Mercedes SL55 R230 level calibration and suspension lowering using Autel MaxiDAS DS808
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- This is a detailed video explaining how to adjust the level of your Mercedes, or lower the suspension using the Autel MaxiDAS DS808 diagnostic tool. If you try to calibrate the suspension using the wrong process, you may end up generating an ABC Visit Workshop error message. The video explains the terminology and touches on some of the common errors people make when using a diagnostic tool for this purpose.
Good informative vid. I'm in C217 S550 coupe. Launch Creader Elite for Benz will do it all & more for $105.
Thanks for your comment. It look likes a good product....whether you could use it to recalibrate ABC suspension is of course another question. I might have to get one to try it. Mike
i managed to program sl500 2002 with MS919 AUTEL
I started with plugs, then level calibration, then plugs, then level calibration, then load calibration, it's important that the voltage is between 2-3 volts at the height of the sensors, otherwise you'll get the wrong code, very good video, thank you very much, best regards Staffan from Sweden
Thanks for your comment. I think the problem is with the Autel software version I was using because everything worked fine with STAR. Hopefully, I will get to try another unit one day. Mike
You helped me finish my CL level calibration with success. Thanks a lot 🙏👏👍
Really glad the video helped! Mike
Beautiful video!!! Super nice explanation with that “Lego” model! This is the type of video that should be rewarded on TH-cam! Congratulations and sorry for my English
Thank you for your kind comment. Sometimes when a video has been useful or solved a problem for someone, they click on the 'Super thanks' buttons and leave a donation. Mike
Mike Great video and have subscribed. Newish to TH-cam but will get there.
Question. I’m going to buy an Autel to help me with my SL55. Is the one you used on this (the 808 I think) what you would still use or have you a recommendation for a newer addition. Important that it does the suspension in my case.
Sorry this is long but also I have a year 2000 R129 SL600 and wonder if you know how to calibrate its suspension which may be different. Mine is not level and I wonder if the Autel would be able to help. Thanks.
Hi - nice set of cars. I bought my Autel Maxidas DS808 on eBay and unfortunately the seller never transferred ownership to me via Autel which means I am unable to subscribe for software updates. The software version on my machine has a bug which does NOT allow you to calibrate the suspension on an SL55. I had to use DAS Star at a local Independent.
A chines company recent sent me a Launch elite 2 scanner to test and my plan is to see if it is possible to calibrate the suspension using this device. If it works, I'll do a video.
Does your SL55 currently have any suspension problems?
What is the problem with your R129 suspension?
Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars
Thanks a mill for the reply.
I have been burrowing around and apparently the Autel Elite Pro II will do everything. Unfortunately it’s £1749 but still can’t get an answer as to whether it’ll work on my SL600.
The 600 appears to have a similar hydraulic suspension system to the ABC on the SL55. Unfortunately I took it to a company ages ago that I thought would be able to rebuild the rear suspension and get the ride height etc correct. How wrong was I.
They replaced various bits and pieces but couldn’t get the car level. They employed another ‘expert’ who also failed after many months. He replaced a load of very expensive bits and told me a special tool was required to set the height. A recent friend who is a retired Mercedes mechanic believes the ride height and all the other stuff should be able to be done using the Autel and the special tool bit is BS ! The car is a year 2000 R129 SL600. I’ve written to Autel about this.
Also I have the airbag light on and it won’t get through an MOT. Again, like an idiot,
I sent it to the same place and it’s just a nightmare. What I’ve realised is that they didn’t have any diagnostic kit at all and were winging it at my expense. They managed to borrow a system, god knows what, but it wasn’t up to the task. I’m thinking of getting the car back and running it through the Autel which I’ll buy.
Are you familiar with the R129 airbag system? Note the last time this happened it was a loose connection under the passenger seat. Took 10 mins to fix !
I’ve learned a lesson here and never again.
From my experience if you first done plungers calibration it’s wrong like you said. To repair it, you got to level car first but without confirmation with incline angle, set all wheel arches to 37cm from wheelhub center and then do plunger calibration. Finally do level calibration, and guess incline angles that got be corresponding with voltage of level sensor. Mine CL level sensor where 2.8 V on one and about 2.4-2.6 on others. So I make logical thinking that 3V is low and 2V is max high and set low number incline angle on that 2.8V sensor and central value for others. Good luck with your calibrations. It demands some free time, open and fresh mind. I needed another day to do it with fresh start and a lot of reading forums, watching videos and draw conclusions.
Wow that’s a result. What scanner were you using? Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars launch x431 creader elite Benz only
@@lukeduke9304 Interesting - I think I have a Launch Elite - maybe I'll give it a go...because it sure didn't work on my Autel. Thanks again for the comment. Mike
Sweet
This is a fantastically good and helpful video. I have the MaxiDAS DS808 also. I have the exact issue you have described. I will see if my version of the software gives the same error when recalibrating. My issue currently is that the RF Strut has a reading of 4.7 height when all other struts range from 1.8 to 2.8 in height. the RF does not change using any of the settings. I am assuming either a broken height sensor or a bad connection. either way, it's broken. This video has helped tremendously. Thanks so much!
Thanks for your comments. Can you tell me:
1. Does you car have any fault codes at present (eg ABC warning light on dash)
2. Is your car sitting more or less level OR can you visibly see that one strut is much higher?
3....and of course the question that intrigues me most, what happens if you try to do a level calibration using the Autel.....using the correct procedure outlined in the video?
What car do you have and where do you live (UK USA etc?)
Mike in Bristol.
Hello
Thanks for your video, I’m watching all your video , very hopeful…
Could you make a video about how to replace the two small screens in the cluster( I have it burned ) at low cost or reseñable cost ( I have the star 5 MB )
Also it will be big help if you could walk us on how to do the lowering using the software on Star 5 step by step
Big thanks again
Hi - do you mean you have had a fire and the speedometer and rev counter are melted...and you need to replace them?
What model of car you have - SL55, SL500 or SL350? There is a R230 graveyard close to me and he is breaking 2 SL500's so you should be able to get the parts you need.
I plan to do a proper step by step lowering video at some stage. When I tried to do it on my AUTEL, I discovered a bug and had to use STAR to recalibrate. I bought a set of Airmatic lowering links and will do a video on how to fit these....there is less that can go wrong by using these adjustable links.
Mike
Mike I’ve seen you on several of the merc forums but as soon as you pulled out the toy example mini figures I knew you were the real deal. Love your videos and have used your advice in written and video format!! Keep up the good work man cheers
Thanks for your kind comment. I knew those childhood toys would come in handy one day...Mike
Would love to see the car fully valeted, I’m sure it would look like a 100grand supercar again 👍
Totally agree - this car needs a full valet. Its on my to do list when I get back from Australia. Mike
Best use of my childhood engineering set-Fischer Technic! When I saw that I knew this Fella is on point.
Fischer Technik the best! I'm not quite sure I understood your point about removing the SIM in the tracker. Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars Mike , What I meant was to remove any possibilty of the system to still communicate with legacy accounts... more a security move.
Very good video ! Some nice detail on using star with the suspension settings.👍
Thanks for you comment. It can be quite difficult to find information on how to you STAR to calibrate height, plungers and load settings. Mike
Hello,
great movie. can you tell me if the rodeo test call is working properly in this tester?
This calibration, is it successful on Autel MaxiDAS DS808? because from what I can see, it was only successful on the scanner in the MB workshop on Panasonic, here you had an error, so it remained, or I see it wrong.
For years I ran car workshops and generally used diagnostic combines, and my employees more than me, now since 2009 I do not run a business, but as a courtesy I import good cars from Japan and often from ABC for my friends and friends and I need a simple good tester that will trigger a rodeo and it would also be nice to be able to properly complete the calibration of each corner.
Can you advise me if this tester will only pass the exam for these two functions?
I will be grateful for the information.
Regards,
Stefan
Hello Stefan
Unfortunately, the version of the MaxiDAS DS 808 I have, has a bug and for me it was not possible to successfully complete the calibration. I am unable to upgrade the software on this device because I am not the original owner so unfortunately, I cant recommend this unit for your purpose
I have never tried the RODEO function on this scanner although it does have that feature. On older cars with older hoses, performing the RODEO can actually cause a problem that might not otherwise occur because the RODEO takes those struts to the limit.
I have had emails form other subscribers who have also struggled to perform the calibration on their Foxtel scanners.
My theory is that many of these scanners use the same underlying software script with the same bug. I imagine that few people ever use these scanners for calibrating ABC, and those who do, probably dont have a youtube channel to highlight such an obscure bug.
If I find a scanner that can calibrate, I'll let you know and if you find one before that, can you let me know?
Mike in Bristol
@@MikesMercsandothercars Hi Mike,
thank you for the very factual answer.
If I could reply to your e-mail, and not under the comment, I would probably do it more widely than you, because I am a terrible chatterbox. 😃
My over 20 years of experience with the ABC system, commonly known as the "Angel of Death", tells me that "Rodeo" is not for killing the system, but for flushing it when you want to replace the fluid correctly and remove any stuck scraps and filings, venting and to some extent calibrating . I also believe that when a component is weak, it is better for it to end its life in a workshop or at home than 1000 km from home, but of course "Rodeo" must not be abused.
As a courtesy, I help people with the ABC system for whom I import cars from Japan, although I am not a dealer, recently two SL R230 arrived, I myself have two CL55 AMG 360 and 500 KM also from Japan, one has 120k km, the other 90k km.
Two days ago I was rebuilding one valve block, replacing o-rings and plunger springs, because those mechanics who only stretch them do it in vain, because a "tired" spring will always remain tired. 😃
A month ago, I helped throw out the ABC and replace it with Yellow Speed Racing, plus stabilizers, front and rear, tandem pump replaced with a simple one-section. This is also a good way to take it easy with ABC.
You know how it is, passion is the meaning of life, and mechanics, painting and creating new ones are my passion. Even though I don't work in business anymore, I still have to do something out of passion.
Now I am in the process of rebuilding one CL for a cold intake, where I am rebuilding the MAF by putting a honeycomb screen in ss steel (not aluminum) in a 6:1 ratio because it is the best ratio for this throttle and ECU learning capabilities, to this I add BMC filters:
www.rallyshop.it/bmc/acota70-85l200-b-1
I'm looking for a simple scanner just for these two options, because I don't want to buy a star or similar, because it's like buying a digger to plant five potatoes, but when I don't find any of these Chinese things, I will be forced because people who know the system ABC in Poland is like medicine and they stretch customers for gigantic costs, the customer has, for example, a damaged pressure accumulator, they start by replacing the pump, etc.
When I find a good Chinese scanner, I will inform you immediately, as you did, because it is a sign of respect between people, and this is very important to me.
Regards,
Stefan
Ever find a scanner that calibrates successfully??? I have an Xtool 7 with same functions but won't hold ride ht.
@@curlymyhero When you say "wont hold ride height"....do you mean you set it successfully in the scanner but as soon as you turn off car and restart it goes back to where it was? If so, check that you are changing the settings in "Initial Start Up" and not "Control Module adaptations" see 11.40 in video. Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars In the Xtool 7 there's no " initial start up" setting.
Hi Mike, when you & the tech were at the Level Calibration, did you have to manually raise all 4 corners to max height which is 0mm before you can perform the plunger calibration? I was told they need to be at max height in order for the plunger calibration to be successful.
Hi - not that I recall. As far as I remember, the calibration process raises the car and drops the car as part of the process - there is no manual intervention. I will double check and get back to you if possible. Mike
Mikes Mercs and other cars Hi Mike, thanks for getting back to me & please do if & when you get a chance. Btw, were you able to figure out why your scanner couldn't perform the calibrations?
@@megatran2010 OK will get back to if I can find a definitive answer.
I think that version of the Autel scanner just has a very specific bug relating to the calibration and unfortunately I am unable to update the software to ascertain whether a software update cured the issue.
Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars My friend brought his S55 back today for another look. I used the procedure you had mentioned but got the same message as yours when I tried to calibrate the level sensors in the Initial Start Up menu first. I, however was able to get around it by manually raise each corner to max height. By doing so, it also expanded the struts & put the plunger travel sensors to the top end (0mm) then proceeded to the plunger calibration & it passed. The only issue I have left with the ABC is I still have the white warning message as for some reason, I couldn't run the last calibration which is the Load Adjustments as it kept telling me it hasn't been successfully performed. Perhaps these cheap Chinese knock-off scanners have a flaw with their program's algorithm and/or sub-routine so it's not quite exactly the same as the Mercedes Star SDS? Can you ask your Mercedes-Benz technician if there's a way to get a round it? Thanks
@@megatran2010 I spent so many hours trying to figure this out before discovering it was a bug in the Autel DS808. Just to confirm...
1. What make and model Diagnostic Tool are you using?
2. When you run diagnostics, what fault code are you getting?
My fault code was was to do with 'Level Calibration'
To clear that fault code, you need to perform the 'Level Calibration' successfully AND the "Load Calibration" needs to run successfully
The Plunger Calibration may run successfully, but you wont be able to clear that ABC message unless both the Level and Load calibration are successful.
Not sure what country you are in, but an Indy Merc specialist will charge between £50-£100 to carry out the calibration. Don't make the mistake I did, and waste hours trying to solve what I assume is a software bug issue.
It could of course be the case that your S55 actually has a problem with one of the struts or sensors that is preventing the calibration running successfully.... Mike
Hello Mike ! Greatly interesting your video...i just réalised on my car, i had the right side lower than the left side...by an inch.
So you think it is just a question of calibration for my ABC, from Mercedes or any Spécialist shop?
Do you think That problèm could have been ignited by the low batt alerts on my car, every Time i start it up? Symptôm Is Cutting thé accessories until batt has leveled up...
Best regard
Thanks for your comment. What model and year of car do you have?
1. Is your car ALWAYS an inch lower on that side or does it droop after being parked for a while? eg when you go for a drive, and measure the tyre/wheel arch gap, is it an inch out? A drooping suspension...especially after the car has sat for a while is probably a sign that the seals in your front valve block are starting to fail
2. I am assuming there are no hydraulic fluid leaks under the car and you dont have any ABC warning lights on the dash?
3. If you look at time code 16.38 in the video below:
th-cam.com/video/4YDw_wE9Ck4/w-d-xo.html
There is a rod which connects the front control arm to a height sensor. If this rod is damaged or bent, that could account for your car being lower on one side.
4. It COULD be something simple like you car needs to have the suspension recalibrated...but I double it. A good independent will charge between £50-£100 to recalibrate your suspension.
5. Last but not least, low battery is not likley to affect your suspension. I have done a couple of videos on battery drain in the R230:
th-cam.com/video/hjPqvAkBMtc/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/OWrIS0iWJLA/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/R7fbQBPaTPk/w-d-xo.html
Mike
Good video and a great car👍
thansk for your comment - and yes what a great car it is. Mike
Very good video Mike. Nice visuals. The only thing I noticed was the technician enter -8 & -4, but you always entered-8.0 & -4.0. Maybe this is causing the error?
Yes that did occur to me - when I was at the Mercedes place, I actually tried both but I edited that bit out as the video was getting a bit long. I see your project is moving ever nearer completion. I hope it is all going well. Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars I was hoping it was just an input error. I’m getting ready for the rear cover and seal on my project then the front.
A30-M is a decent dual direction scanner
Thanks for your comment - I had a quick look at that scanner....whether it has the same bug as the Autel which costs significantly more is of course another question.... Mike