Peachy - Fuel Smell

[NorCalNiceGuy]

Peachy seems to have developed a fuel leak that leaves no apparent evidence other than the smell of fuel when the car is stopped or moving slowly in heavy traffic. Obviously I'm just leaving the aroma behind when moving at a good clip. It's so bad when parked that I have to leave the garage doors open for a while after bringing the car in to avoid asphyxiating anyone who enters the garage. Mileage seems to have taken a significant dive too. But again, no visual evidence of a fuel leak apparent.

Also, no rough idle, no loss of power, no hesitation. Starting is slightly, slightly more sluggish than when Merkey handed Peachy over, but the weather's also colder now. . .

Naturally I'm concerned for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the risk of Car-B-Que!

Great threads here on Jetronic issues, EHA, fuel dist., etc., none of those seem to describe a match for what I'm experiencing.

[ps2cho]

Check under the fuel distributor and see if you see a wet film on it, or around the EHA.

The 2.6 auto should get low 20's average if that helps determine if the fuel economy is "normal".

Also there is fuel filter area too.

[NorCalNiceGuy]

Thanks, Ps2cho. I'll check both of those. If I see fuel under the FD, what would be the course of action? Same question re EHA housing.

Later found Merkey's thread re the trouble he had with diagnostics and duty cycle readings, etc. Looks like that was never resolved here, and I'm sure he and I talked about that in one of the several epic, far-ranging conversations we had pre- and post-sale. But danged if I remember the fine details.

[richard28]

Check fuel pump check valve.

[ps2cho]

There is an O-ring on the bottom of the fuel distributor that you can change relatively easy. There are either 3 torx or 3 flathead screws. You just unbolt and should be able to wiggle the FD up high enough to swap in a new o-ring.

EHA same deal. 2 o-rings. 2 bolts.

[NorCalNiceGuy]

Pulled the air cleaner last nite to have a look. FD and EHA a little grimy/fuely, but it didn't look fresh. Electrical to EHA had worked itself about halfway off the pins, tho, so wiggled that back on all the way and today fuel smell is much less. Gonna keep an eye on everything and see what might develop. Thanks for your help guys!!

[NorCalNiceGuy]

Fuel smell eventually returned, and investigation showed a copious leak from the EHA with the engine running. Replaced o-rings (looks like maybe Merkey did one but not the other, as one still had enough resilience to protrude out from its recess in the fuel dist when the EHA was removed, but the other was flat) with M-B parts; that sorted out the leak. I think the EHA itself is faulty, though. Takes two tries to start, runs very ruff for a few secs. Stalled upon quick decel yesterday, accel is a little bit sluggish when passing on the fwy. Sound like faulty EHA to you guys? Any sense in trying to get a tested used one (if such a thing is even avail) until I can scrape up the $ for a brand-new one?

[Holmesuser01]

When my EHA failed, the car started just fine, but had NO power. I floored the gas to get into traffic, and the car gently gained speed, though my gas pedal was to the floor.

Replaced the original with one out of a 2.5 six-cylinder. Runs great, now!!