chipps

I recall a thread on this somewhere, but I cannot find it.

The problem is I cannot add gas to the fuel tank. The dealer says a charcoal filter in the filler system needs to be replaced. The cost stated is $954. The service adviser says the emissions warranty does not cover it, nor does the extended warranty I have.

Does anyone have any experience with this problem?

konigstiger

Charcoal filter part #2214700259 (for comparison shopping, parts.com $64.40) located in right rear wheelhouse - check with independents in your area.

chipps

Thanks. I have been unable to unearth anything on this so far.

How hard is it to change? Where would I find a diagram showing it in context? Is this something I could do myself?

It would seem to me that this would be covered by an extended warranty, but the company says no.

konigstiger

You may want to get a second opinion (i.e.: another dealer or independent) in case malfunction can "somehow" be associated with emissions warranty.

chipps

In case anyone else runs into this problem here is the repair the local DFW dealer performed.

Parts
221-470-06-59 Activated Charcoal Filter
211-440-01-34 Cable Harness

Labor
3.5 hours

The notes from the mechanic state that the shut off value would intermittently stick closed causing the fuel to not fill properly. The charcoal canister was replaced with an updated canister and shut off value.

The total repair cost, which I did not pay all of so I do not know what the actual cost would be, is about $950.

The car is a 2007 S550 with 66,000 miles on it. I have an extended warranty which does not cover this as it excludes the emissions system.

konigstiger

FYI (clarification) part # 2214700659 (303.60) + 2114400134 (9.49) is correct # in my post was a typo.

junjua

Thanks for the info. When I took it to the dealer while the car was in warranty, they said they were aware of the problem but couldn't do anything.

brownbomber

Just got my $900 bill from the dealership yesterday for the gas tank problem. They did everything in their power for it to be a non-warranty issue and neither an extended warranty issue.

After I told them that I wanted to get a second opinion, they charged me 288 for diagnostic efforts........

my car is 4 years old with 41K on the dash. How jacked up is that.....

cool_lagoon

what's the point in changing the harness? unless it is cut.

Super Salami

I had the same issue, couldn't pump gas. One stop at the dealership and they covered it under my extended 3rd party warranty no problem.

cool_lagoon

super salami, what year is your car that suffered the same fate and when did you have the charcoal filter change? was it covered by a recall bulletin or was it under warranty program?

Super Salami

Sorry for the late response...............

My car is a 2008.
Had about 49k miles.
Was actually still under the original MB warranty, was not a recall bulletin.

I was originally pretty freaked out because I live in CA and I had my car shipped out from LA and when I first got it and was trying to put gas in, it didn't work. I was thinking maybe gas pumps in LA and CA were different but when I brought it to the dealer to say I couldn't put gas in, they figured out it was the charcoal filter. When I went to pick the car up, they had it filled up with gas from the station up the street, and didn't even charge me for it, just to show that gas could be put in the car again.

All in all, cost me nothing and I had a fun C-Class loaner for the day to play with...

cool_lagoon

Your car is a 2008 and still it is under warranty? what year did you have the charcoal filter replace under warranty?

Super Salami

I had it replaced in 2011

JonMBZ

Updated / bugfixed parts sometimes come with different connections/sizes and needed to be retrofitted or possible they used one from a different vehicle that has different connections.

cool_lagoon

[quote=konigstiger;3896491]Charcoal filter part #2214700259 (for comparison shopping, parts.com $64.40) located in right rear wheelhouse - check with independents in your area.[/

Can you post the right site on where to get this part cheaper than the original part?

konigstiger

Not certain I understand the question as previously stated 2214700259 is a typo (non USA market) correct # is 0659 http://www.parts.com/parts/index.cfm...earch&siteid=2

just1time

better to wake this post up as opposed to start a new one. I have read numerous posts online and seen a few videos on cleaning the charcoal canister with compressed/pressurized air at 294kpa. Others online use carb cleaner to supposedly dissolve the carbon dirt/grime which causes the canister to get clogged. It makes sense to me theoretically. And despite tons of folks doing it on other cars, am yet to see anyone on here suggest or attempt it. Wondering if anyone has tried this at all?
Don't see a reason to shed almost $400 on this part if it can be cleaned.

cool_lagoon

so far on several 221 S550, i have tried to clean them with even stronger solvent and still it won't work, unless you can dismantle the plastic casing and replace the charcoal granules at the same time cleaning or replacing the shut off valve then MAYBE it might work. I have not attempted to cut open the canister and normally its the shut off valve that becomes an issue. Question now is where to buy the shut off valve without the canister,then maybe cost for replacement and repair might be cheaper.

Grizz1

I'm surprised how common of an issue this seems to be on the earlier model W221s.. Mine will give me problems with certain gas pumps (possibly having to do with how fast the gas comes out, or the amount of air in the mixture) but some pumps give me no problem.

Nuru

Is this an issue only on the GAS models?

platt-deutsch

I just had mine replaced at a MB dealer. Just under $1000.00.. I am now PO'd if that part is only $65.00. I was thinking maybe to just gut the thing and put it back in. I told the dealer I wanted the old part but guess what.. They accidently threw it in the dumpster and the dumpster was just emptied that morning...
I have 140,000 miles on car and this is the 2nd time I have had to replace it.

mb1000

OK, my turn to deal with charcoal canister issue. Getting in to the point that I can’t fill gas and the nozzle popped up in every few seconds.

The canister and valve are low tech stuff and how complicated it can be? Decided to check it out.

Took it off (procedures can be found in the forum) and separated shutoff valve from charcoal canister. There are a lot dust between charcoal canister and valve. Opened up the valve, very simple stuff with an electric solenoid and a spring. There is a lot of dusts/debris in the valve too. Cleaned them all up. Using air to blow charcoal canister and felt low resistance, which is good. Shacking the canister and heard charcoal move sound so charcoal is not tarred up.

Next step (you may skip this step as I still think dusts/debris was the cause), put the charcoal canister in oven, set to 280F for 1 hr. ***Be careful to make sure no gasoline is trapped in the container or the thing can catch on fire. *** Increased temperature gradually to 280F. A lot of water steam came out at first 20min, some gas smell, not too bad. Don’t think this way to re-activated charcoal but just to dry it up. To make activated charcoal one needs 1700F in a closed container.
Then put back and all look good.

Went to the same gas station twice and no issue so far.

Also, notice that I am getting 26mpg on the same road trip again. Was 26mpg sometime ago but recently only got 22-23 mpg on the same road trip. So guessing this is part of EMISSION control system and can impact mpg in some way.

Thought to share if you like to play tools. This is a small project and took 2 hours.

correction: 280F

Jason B

Good info once again... Did you happen to take any pics?

mb1000

No, I did not take any pic as I was not too sure if I can fix the issue. parts.com has pic and gave you a view for what's look like.

https://www.parts.com/index.cfm?fuse...iagram=5783450