Waterpump went out. Tech replaced same and also thermostat. Then called me to say the cooling system would not hold pressure and would have to remove inlet manifold to get at the back of the engine. Found leak at some hoses there,replaced O-rings and held pressure again with no leaks.Incidently portion of the wiring harness was also defective.
On getting the car back I get a persistant gas smell in the car. Have had it back to the inde with two visits and three techs working on same and nothing found. No gas leaks found and purge mechanism checked with negative results
Have looked at multiple posts re this issue with no solution.
Aybody have any ideas apart from trying another shop.

Did you ever resolve this? I am having a similar problem with an 96 SL500.

No obvious leaks and no codes from the purge system. Slight gas odor sitting at idle but an awful gas smell after the car is shut down - bad to the point of making the garage uninhabitable.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

MB didn't do tank leak evaluation (evap codes) till later than 96. I think it might have been 98, but it could have been different for different models, but none did it in 96.

Testing of evap integrity would be similar though without the benefit of scanner based pressure accountability. Either smoke it from the cannister inlet or the purge inlet.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Had two gas odor issues to contend with over the years...one with the W124 and another with an R129 I once owned.

The R129 issue was simple. A loose hose clamp near the rear-mounted pump contributed to a visible "drip drip drip".

I might add that sometimes a visual inspection of a fuel hose won't render any clues as to the source of a leak...this was the case on the W124.

Even gas residue will smell up a garage! So you don't have to see a puddle to determine there is a leak.

In my case, I ended up driving the car out onto a highway for several minutes, then immediately pulling in to the garage. Finally, I could see a faint wet spot on the fuel hose aft of the pump...a pinhole leak that was very difficult to see even with a flashlight. Gas smell vanished after I replaced the hose.

By the way, it took me nearly a week to find that leak. So perhaps your crew didn't have enought time to find the source...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Pulled the cover off and took a close look at the pump and filter and noted a residue of yellowed gas, just slightly damp. Not clear what the source is, but the filter outlet line is showing some cracking.

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe