Hello,

I am looking for some advice on troubleshooting the self leveling suspension on a 1982 300TD. I know that there is a lot of info on the forum about this topic but some of it is conflicting and I would like it from the horses mouth if possible.

I recently changed the fluid and filter. The pump is working. I manually moved the control arm with the turnbuckle type bushing up and down and it seemed to control the level but it will not hold for too long before it rests in the down position (just about a week or two between driving).

Any suggestions out there?

Thanks,

Jared

As a PS to this post, I have found since I took the car out of the garage (winter storage because we have other cars and figure to keep this one rust free) that the SLS is working fine. There seems to be a small leak (drips and hydraulic fluid on the line that leaves the bottom of the res) but other than that it's working well. I'm glad it's working now. Any ideas?

"I would like it from the horses mouth if possible"

What is the name of the horse you want to hear from ?

If you trust one horse more than another... just don't read the other posts in that thread...

Or ask more specific questions...

Or list the conflicting statements and we will thrash it out....

Does it bounce when you drive it? The accumulators are the cheapest and easiest parts to replace. To check them you can remove and put a pencil (eraser side into hole) and see if the membrane is still there. If there is a difference between the left and right, you should probably change them both. The shocks are very expensive. Any signs of leaks? You should change the fluid about once a year or so.

Hope this is of some help.

__________________
Mike Holbrook
1983 MB 300TD-T (aka -- Daisy)
Spring Valley, CA

My 83 was acting something like what you discribed. I disconected one end of the linkage and with the engine running moved the lever up and down through it's full travel. (Make sure the back of the car is up on ramps so you don't get sqshed). I don't know if that cleaned out the valve or what but it's been working fine for over a year now. You may need to rebuild the valve. I'm sure that if your car isn't staying at a consistant height, that valve is what you need to focus on. Oilloged accumulators will give the car a rough bouncy ride but won't affect the height. Also, my car will settle if it sets for a day or two, but I think I damaged the seals in the valve when I added regular hydrulic fluid to the system. After I found out better, I purged out all of that and replaced with the correct stuff ordered from this websight.

Ideas.
1.Check the hydraulic pump output it could be getting weak.
2. Check your control valve to sway bar linkage. It could be loose.
3. Accumulators usually if going bad affect the shock absorbing ability and the smoothness of your ride, not your height.
4. Flush the system. Especially the control valve, You may have trash in the control valve and its blocking the valve at times an does not at other times.
5. As mentioned, any leaks? lines? actuators (shocks)? pump?

Mr Ed ( this will tell how old you are) will go out on a limb here and figure its your control valve. Its acting up and either needs a rebuild or a complete flush. If it does have contaminents in the valve then the hole system is contaminated and the entire system needs to be flushed.

Dave, opps ----- Mr. Ed

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Wiiiiillllbbbbbuuuurrrrr!

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.