5 Min DIY check for fuel leak. These will all fail at some point.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
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From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
5 Min DIY check for fuel leak. These will all fail at some point.
As our cars get older these plastic caps holding the fuel pump in place are stressing and cracking, causing a small leak that doesn’t smell inside the car until it is VERY bad.
MB is trying to get out of fixing this problem by letting us pay for a whole new pump and install. As far as I can tell it is the exact same part (new old stock), so depending on how long it’s been sitting on the shelf, it fails again.
Put your finger in the hole to release the catch, lift outside corner of the seat cushion, then just pull it up (hard) The other side (inside front edge) is spring loaded but tight. It won’t break. Then fold the sound proofing mat back and unscrew the cover. 8mm socket or 5/16 if you don’t have metric. Use a screw driver or strong fingers to pop the cover loose. If it looks like it’s been wet in there (slightly oily) and smells like gas, it is starting to leak. Mine has been cleaned already to investigate further, and will look slightly different from an E class, but it is the same problem. The passenger side gets stress cracks from holding the pump in place.
There are other problems to be found, but they are not inevitable. The drivers side can have bad clamps, and occasionally the tank itself is cracked. I don’t claim to know everything about this, so if someone more knowledgeable has something to add please do.
MB is trying to get out of fixing this problem by letting us pay for a whole new pump and install. As far as I can tell it is the exact same part (new old stock), so depending on how long it’s been sitting on the shelf, it fails again.
Put your finger in the hole to release the catch, lift outside corner of the seat cushion, then just pull it up (hard) The other side (inside front edge) is spring loaded but tight. It won’t break. Then fold the sound proofing mat back and unscrew the cover. 8mm socket or 5/16 if you don’t have metric. Use a screw driver or strong fingers to pop the cover loose. If it looks like it’s been wet in there (slightly oily) and smells like gas, it is starting to leak. Mine has been cleaned already to investigate further, and will look slightly different from an E class, but it is the same problem. The passenger side gets stress cracks from holding the pump in place.
There are other problems to be found, but they are not inevitable. The drivers side can have bad clamps, and occasionally the tank itself is cracked. I don’t claim to know everything about this, so if someone more knowledgeable has something to add please do.
Last edited by StarvingArtist; Apr 21, 2013 at 12:59 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
I believe this is not a warranty issue, it’s a safety issue. Fuel tanks shouldn’t leak period, especially where there are electrical wires involved. If you find yours is leaking, please report it to the NHTSA.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
Do to the urgent nature of the problem people are paying high prices to have the dealer replace these parts immediately. I think we should get MB to own up to this problem with a more permanent solution -stronger parts- before someone gets hurt.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
Do to the urgent nature of the problem people are paying high prices to have the dealer replace these parts immediately. I think we should get MB to own up to this problem with a more permanent solution -stronger parts- before someone gets hurt.
Last edited by StarvingArtist; Apr 21, 2013 at 01:02 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 9
From: Atlanta
2002 G500, 2007 CLS 550, 2018 GLC 300
You guys may have already heard about the class action lawsuit over the W211 fuel tank issue, Jalopnik featured it last summer:
http://jalopnik.com/5928347/5-millio...from-customers
The class action website is here:
http://www.mercedesfueltankclassaction.com/
http://jalopnik.com/5928347/5-millio...from-customers
The class action website is here:
http://www.mercedesfueltankclassaction.com/
Last edited by foreyes; Apr 25, 2013 at 04:05 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 3
2007 E550 4matic
For those with folding rear seats, the process is even easier. All that is necessary is lifting the seat bottoms, peeling back the insulation, and removing the bolts that secure the access panel.
My failed part was very easy to identify visually, due to obvious discoloration from contact with fuel.
My failed part was very easy to identify visually, due to obvious discoloration from contact with fuel.
Last edited by Kwijibo; Apr 26, 2013 at 12:40 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 109
From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Yeah, I saw the class action lawsuit. I was just bent over getting blown off by MB and wanted to get more people to check their cars. These things can leak for a long time before you notice.
Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 133
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From: Sacramento Valley
04 E500 Pewtergrey/ 06 E55 AMG White
I know the investigation is going on, I have a 2204 mercedes e500 . had it for 4 months now and this problem happened all the time, i went to the dealership and they said it would cost me, not them, i ask for the manager and they blew me off. I said okay, I went to my indy to write up a letter about the seriousness this can cause and got my attorney involved, which cost me nothing. My attorney and i suited up went to the dealership with the class action lawsuit papers and indy's letter along with other paperwork. We met with the GM and my attorney had already spoken with the dealerships attorney. My was done completely free 2 weeks ago and (3) free oil changes and tire rotation.
what is interesting is that my attorney and theirs agree that the parts that were installed are not redesigned and that this will occur again, and we will be able to do this agin with the outcome of the class action. Get your attorney involved if you can.
what is interesting is that my attorney and theirs agree that the parts that were installed are not redesigned and that this will occur again, and we will be able to do this agin with the outcome of the class action. Get your attorney involved if you can.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
I know the investigation is going on, I have a 2204 mercedes e500 . had it for 4 months now and this problem happened all the time, i went to the dealership and they said it would cost me, not them, i ask for the manager and they blew me off. I said okay, I went to my indy to write up a letter about the seriousness this can cause and got my attorney involved, which cost me nothing. My attorney and i suited up went to the dealership with the class action lawsuit papers and indy's letter along with other paperwork. We met with the GM and my attorney had already spoken with the dealerships attorney. My was done completely free 2 weeks ago and (3) free oil changes and tire rotation.
what is interesting is that my attorney and theirs agree that the parts that were installed are not redesigned and that this will occur again, and we will be able to do this agin with the outcome of the class action. Get your attorney involved if you can.
what is interesting is that my attorney and theirs agree that the parts that were installed are not redesigned and that this will occur again, and we will be able to do this agin with the outcome of the class action. Get your attorney involved if you can.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Canada
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
http://video.ca.msn.com/?mkt=en-ca&v...sharepermalink:
Mb should take note of failure to fix a known problem.
Mb should take note of failure to fix a known problem.
