likely need a recovery truck to get it home or to a workshop safely, there is no preventing this other than replacing them before failure. This is an expensive repair so not something I would recommend unless you have excess cash lying around 😉 Buying expensive vehicles means that the repair bill is usually higher, less parts available and more likely to be off the road for longer if you do breakdown when compared to a regular everyday vehicle. But you then have the joy of driving an uncommon 🚘 I hope this helps 🙏👍

[@michelleklubben8565]

Ahh man this is a lot of work... I found a wire loose in my trunk by the spare tire.. does this wire belong to the automatic system? Yes I'm having problems my trunk ride side goes waay down when I park car

[@abbastechnology2582]

Good

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Thanks Afsar

[@danvelgtr]

Great video Gerard , I was led to this because my 2015 S Class , the button to raise the suspension on the centre console , does not raise the suspension despite the dash telling me its raising the suspension . The suspension is currently at its normal height . Maybe an air leak in my case ? tia.

[@jimmiboiful]

I would say level sensors, mine got wet after driving through deep puddles and started playing up. They are relatively cheap and easy to replace! One on each wheel should fix your problem.

[@KJB9566]

Leak detective

[@Cacatron]

Yes we all have this problem that’s why we’re here people… 🙄 but yeah somethings up man. I feel like I replace this every 2 years or less…

[@matthewbalance2733]

Can the airmatic lift with just turning on the car or does the engine need to run?

[@MM-pv8zp]

needs to run

[@Soldier4Christ96]

How are you. On my s500 front drivers side won’t go down it stays up. I disconnect the air from it but it still stays up. Do you think that is bad air struts

[@ukaszjurys2475]

would be easier if you have ODB scanner

[@MsJolie2012]

Do you know any benz chop in Philadelphia

[@MR-jd7qg]

Beste Mann😊

[@jemuelpansa4227]

Hi, i just bought a mercedes benz cls 500 2006. The car was sitting for more then 2 years. It's sitting verry low. When i start the car i could hear the pump running but the car wont rise. I change the valve block but i still have the same problem. I try to fill up the the front airstrut manually with air but is hard to fill up. What might be the problem?

[@steved6275]

Did you ever get that problem fixed I'm having same problem right now

[@carmelofebles3871]

No encuentro liqueo y se baja del frente mi mercedes bebz , que es?

[@nyacoustics8373]

my s500 airmatic just leans on the rear passenger side. the rest of the car sits fine. it powers up when started first thing in the morning and then drops overnight when parked. what could this be?

[@snam97]

I’ve got kind of the same problem, did you figure out what it could be? I think of the valveblock or an airbag leak?

[@craigpeel5983]

​@Syth me too...did you happen to find out? I'm guessing a leak in a bag.

[@snam97]

@@craigpeel5983 got a fault code “5503”, “recovery time during filling of central reservoir is too long”. I’m going to check for air leaks later even tough I figure the compressor might be faulty since it only stores 12bar of pressure.

[@matrich1983]

Hi everyone it's an airbag leak, I had this it raised up when I started the car and went low overnight. Then I went to start car one day and heard a pop. New airbags. But they arnt massively expensive!

[@gangalee83]

Same problem

[@ecdc0432]

Does this effect the engine losing power in anyway

[@arod22s_]

It shouldn't

[@Cacatron]

Can you simply patch or glue or tape or plug the leak on it if you find it? 🤔

[@eturk1]

nooooo

[@phironhin7349]

I changed the valve block and 4 shocks and still get the service airmatic light what could it be?

[@MM-pv8zp]

did you clear the computer codes on the module for airmatic

[@rayjr344]

This Is The Same Question I have.

[@luisbenitez4159]

My problem that i have is i don't have power on the pump and all the fuse are good

[@martinachris7766]

Can you please tell us what diagnostic computer you used? I saw Snap-on but I'm certain they are just the tool dealer.

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

It was a Snap On scan tool, they are very good but also very expensive & no one scan tool can do it all, I also have a launch scan tool and the workshop has a separate Carmen scan tool as well. Thanks for watching 🙏🙏

[@MM-pv8zp]

buy the foxwell mb scanner its 100 bucks

[@ahmadalshehabie4259]

I have s350 model 2008. It’s showing Malfunction but the car still rising. But the car is like stone on humps

[@ahmadalshehabie4259]

Please advise

[@Salvatore3333]

t shirts prints are so funny

[@noecampos1359]

I need to refill 2 right side bags. Before trou the car to the yonk yard 😂😂 04 mercedez w500 some help i try many thinks. I just need can drive the car. 😢

[@edwardmccutchen8554]

I swear,this same dashboard air ride failure reminds me of my roommates s430 Benz😩

[@pikethree]

I cant find the suspension valve body on my e350 W211. Does anyone know where it's hidden?

[@ukaszjurys2475]

is it airmatic ?

[@pikethree]

@@ukaszjurys2475 No, just a normal E350

[@ukaszjurys2475]

@@pikethreeestate?

[@pikethree]

@@ukaszjurys2475 Yes sir

[@ukaszjurys2475]

@@pikethree it have only compressor.whats your issue

[@user-kb5fk7fw8n]

I have a problem with my E500 car

[@user-kb5fk7fw8n]

Can I call you

[@lancecooper4646]

The customer wants to put the car back in the shed & do the repairs at a later date.....sounds like a "Future Barn Find" .....

[@GerardBurkeBurkesGarage]

Could well be 😊😁

[@georged8242]

Ok

[@user-kb5fk7fw8n]

I have a problem with my E500 car

[@user-kb5fk7fw8n]

I have a problem with my E500 car

[@user-kb5fk7fw8n]

I have a problem with my E500 car