W203 no fuel?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 29
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sport coupe C200K
W203 no fuel?
Hi guys!
I have a problem on my 2002 sport coup C200K M111.
My car stays in France but actually I live in San Antonio Texas.
I just came back to France for Christmas and my little coup has not ran for 11 month.
Yesturday, after charging battery it fired right up, I went for a little 5 miles run; just to wake it up: no problem.
This morning I fire it up, no problem... and after a few minutes at idle, engine stalled and wont start again.
I pulled an intake hose to throw some fuel directly on the buterfly : it started for 30 seconds => so it's a fuel issue.
I removed the access panels under the rear seat : key in position 2 the pump on the right side runs for 2 seconds and stops (seams like a normal behavior)
on the driver side I removed the return line, I expected the hose to be pressurised : no! nothing came out.
I disconected the other hose and cranked the engine with both hoses disconected, I expected to flood everything : just a few drops came out.
what do you think can be responsible?
shall I order a pump?
what's the module on the driver side? the pump is on the passenger side right?
please help !!!
I can only enjoy my car for 3 weeks this year, would be great if I could drive it!
I have a problem on my 2002 sport coup C200K M111.
My car stays in France but actually I live in San Antonio Texas.
I just came back to France for Christmas and my little coup has not ran for 11 month.
Yesturday, after charging battery it fired right up, I went for a little 5 miles run; just to wake it up: no problem.
This morning I fire it up, no problem... and after a few minutes at idle, engine stalled and wont start again.
I pulled an intake hose to throw some fuel directly on the buterfly : it started for 30 seconds => so it's a fuel issue.
I removed the access panels under the rear seat : key in position 2 the pump on the right side runs for 2 seconds and stops (seams like a normal behavior)
on the driver side I removed the return line, I expected the hose to be pressurised : no! nothing came out.
I disconected the other hose and cranked the engine with both hoses disconected, I expected to flood everything : just a few drops came out.
what do you think can be responsible?
shall I order a pump?
what's the module on the driver side? the pump is on the passenger side right?
please help !!!
I can only enjoy my car for 3 weeks this year, would be great if I could drive it!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
You gotta put a fuel pressure gauge to test it. There's a shrader valve on the front of the fuel rail, pretty visible,
screw on the gauge, and check it. Also check the fuse!!! It's in the back, #8 I think.
Pulled mine to keep my nephew from driving my car when I had it parked at my sister's.
If you do pull the fuel pump put tie wraps on the fuel connections!!!
Trust me! I speak from experience. And use one of those tie wrap tighteners to get it tight!
Get the right tie wraps that can withstand being in a gas tank.
Also you'll need this wierd tool.
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/l.../63000/4414089
Do auto parts store in France loan tools like they do here in the states?
Get a fuel filter too if you haven't done that already.
screw on the gauge, and check it. Also check the fuse!!! It's in the back, #8 I think.
Pulled mine to keep my nephew from driving my car when I had it parked at my sister's.
If you do pull the fuel pump put tie wraps on the fuel connections!!!
Trust me! I speak from experience. And use one of those tie wrap tighteners to get it tight!
Get the right tie wraps that can withstand being in a gas tank.
Also you'll need this wierd tool.
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/l.../63000/4414089
Do auto parts store in France loan tools like they do here in the states?
Get a fuel filter too if you haven't done that already.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Dec 18, 2017 at 04:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
sport coupe C200K
Well, I really have no need to measure the fuel rail pressure when there is nothing coming out of the pump... I know the answer is zero.
So, to continue my investigation I pulled the sender out... Did not look specialy wrong, I just checked that wires and hoses were connected.Then I pulled the pump and float out... Same thing.And that's when I had the worse surprise of the day: looking inside the tank to re-install the assembly... TANK WAS DRY!!!!it took me 6 hours to diagnose an empty tank!!! I am the worse ever!:-oI added 2 liters of fuel in the tank, turned the key and 20 seconds later the car was idling just fine.So, now the problem is identified: my fuel gauge is toasted.Dry empty it shows a little less than half and full it shows perfectly between 1/2 and 3/4.How can I fix it?This evening I drove my car more than 100km (60miles)... Except the faulty gauge, a blown fog light and no more light detection (auto mode for lights doesn't work)... Drives good!These 3 problems are new, they were not there last time the car was parked... That was january 2nd last year! :-p
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
I have to say, I'm getting a bit of a chuckle. DOH!!!
Check the battery, it can cause lots of weird problems.
Swapping the instrument cluster gets complicated and expensive.
Check the battery, it can cause lots of weird problems.
Swapping the instrument cluster gets complicated and expensive.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Dec 19, 2017 at 05:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
sport coupe C200K
My car has been sitting for a year... Battery was completely empty.
exact same situation happened last year and the year before: I live in Texas all year and use this car only 3 weeks per year in december! But last 2 Christmas vacation the car fired right up after charging battery for 2 hours and everything was good (just calibration of ESP and windows).
this year my car has decided to play tricks!
exact same situation happened last year and the year before: I live in Texas all year and use this car only 3 weeks per year in december! But last 2 Christmas vacation the car fired right up after charging battery for 2 hours and everything was good (just calibration of ESP and windows).
this year my car has decided to play tricks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
A battery that sits forever...well, even if it's holding a charge, the question is how many CCA has it got?
When they get low, these W203's start acting very wierd! Have it checked!
A bad battery will act as a sink to the alternator....
like a giant resistor.
I'd say, when are you gone for long periods, pull the battery, and put it on a block of wood,
possibly on a trickle charger with a timer, but perhaps not if no one is around.
Perhaps the float is stuck in the fuel tank?
When they get low, these W203's start acting very wierd! Have it checked!
A bad battery will act as a sink to the alternator....
like a giant resistor.
I'd say, when are you gone for long periods, pull the battery, and put it on a block of wood,
possibly on a trickle charger with a timer, but perhaps not if no one is around.
Perhaps the float is stuck in the fuel tank?
