A Good Feeling - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 06-26-2002, 05:36 AM

Hi All
A friend who owns a 1985 380 sl had his A.B.S. light come on and took the car into his local indy shop.They checked out the problem and told him he needed a new abs pump for around $2000.00 dollars.

I did some research and put together a check list of what we should check out.
We first started by removing the front wheel sensors.They were loaded with junk and the insulation was cracked and missing in some areas.

We cleaned the sensors and installed shrink tubing over the harness and hit the tubing with the heat gun.Reinstalled the sensors and wheels and took it out for a test drive.
No more A.B.S. light coming on at about 5 mph.We drove the car for 30 odd miles and had no problems.

He is one happy camper.Total cost of the job was $2.79 for a can of cleaner and about 1.5 hours of labor.
This site and the people on it are GREAT.All of your input and past experiences have been very help full for all DIYS ers

Thanks Razorman/Bob

mikemover · #2 06-28-2002, 12:12 AM

That's awesome, man!

I'd definitely think twice before trusting that shop again! That's a pretty high-$$$ mis-diagnosis!

Mike

#3 06-28-2002, 02:47 PM

Hi Mike

He was one happy camper.
From now on both of us will be doing the repairs we are capable of.

Bob

#4 06-28-2002, 03:56 PM

$2000 for a f$#*ing ABS pump?!

That's nearly the price of doing a top-end rebuild on the 380 SL's M116 3.8 liter OHC aluminum V8 engine.

I hope the shop said $200....that sounds more realistic.

-Sam

#5 06-29-2002, 04:51 PM

Ahh top end rebuild on the 500 I paid 1,300. That ABS System is expensive but they barely ever go bad

BenzOnline · #6 07-01-2002, 10:14 PM

Sam, how is your 380 engine doing with that chain problem you had??

#7 07-01-2002, 10:49 PM

Right now it is at Benz Friendz in Seattle, waiting to be worked on. Sounds like a top-end job (heads, etc) will be the ticket. Apparently, the existing bottom end was quite good...

-Sam

BenzOnline · #8 07-01-2002, 10:57 PM

Oh.....Hopefully Sam, she keeps on tickin!! My had the same done to it a few years ago. These 380's are a pain in the A**!!

sm0t · #9 06-20-2003, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by razorman
Hi All
A friend who owns a 1985 380 sl had his A.B.S. light come on and took the car into his local indy shop.They checked out the problem and told him he needed a new abs pump for around $2000.00 dollars.

I did some research and put together a check list of what we should check out.
We first started by removing the front wheel sensors.They were loaded with junk and the insulation was cracked and missing in some areas.

We cleaned the sensors and installed shrink tubing over the harness and hit the tubing with the heat gun.Reinstalled the sensors and wheels and took it out for a test drive.
No more A.B.S. light coming on at about 5 mph.We drove the car for 30 odd miles and had no problems.

He is one happy camper.Total cost of the job was $2.79 for a can of cleaner and about 1.5 hours of labor.
This site and the people on it are GREAT.All of your input and past experiences have been very help full for all DIYS ers

Thanks Razorman/Bob

Can you provide me with your checklist and any hints or tips? I have the same problem on my '87 300D Turbo. This is my first Mercedes and I am still feeling my way through minor fixes.