Air strut replacement

2013 MERCEDES BENZ S550
86,000 MILES • 4.6L • V8 • TURBO • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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Did a front right air strut replacement. Immediately upon driving, ESP, traction control, and check engine lights illuminated along with the system inoperative see owner's manual message. With those lights on, cruise control is not working along with all other functions and settings. The drive feels worse than before the strut replacement as if all struts have failed. However, the car seems to be sitting high at an even level all the way around. Side note, during the strut replacement, I noticed that the esp sensor and strut wire harness did not have a retaining clip to take off before pulling out the connections. Also, replaces ESP sensor harness with no resolve.
May 13, 2021 at 5:24 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

The first thing I recommend checking is the wheel speed sensor. If it is damaged or disconnected, it will cause all the things you mentioned. Also, since you were working so close to it, there is a good chance something happened.

If you look below, I attached two pics showing the sensor and location. Inspect the sensor, wiring, and connector to confirm it's okay.

Let me know what you find.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below.
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May 15, 2021 at 9:45 PM
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[email protected]
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I just did check on all surrounding areas and everything appears to be in place and tightly bolted down. Even disconnected the new speed sensor and checked all connection contacts and everything is clean and undamaged. My only findings based on disconnecting an ESP sensor for this particular year and model mercedes is that there is a retaining clip that needs to be removed before pulling out the sensor. Initially, while replacing the air strut, I overlooked the retaining clip but was still able to remove both wire harnesses nevertheless. Could this be the culprit? Will both wires lack a full connection if they've been plugged in with the retaining clip that was never removed?
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May 16, 2021 at 2:49 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

Anything is possible. If you pulled hard on the wire, something under the insulation may have broken. Do me a favor. Check to see if there is still a signal from that wheel. Disconnect the sensor and spin the wheel to see if there is a current created. Here is a link you may find helpful. It explains how it's done.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/abs-wheel-speed-sensor-test

Let me know.

Joe
May 16, 2021 at 6:21 PM