560SL Fuel distributor.
 

Please, if anyone else can answer ...... If the small piston inside the fuel distributor starts to periodically stick. can it be saved or Is it game over and time for replacement? Also, if the gas tank shows signs of some internal rusting, what can be done to it to make it okay to reuse? please your answers ASAP......thanks (89 560SL)
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here are links to some very useful info on fuel distributor repair, courtesy of Mike Crawford on MBCA forum:

http://www.netopsys.com/928/TipsNTricks/928%20CIS%20Fuel%20Distributor%20Rebuild%201004OC%20HR.pdf
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=272657

We used to be able to replace the piston barrel with the slots in it. I'm not sure if it came with the piston or not. The dealer I worked at had them in stock in the late 80's.

John Roncallo

Maybe unrelated but... How much is a used 560 FD worth? If it's decent, I'll grab the one off the one in the junkyard if it's still there.

And if you need it, again, I'll grab it even if it isn't worth much. Just to help out a member :)

Thanks everyone .....what a terrific bunch you all are :beerchug:
After seeing the great post reference that Dugold sent showing photos of the inside of one of these units, I realized that it is very complex and has more guts than just the piston. It just shows what water contamination can do and how it fouls the inside. I guess mine, after last few years being stored during the winter for 6 months, could look just like that and that is why it is acting up. I appreciate a used one is only a fraction the cost of new or refurbished one, but who knows it's past? and wonder if in the end it might be the best to go for the refurbished :confused:

you're right, embe, a rebuilt FD is a safer bet. I just bought one from these folks www.4mercedes.com. Works fine. Took my indy 1 hour to R&R it and tune the mixture.
If you DIY it may be worth gambling on a cheap used unit if you can find one.

No Dugald, I won't be DIYing..... instead will contact 4Mercedes to see what they have to offer. Thanks once again.

David Poole posted this link awhile back: http://www.specialtauto.com/ ...as a place to purchase rebuilt/new fuel distributors. I ordered one last Friday for my 500SL for $449.00, which included shipping.

I went through the whole thrash--injector seals, injector insulator/holder, injectors, fuel pressure valve, idle air hoses, etc., trying to cure a stumbling problem. Turns out--I'll learn for sure Tuesday or Wednesday--that the problem is/was the fuel distributor. I threw a lot of parts at trying to solve the problem, but the car has 142,000 miles on it. I no doubt replaced some of the parts prematurely, but likely saved myself some headaches down the road.

John will need the part number off the back of the unit in order to provide an exact replacement. I fussed and fumbled, using a mirror, trying to get the numbers stamped on the plate. However, it wasn't the stamped number, but the ones printed (very faintly) on the plate. If the fuel distributor is off the car, then it's a no-brainer. If you have to pull the numbers off with the FD still on the car, then it gets to be a little more of a challenge.

Thanks Sublettd, As 4Mercedes have not gotten back to me on my inquiry for their FD, I went to the site where you just bought one and found that they offer one for the 560 at a good price also. After getting the # from the old one, I will get in touch with them. Thanks alot. :)

Glad to be able to help out.

Just a note of caution. When you pull the FD, there might be a temptation to crack it open and see if you can tell what the problem is. Part of the contract relating to the core charge says that if it is cracked open before being returned that it will void the core charge...or some similar verbiage.

I just read it. Pretty good wrench by the guy.
See? Just goes to show. Anything can be accomplished. If someone put it together then someone can take it apart.

No sublettd, I have no ambitions of doing that, but to all others who may be so tempted.....it is a point to consider. Thank you.

Contact Stan Keutz @ 1-830-217-4170. He is near San Antonio and rebuilds these things. He is a German certified master Mercedes mechanic.

Thank you Kip, that's worthwhile information for all of us.