Another Accumulator question.
 

1989 300te.
How do I check out the rest of the system, just to be sure it's the accumulators that are bad? A while back, the car was bouncing all over the place. The lever by the sway bar was broken. I replaced that. If you turned the lever, the car would raise or lower (Had to be careful, I was under it and didn't expect that!). The level of fluid in the resovoir stays at the same level...I put a line on the bottle. It is brownish. I don't know where the filter is. I, again, don't want to throw my $$$ away on accumulators, to discover it's something else.
Are there any on-line step-by-steps?
Oh, so many neurotic questions. Thanks.

Is the ride still bouncy?
 

If not, the lever was the problem. If it still bounces, or if the ride is hard, it is your accumulators.

Other problems (leaky shocks, bad pump) will have the wagon saggin and little response. The fluid will discolor over time, wouldn't hurt to replace it ($$$).

I'd like to piggy back on this thread.

My accums are shot. Car bounces around like a ping pong ball and beats the crap out of me.

I replaced them about 6 years ago and when I busted the nut loose fluid sprayed all over the place will the pressure died.

Is there away to release the pressure with out making mess? I have been looking around and have not found an answer.

Thanks

There is a bleeder valve on the prop. valve.. You can hook up a line to this valve, crack it open and that will let the pressure/fluid out.

Jonathan

You mean the thing by the sway bar?

the proportioning valve, yes..it connects to the sway bar..has 4 hydraulic lines feeding into it...the item you move the lever up and down on to get the rear to raise/lower ;-)

Jonathan