well, my nearest mb shop (54 mi) is not interested in repairing the valve body. they want to replace the whole thing for $1150.(!!) I suspect their repair shop is a major profit center for the dealership. they seem to know how to maximize the bill with minimal man-hours of effort! wonder if they'll give me the old one back, so i can repair it myself later and have a spare? FAT CHANCE!! the next nearest mb shop is 65 miles the opposite direction.
and their reputation is not exactly 'unblemished' either......

at any rate, i have an ohmeter and know how to use it. is it possible to look at the external electrical connector for an open solenoid coil to discover which one it is?

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dan