DougInLakeview

Hi all,

Last week I parked my 2005 E 55 (65,000 miles) in a parking garage here in Chicago. The vehicle was parked, nose in, on a sloped 5th level of the garage. Fuel tank was ½ full. At the end of the day I got in the car to go home and the car would not start. Inserted key fob, turned to start position, starter engaged normally, but no ignition whatsoever. The next day I purchased a new CPS (crank position sensor) and installed it. That was fun! Attempted to start car – no change. (Thanks to all on this forum who previously posted “how-to” for thisrepair.)

Called MB Roadside Service and the towing company artfully removed the car from the garage without using a tow truck. The guys essentially rolled down the ramps – quite quickly with manual steering and manual brakes – until they got to the ground floor and were able to winch the car onto a flat bed tow truck. I was impressed.

Yesterday, the techs at the Mercedes Benz dealer checked out the problems and reported the following repairs are needed:

- Replace main fuel pump
- Replace fuel pump relay
- Replace wiring connections since it was “fried” (I am not sure if it was the wiring at the relay or at pump.)
- Parts & Labor: ~$1850 + tax

I have only owned the car for 2.5 months. I had noted slight smell of fuel in the auto a couple of times but had not taken it in for the NHTSA bulletin. Not sure if the smell of fuel corresponded to times when I had topped off the fuel tank or on other occasions when the car was parked on a slope.

Question: Since the vehicle was parked on a slope might there be any chance that fuel could have wetted the wiring and provided a short whereby the wiring could have overheated? I have asked my service advisor to see if this is covered by NHTSA Action Number EA13003. No response so far.

Doug in Lakeview | 1989 560SL | 2005 AMG E55

211.070

Pump failure is not covered. Your pump was pulling too much amperage, and cooked the harness. Only leakage is covered.

cetialpha5

It gets a little tricky now. It would be covered if you smelled fuel and that usually happens when people have a full tank of gas. So if they say it's just a fuel pump failure and no leakage, then no coverage. If it's a fuel leakage, then they'd probably have to replace those parts anyway in order to fix it. Just boils down to how good of an SA you have and whether you can make a strong enough case that you smell fuel when filling up and that it should be covered.

zarevron

In hind sight - which is always perfect I would have had the flatbed stop at the gas station to fill up your tank before delivery....


In any case - yeah odd situation hard to tell how that will play out - JUST make 100% sure you have the new Part numbers going in....

GregMB

Doug,

The best thing you can do is INSIST that the words "FUEL SMELL" are noted on the repair order....

That is the keyword that Mercedes-Benz seems to be looking for when they approve (or deny) reimbursement for the fuel sender repairs.

REMEMBER: Replacement of fuel sender / filter is part of the normal 60,000 mile maintenance on the E55. They do NOT want to reimburse every single E55 owner who did "routine maintenance" on their car.... they are specifically looking for a fuel leak or fuel smell complaint that is tied to that repair.

If the R/O doesn't say FUEL SMELL or FUEL LEAK, you can be certain that MB-USA will refuse to pay.

Hulk

Greg is right, also if you can take a pic of the fuel pump to show there's a leak. I have heard of some dealers saying that it wasn't leaking and it was.

DougInLakeview

Hi all,

Update:

Good news! I was informed today that my local dealer has received authorization from MBUSA to replace ALL components as covered by the warranty extension (preassembled fuel tank assembly consisting of fuel tank, fuel pump and fuel filter/sender). Luckily for me there were prior records of fuel odors having been reported to the local dealer. Thus, I met the conditions required. Parts are backordered so I may still have to wait a bit longer before I get the car back.

Doug in Lakeview | 1989 560SL | 2005AMG E55

JDMAP1

I'm in the DFW area. Just got a call from my SA at Park Place Grapevine that my E55 is done with ALL new parts. Luckily they had an extra tank/pump/sending unit available dude to the customer before me couldn't make it in for another couple of weeks. Needless to say it was zero hesitation on MBs part. Although the sister facility (PP Fort Worth) had no clue what I was taking about, well at least that particular SA didn't. Get it done ASAP cuz the constant gas fumes will give you a headache quick.

AldinE55

DOUG WHAT DEALER DID YOU TAKE YOURS IN TO? IM IN CHICAGO AS WELL AND I GET THE FUEL SMELL ONCE I FILL UP FULL TANK.

DougInLakeview

AlisnE55,

Dealer was Mercedes-Benz of Chicago on North Avenue, Chicago.

It is very important that it is clearly recorded that fuel/gasoline smell be written up on the repair order. Luckily this had been recorded for my vehicle on prior maintenance visits. If not, the repairs would likely have not been covered.

I had been in the habit of never filling above 3/4 full due to the smell. To get the vehicle to smell of fuel it may be best to fill the tank to the max prior to taking your vehicle in. That way the service advisor/techs will be able to validate the fuel smell.

Service advisor & Mercedes-BenzCustomer Care treated me very well. Once they were able to validate the fuel smell the repairs were covered.

Doug in Lakeview | 1989 560SL | 2005 AMG E55