In the aftermath of a fuel injection line leak I had the feeling that some hoses or lines may have been affected by the increased heat/fuel that resulted. While cleaning under the hood I see that:

1. a line is detached that runs from what I think is the amplifier switchover valve (looks like a bottle?) upward towards something. I'm not sure what it runs to. It still has the rubber covering so it may be that the actual vac line broke. I have a feeling that it came out of the vac amplifier but, if it did, I don't see where it goes back in-- unless the hole is plugged with the piece that it broke off of.

2. Behind the 6th injector line, coming out of the pump, on a 'platform' there's a round rubber piece covering what might be the vacuum shut-off. The rubber piece is loose and worn so that I really can't get it to fit properly. It seems that there may be a little fuel leaking out from under it when the engine is running.

The car is running but there is a clunk when the gears shift (especially at slow speeds), and a hard brief rumble when I shut the engine off.

I used the E-Class Bible (pg 186) to name these components. I think I got 'em right-- but I might not have, so don't be locked in by the names.

How severe is this? How should I proceed?

Thanks in advance.

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k. darkman
1987 300D Turbo 200k

This might help.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Attached Thumbnails

 

1) I'm terrible at charades

2) Sounds like the cover of the control rod sensor connector. No vacuum lines there. A leak in that area will be engine oil, not fuel.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Ritter and Easley must have been having a bad day

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Thanks for your patience. The diagrams are confusing me more but I think you called the part correctly. After looking at your attached image, I went to the MB manual and what yours labels #5 mine calls #6. I think this is the part I incorrectly identified. I went back out to the car and just like you said, there is no vacuum line running to this but an electrical wire instead. Would that be right? In additon it is oil that is leaking out --very, very slightly. Should I replace it ($??) or can it be fixed -- at least temporarily?

Now for the bottle I thought Y29 was a cut-away side view of it. It is right above the front wheel with a black plastic band that was supposed to hold it in place (against the side of the engine compartment) and it has one vac hose coming out of each end. There is some writing on the lid and I might be able to get a # off of it in the morning. Thanks.

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k. darkman
1987 300D Turbo 200k

The fact that your transmission shifts with a bang is likely related with vacuum loss! Sounds like the banging has already effected, or ripped, the rubber mount in the center drive shaft, shaft bearing too!

I understand that there's no way to fix a leak in the control rod sensor connector. Parts are not available to DIYers and the IP has to come apart to access the seal.

Y29 is a switchover valve that smooths shifting when the transmission is cold.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

#6 is the engine shut-off valve and it has a vacuum line running to it. If that's what's leaking you can replace the o-ring. Removing the manifold makes getting to the shut-off valve easier but it can be removed without removing the manifold. There's a trick to installing the shut-off valve so it properly engages the fuel cut lever inside the IP. If you don't engage the fuel cut lever you risk an engine run away.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

took these with a phone. They will help with the description tho. I incorrectly thought it was #6 but it's not.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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k. darkman
1987 300D Turbo 200k

In the first picture the yellow arrow points at the rubber cover over the electrical connector of the control rod sensor. The silver canister to the right is the shut-off valve. The square edged canister above is the ALDA. Oil cannot leak from an electrical connector

I don't recognize what's in the second picture. Maybe if you can describe the location or surroundings...

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

First I want to thank you again for all the help you're giving me. This is my go-to-work car (40 mi each way) so you can see why I'm stressing

The bottle looking thing says Mann Filter 43/1 on the top. I found what it connected to and did that. It's beneath and behind (gong toward the passenger compartment) the ABS unit, right above the wheel well... and has a vac line running out of both ends.

The rubber is damaged on the electrical piece and I probably did that putting the injector lines in. It feels like the cap should be level but it's a little tilted. After looking around the area it appears that the oil is coming downward onto it because I see it in other places in the area.

What does this component do? I just read that it's not a DIY so eventually I'm going to have to 'face the music' I guess. So how soon? What are your thoughts on this?

Again... Thanks!

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k. darkman
1987 300D Turbo 200k

BusyBenz, could you elaborate on this a little for me? My tranny seems to exhibit this behavior, although not in a terribly shocking way (I'd call it more of a clunk than a bang ... when the car shifts into second). I'm just curious about the relationship of the tranny and vacuum. It does make a sort of "hissing" sound when in reverse, and that has a very "vacuumy" tone. Could there be a vacuum issue that is causing both the clunks and the hissing? Everything shifts fine in terms of behavior ... just does so with an odd soundtrack.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

If the Mann filter is about 30mm in diameter, clear with a pleated paper element inside then it's just a vent filter. The vent runs through the bulkhead to the cabin then ends.

Don't worry about the rubber cap. Mine came off a while ago and the plastic connector doesn't seem to mind exposure

Does it look like oil is leaking from the union of the crossover pipe and the intake manifold? That's a pretty common joint for oil to leak. Usually oil will pool around the #2 injector but oil can creep along the bottom of the intake manifold and drop anywhere it pleases. It'll be oil from blowby gasses joining the intake tract upstream of the turbo and/or oil from a worn turbo seal. It's an age thing. If you feel you have to do something about it, get a new gasket for the union. Line the gasket with a little bit of RTV to make it oil tight. It'll be more work and cost to address the source of the oil.

To isolate blowby, try this -

- clean the crossover pipe thoroughly, reinstall and see how long it takes for it to be coated with oil.

- clean the crossover pipe thoroughly again, disconnect the breather hose from the valve cover to the turbo intake tube and cap the fitting on the intake tube. Extend the breather hose to vent to atmosphere temporarily or look into building a catch can (http://www.angelfire.com/space/neon/catchcan.html). Now see how long it takes for the crossover pipe to be coated with oil. If it takes just as long, a worn turbo seal is the major contributor. If it takes longer then blowby is the major contributor.

This doesn't mean that you have to do anything about it if performance is statisfactory and oil consumption and smoke aren't issues.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Bodhi, if the transmission is shifting when you expect it to and the shifts aren't unduly harsh yet there's a clunk along with the shift, consider having the driveline checked. It could be wear along the prop shaft (u-joints, flex joints, carrier bearing) or play in the differential. My guess is worn flex joints.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I know this was like pulling teeth but this all makes sense to me now. That is exactly where the leak is coming from! I removed the crossover when I was doing the injection lines. I'll adress this just like you recommend.
In addition, BodhiBenz1987 describes (albeit more poetically ) what I mean about the tranny shifts. I'm just not hearing anything in reverse.

Thanks again!

__________________
k. darkman
1987 300D Turbo 200k