Shah

Has anyone experienced difficulties pumping gas?

When I get gas, it will usually pump for a few seconds and then turn off (like it does when you reach a full tank).

I have to finesse it just right by slowly pulling on the pump lever and then locking it into place. Otherwise the pump will shut off. Sometimes if I pull the nozzle out just a bit (instead of shoving it in all the way) it works.

This happens to me at very gas station I go to, so this tells me the problem is with my CLK not the pump.

Is this something that my dealer can fix or is it just badly designed?

Mach430

It's the design of the gas tank inlet. I assume it is just a poor angle, but I have the same problem. Some gas stations are worse than others, but it happens quite often to me.

LowRydeR

This happens to me all the time, I'm not happy w/ it Is there anyway you can fix this problem?

funky102

its getting to the point where filling my gas stank is becoming an art form someone here must have a good technique in doing this......

byip25

wow, and i thought it was just me. i thought i was a dumb@ss that couldnt pump gas right. the way i usually get it to go almost 80% of the time is try inserting the pump at an angle, meaning not at 12'o clock to 6. i usually try to get it at between 1 and 7 and 2 and 8. it works for me and let me know if it works out for the rest of you guys.


B

Shah

Thanks guys. Now I know the problem ain't my car nor my aptitude.

Anyone know if this is a problem isolated to CLKs or if it is chronic throughout the MB line of cars?

Is there a model year in which this problem started? Are there other models that don't have this problem that the dealer can replace our gas tank inlet with?

Wildbill

I have the same problem pumping gas with my CLK.

This problem occurs in the old C-class and the current CLK which is based on the old C-class.

I have noticed that this problem occurs only at certain gas stations which uses a rubber cushion around the nozzle.

If I go to gas stations which has only the long nozzle without that black rubber cushion around it, I can pump without problem.

Has anyone noticed that same thing?

sorlo

I have the same problem too. My friend who has an old C has the same problem as well. It's bad during the winter because I have to stand out until the tank if filled

Newbie

It has to do with the vapor catch sleeve and the angle of the tank, I think. Happens to me about every other fill, and it's really annoying. Usually if you hold the gas pump (which I hate doing, I wind up looking like those idiots who think it's cool) about 9/10s the way in, it works fine.

Mark D.

they way i do it is, just not to insert the pump all the way in...do it like 90% in

seems to work for me

Mark D.

karl k

Wildbill:I have same experience as stated. I get my gas at COSTCO w/ rubber cushion nozzles.

If I insert the nozzle as Newbie says: 9/10 only,it works. This defeats the rubber cushion seal, and I get a full tank.

Had an identical problem w/2001 SL500.

Tanking up an MB has become an Artform!

Newbie

Actually, I was talking about the "lever" or whatever you want to call it- if you put it on the auto lock, it stops constantly. If you hold/squeeze it the whole time, but not at full pressure (90% maybe), then you'll usually do better. Inserting the nozzle is also an artform, and I get it right about half time time.

Shah

So I got my car serviced last week and I mentioned that I was having problems pumping gas. The MB Tech said he has seen this happen a lot on CLKs. He told me that there is a part of the gas tank inlet that is welded together just inside the opening. On many of the CLKs for some reason this piece is welded together in a very sloppy manner. So when the gas is pumped in, some of it bounces off the weld and sprays back onto the pump nozzle, thus activating the shut-off mechanism.

The MB Tech sanded down the weld and made it smooth.

This didn't completely solve my problem, but I would say that instead of having trouble pumping gas at all gas stations, I only have trouble once in a while.

pigman

I have problems at most Union 76 stations in So Cal. Chevron pumps are usually OK.

JohnAMG

This also happen to my wife's 98CLK320. It happens quite frequently during the summer but rarely during the winter. My dealer didn't have a fix for it also. This occurs at any gas stations, like Mobile, Sunoco, Citgo, etc. To over come this annoyance, I have to angled the pump a certain way in order to get a full tank. Fortunately it is not occuring 100% of the time.

John

quaz

I have the same problem.....but I knew what it was right off....because I had the same problem with my BMW 525i.

It happens nearly every time, at every gas station.

However...with practice....you can use the locking pump switch.

Inserting the nozzle part-way and at a bit less angle usually gets it.

I don't imagine that Mercedes will fix this......apparently....there are several other makes and models with this problem.

byip25

pigman... i never realized it, but i only go to union 76, "the official gas of NASCAR!" so, maybe thats why i get that problem alot. it probably happens to be 25% of the time now.

B

Mrstacy

We had our fuel tank replaced under warranty in July of last year.

My wife drives the car, but she said it started off being hard to fill. The next step was that it would only fill half way no matter how hard you tried to fill it.

The mechanic tried to blame it on her by saying that she made the mistake of topping off the fuel. She hadn't. He pointed out the warning near the fuel filler against doing that.

Obviously, it was a big deal to change the tank. It required removing the rear axle. We had a loaner for 5 days.

I also remember that they had to get a part (sensor?) from the head office that was set to the exact milage we had at the time the tank was replaced.

This was the only big problem we've had with this otherwise great car.

I hate to think of how much it would have cost us to replace the tank if the warranty had run out.

knightv

if i do it by myself i twist it upside down and that works like a charm. otherwise i just get luck. it sucks

sungulent

i have the same problem its the tank but oh well i love my clk

sungulent

just yell at the men at the gas station blame it on them

lol

ussually chevron nossle dont give u any problems