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  #16  
Old 12-26-2006, 10:58 AM
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Right after I got my car, my boyfriend was driving it and he was supposed to fill the tank before he picked me up. Well, he didn't, and as we were driving on the highway it dropped below 1/4 tank, I was telling him that it was making me nervous and we should stop for diesel. He was like, "No way, we've got at least five gallons left. And the reserve light hasn't even come on." Well, needless to say, as we got off the exit ramp and attempted to drive up a slight hill, the thing died and refused to restart. Finally, we had to get towed to a gas station because AAA refused to deliver diesel.

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  #17  
Old 12-26-2006, 12:27 PM
Rebe
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I removed the unit out of the tank. I never saw any guide wires or sensor??? Suppose it's lost in the tank somewhere?
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  #18  
Old 12-26-2006, 12:35 PM
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Remove the unit. At the bottom of the long tube is a small nut. Remove the nut and slide the tube off the assembly. Inside the tube you will see 2 guide wires and the center float. Clean the entire area with brake cleaner. Concentrate on the floats bottom contacts and the contacts at the bottom of the assembly. This is what turns the reserve light on. BE VERY GENTLE WITH THE FINE WIRES. If they break you'll have to buy a new unit.
After cleaning you can test the unit with an ohm meter. Reassemble and then install the unit. Test the unit by tipping the unit so the slide goes up and down through its full range. The reserve light should come on when the unit is upside down and the float is at the bottom. If not then we'll have to look at other things.
Drive the car with a gallon of fuel in a spare tank and allow the tank to get low. See if the light comes on. When the light comes on you should have about 2-2.5 gallons in the tank. You can figure this by filling the tank just as the light comes on.

This is what the unit looks like brand new.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1Z60R0Y0G1Z60R5DT1&year=1986&make=MB&model=190-E-002&category=E&part=Fuel+Level+Sending+Unit

Dave
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Last edited by dmorrison; 12-26-2006 at 12:42 PM.
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  #19  
Old 12-26-2006, 12:39 PM
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careful

Those thin wires going from top to bottom inside the sender are the resistance wires. First, I don't think anybody mentioned that the sender must be taken apart-carefully. I remember a small nut on one end to remove the outer alum. tube. The low fuel light lights when the float reaches its bottom travel & makes contact with a brass contact. Clean all the crud with something strong, but friendly to plastic & you should be good to go. Make sure the float is sliding on the wires correctly before you reinstall. Paul.
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  #20  
Old 12-26-2006, 01:12 PM
Rebe
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Should the light come on before all of the last mark is visible??
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  #21  
Old 12-26-2006, 02:17 PM
Rebe
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Well, I took the unit back out of the tank again. I got it apart and found the guide wires you were talking about. I cleaned it all up. Boy! Was that a mess inside there. No way that could have worked. Thanks for the help.
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  #22  
Old 12-27-2006, 02:22 PM
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Hmmm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebe View Post
Well, I took the unit back out of the tank again. I got it apart and found the guide wires you were talking about. I cleaned it all up. Boy! Was that a mess inside there. No way that could have worked. Thanks for the help.
You forgot to mention if it is working now.
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  #23  
Old 12-27-2006, 04:00 PM
Rebe
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I tested it and it works just fine now. It comes on like it is suppose to. It's not a necessity to have it working, but at those cramped times it could come in handy!
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  #24  
Old 12-27-2006, 05:46 PM
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BTW, if AAA for some reason won't deliver diesel don't bother with them... Call MB as all mercedes have lifetime roadside assistance.
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  #25  
Old 01-01-2007, 09:44 AM
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I'd head that, but I thought you had to pay for that roadside assistance. like, they'll come out to get you but they're charging you for it.
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  #26  
Old 01-01-2007, 09:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by annemarie View Post
I'd head that, but I thought you had to pay for that roadside assistance. like, they'll come out to get you but they're charging you for it.
Fuel, jumpstart and tire changes (using your spare) are without charge. "Coming to get you" is another matter. (Undoubtedly, they will "get you" in more ways than one!!!)

http://www.mbusa.com/care/client-care/roadside-assistance.do


Last edited by tangofox007; 01-01-2007 at 09:57 AM.
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