Wettig10

Not sure of material for spring, but it shouldn't matter really . The gas should preserve it and since there is very little air in the tank, not too worried. Anyways, I used about an 1 1/2-2 inch kind of heavy duty spring ie. one that does not easily stretch without quite a bit of force. I used a coat hanger and bent it to fit. It was a struggle to get the correct length and hook the baffle and then hook the sending unit. But eventually I got it. Just make sure you take every precaution as to not drop anything in the tank. I used some wire that once everything was hooked, I just cut the wire and replaced the sending unit in the tank. It gives it nice tension and works just fine. Again, make sure you hook way up on the sending unit, otherwise it messes it up and won't register in your car. Learned that twice. Otherwise, that was it. If you need anything else email me. Good, easy, cheap fix for a really stupid problem that I'm shocked our German friends let go. Very disappointed. Good luck!!

GET TUBED

Wettig 10

Are you saying that the spring is 1 1/2 - 2 " in length or diameter ?

Most of the springs I've seen are the diameter of , say , your thumb vs. your little pinky ?

Knowing the correct diameter of the spring that the fix requires should be of paramount importance as to the stress it applies on the sending unit .

Many thanks

Wettig10

Sorry, yes bout size of your pinky finger. And btw, springs come in all lengths and diameters. Honestly doesn't matter as long as it's pretty stiff ie. not too expandable and about 2 inches or less. He'll, if you wanted to you could buy a 6 or 8 inch spring and attach the whole thing like that without a coat hanger. Whatever works for you and whatever feels comfortable. You really need to get into the tank to see what it looks like and engineer something. If you don't have that kind of skill, call or just have the tank replaced. Up to you. Always willing to help. Hope that helps. Peace

NikleinR6

Is there any way to get a pair of very long needle nose pliers through the sending unit hole and just pull the baffle out.. I'm sure it would take some force, but could it be done?

Wettig10

No, baffle too big.

NikleinR6

There is a thread on Benzworld.org about this where a guy posted pics of the baffle and it looks like a long, but not very wide piece of metal.. Also looks to be thin gauge metal.. Wish I had a better idea of what it actually is.. I have the CSC that will pay 100% for this repair.. I just don't think I want the local dealer to dissassemble my car that much.. How difficult is it to access the fuel sender hole in the trunk? Is it on the left or right side of the trunk?

Wettig10

From what I physically saw, the baffle is the width of the tank, so about 20-25 inches in length and nearly 3/4 the height of it, so about 10-12 inches high. If you know a way to cut metal through a 2 inch hole without making sparks in a gas tank and blowing yourself up...go for it. good luck

NikleinR6

Wow.. Didnt know it was so big.. and that the sender hole is so small..
Thanks for the great info..
Is the sender hole on the left or right side of the trunk? Is the baffle metal such that a.magnet could be used to attract it?

damian155

pm sent

super_monkey

why? did you figure out how to cut it into pieces?

I never understood the 'pm sent' comment. If you sent the pm, why would you want everyone to know? Isn't that against the whole idea behind a pm?

NikleinR6

And why not share with everyone.. Put our ideas together and determine the best way to get rid of this scrap piece of metal...

NikleinR6

There is a huge thread over at Benzworld.org about this..

Here are a few of the pics that a user posted after removing his gas tank, and cutting it open. He claimed the small piece of metal is the cause..









This is why i asked if it could be removed through the sender hole, with force if needed...

lippu70

Hi NikleinR6, no I am afraid you cannot pull it through the whole of the sender unit as that piece of steel is running across the bottom of the petrol tank and it gets a lot wider as it goes back in the tank itself and it is welded at the end, it comes seperated from the tank were it is at the narrow part as the spot weld is weak there.The only answer is either as they are saying you pull it up with something to hold it from nocking to the bottom or change the tank or weld it back properly.

cal1

I can attest that CSC will cover it and it is just about the price of the warranty if I remember correctly.

Wettig10

Yes, baffle is too big to fit through sender unit hole.

iammalibuboy

The pictures above do not show the problem most of us are having.

These may be more helpful....

GET TUBED

What store in So. Cal can I fine this spring or where else was your source for it ?

super_monkey

Ace Hardware

Wettig10

No offense to those of you who are having this problem, but it is ridiculously easy to get to the sending unit in the trunk. So open it up and see for yourself what the fix is. Otherwise, come down to my place and I'll fix it for you. It doesn't take an engineering degree to fix it...really. Anyways, you have two choices, do it yourselves, or take it to the dealer and go with their fix. Mine costs you $5 and some time. The dealer's will cost you at least $3000. Your choice. Good luck.

S

iammalibuboy

Total spring should be 7" long and U shaped hooks on each end. It should relatively easily extend to 9". Open the sender unit, buy a selection of springs, and use the one that works best. It's really not that big a deal if you stop researching it and just open the sender hole and have a look. I researched and repaired it the same day. My original postings and answers to all your questions re SuperMonkey's repair can be found here....

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230...ll-gas-20.html

lippu70

iammalibuboy the pictures I have put for all to see are those that belong to the petrol tank I have in my SL55 AMG and that what is there in the petrol tank, your petrol tank is different to mine they must use different petrol tanks in SL55 AMG, I HAVE PUT THEM PHOTOS FOR ALL TO SEE SO EVERY BODY CAN HAVE AN IDEA.

iammalibuboy

My car is also an AMG SL55 and I think our gas tanks are probably the same.

I never cut open my tank but I'd guess that the little tab Lippu70 points to is where the spot weld holding the baffle plate in place actually broke. It appears that the very bottom corner of the actual baffle plate can be seen behind Lippu70's thumb.

For those trying to understand...MB got complaints about drivers hearing the fuel sloshing around. As a fix they designed the baffle plate. The baffle plate is a wall running the length of the tank to prevent fuel slosh.

Over time, some of the weld tabs break. The remaining tabs act like hinges. As the fuel sloshes, the hinged baffle plate then rocks back and forth with the gas, causing a cymbol like tapping with each slosh.

SuperMonkey's spring solution (as shown in my sketches above) worked for me.

Good Luck!!

lippu70

Hi in my case that piece of steel which was causing the noise and I had it braised back instead spot welded loke that it will never come off, I hope. This is a marvellous car but I never had a car loke this that needs so much attention specially electronics and a whole variations of pumps, this is a money gusler.

sound 8

It's really annoying when a problem on a car crops up time and time, it's
obviously a flaw in the design, and yet manufacturers always try to wriggle out of repairing FOC. unless it's under warranty, trouble is the fault
always happens when warranty has run out.

gregbenz

CAN YOU GIVE ME YOUR CONTACT INFO?
I HAVE AN '03 SL55 I JUST PICKUP UP AND HAVING SOME ISSUES A WEEK AFTER OWNERSHIP. I'M IN MD

THANKS,

GREG SOMMERS
410 868-7980