R230 Active Body Control

(ABC)

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318 PP ABC (DPS) 1-22-02
These technical training materials are current as of the date noted on the materials, and may be revised or updated without notice.
Always check for revised or updated information.

To help avoid personal injury to you or others, and to avoid damage to the vehicle on which you are working, you must always refer
to the latest Mercedes-Benz Technical Publication and follow all pertinent instructions when testing, diagnosing or making repair.
Illustrations and descriptions in this training reference are based on preliminary information and may not correspond to the final US
version vehicles. Refer to the official introduction manual and WIS when available.
Copyright Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, 2002

Reproduction by any means or by any information storage and retrieval system or translation in whole or part is not permitted
without written authorization from Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC or its successors.
Published by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Printed in U. S.A.
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 Objectives & Agenda
• Quick Review of ABC
• Changes to ABC in the R230
– Struts

– Sensors

– Control Unit

– SDS Procedures

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 Functions of ABC
• Automatically maintains vehicle level setting
• Adjusts ride height based on speed
– Lowers car as speed increases and raises car

back up as speed decreases

• Switch raises car two positions
• An additional switch for a sport setting

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 Sensors - Review
• Body acceleration sensors - three
– Measures vertical acceleration of the body and

body pitch and roll

• Lateral acceleration sensor - one
– Measures side to side acceleration

• Longitudinal acceleration sensor - one

– Measures acceleration and deceleration

• Vehicle level sensors - four

– Measures vehicle level at each wheel

• Strut motion sensor - four

– Determines the position of the hydraulic cylinder

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 Service Notes - Review
• Country version code in EIS
• Goes automatically to shutoff (closed valve position)
when raised on a lift

• SAFETY
– Uses same fluid as power steering unit
– High Pressure (over 200 bar)
– Always depressurize system before removing
hydraulic components

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R230 ABC Components

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 Front Axle Valve Unit (Y36/1)
Remove paneling
under left bumper
cover to access

B40/1 temperature
sensor

14 pressure reservoir

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 Rear Axle Valve Unit Y36/2
Remove wheel well
lining to access

4 - supply pressure
reservoir

53 - return pressure
reservoir

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 Pressure Supply Valve Unit #
Remove wheel well
lining to access

B4/5 pressure sensor

52a pulsation damper

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 Struts
• Differences between Front Rear
R230 and 215 Strut Strut
– Fewer coils
– Coils spaced further
apart
– Increased tensile
strength and tension
rate

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Control Unit - N51/2

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ABC Control Module (N51/2)
• Ride height position is 3mm lower in the United
States than the rest of the world
• If ABC control module cannot recognize EIS
national code, (CAN problem for example), then it
uses the last known setting
• Load compensation calculation

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 Load Compensation
Calculation
• Improves ride quality

• Must do load compensation calculation:

– After doing a level calibration
– After doing a plunger sensor calibration

If calculation is not done then an error message will

appear in the instrument cluster.

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 Load Compensation
SDS Procedures
• Enter into
ABC
• Enter into
Control Unit
Adaptations

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 Load Compensation
SDS Procedures
• Notice
requirements
• Press F2

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 Load Compensation
SDS Procedures
• Press F3

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 Load Compensation
SDS Procedures
• Nothing
physically
happens
• ABC will
make its
calculation
• This
message will
appear when
finished
• Click OK and
procedure is
over 19
 Acronym List
(Used in this handout.)

ABC - Active Body Control

CAN - Controller Area Network
EIS - Electronic Ignition Switch

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