leaky injector pump
 

I have a leaky injector pump on my 1987 Mercedes 300 SDL. A local Mercedes mechanic who doesn't have the machine for fixing/resealing the pump, but would eyeball it, carefully marking levels, would do this for $330. Someone recommended a very good mechanic to me today, who doesn't do this particular fix, but strongly advises me to have it done by someone with the proper equipment/machine.

If that's true, I'm looking for someone to fix or rebuild the injector pump somewhere near Los Angeles. Does anyone know of a reputable place?

Thanks

Try Diesel Specialists in Placentia (OC) (714) 528 8442
He has done several pumps for me, and does an excellent job at a reasonable price.

you have not said if it is Fuel leaking (usually the delivery valve O-rings) or Oil (leaking usually from the bottom plate, side cover or throttle or shutoff shafts).

I would not trust the O-ring job to a regular mechanic.

If it is the Delivery Valve Seals/Fuel leak even if you do not do the job yourself you could look in the Repair Links and get some idea what needs to be done. The same with the Oil leaks.
Repair Links Fast navigation http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diy-links-parts-category/146034-fast-navigation-do-yourself-links.html

Thanks for the referral. No answer today, so I'll call on Monday. I don't know where precisely the leak is, but the MB mechanic who wanted to "eyeball" it spoke of replacing six seals or gaskets. How much do you think Diesel Specialists would charge?

That's an impressive collection of diesels. Does your 350 SDL have the reworked rods, and has it been trouble free?

Thanks for all replies!

Not sure exactly what he will charge for your pump, but the last one was about $400. No problems with the 350 yet, other than a recent head gasket job (oil in the coolant). 120,000 original miles on the car.

Does the shop you mentioned remove and re-install the Fuel Injection Pump from the vehicle as part of the price or are you speaking of just the Fuel Injection Pump that you bring to them?

Or would they be replacing the O-rings and crush washers while the Fuel Injection Pump is on the vehicle?

They have done two pumps for me, and one I brought in, the other I sent, and a friend picked it up for me when it was done. They have the facilities and knowledge to remove and replace a pump, but it is obviously less expensive if you remove/replace the pump. Every time I got a quote, it ended up being less than quoted. They should be able to replace the seals and washers while the pump is in the car.

It turns out that the leak on the pump is from the nozzles, which does not require a rebuild or taking the pump off the car. The first mechanic I went to, who offered to do the job for $330 estimated the job would take 3 hours, and only involved the six seals which need to be replaced.

Today I went to a Mercedes specialist who would do the job for $400, but mentioned that included in this would be replacement of certain hoses, as well as installation of new fuel filters. He said that whenever you do this fix you need to install new filters. Moreover, he wanted me to leave the car the whole day, and that fixing the pump required the removal of a number of parts on the engine.

When driving my car, he did notice the slight shake or shudder when I come to a stop, and explained that that was likely due to air leaking into the pump, which I thought a good diagnosis.

What do you guys think?

Another thing. In contrast to the first mechanic who takked about needing to mark things (levels?) manually, the second mechanic mentioned that after installing each of the six nozzle seals, that the screws (or bolts) needed to be torqued properly.

I am curius what you guys think?

Proper torquing of the delivery valve holders after a seal replacement is very important. There's a 3-step torque process to ensure that the sealing rings are seated and properly mated to the delivery valve holder. Too loose and the DV leaks, too tight and you run the risk of damaging the pump.

I have no idea what "levels" the first guy was talking about.

R&R of the DV seals can be done with the intake manifold in place, but it's a massive PITA. More than likely, his labor costs involve removing and reinstalling the intake manifold for better access. If they're removing/reinstalling the manifold, changing the fuel supply hoses, and changing the filters for you, I'd expect the labor to come in somewhere around 3-4 hours + materials.

Thanks for the thorough response. It emboldens me to follow through on my instinctive impulse to take the car to the second mechanic. He seems to have a comprehensive picture, and he did mention removing the manifold.

If you're handy or mechanically inclined, don't be afraid to R&R the DV seals yourself. It's an afternoon project and depending on your skill level, can be done in a matter of hours. You're only out the seals (about $15), an intake manifold gasket, crossover pipe gasket, and fuel line (also a good idea to replace the return lines on the injectors at this time). Including freight, you're less than $75 for the job, including the tool to take the DV holders out.

Understandably not everyone feels up to working on the IP. If you aren't mechanically inclined or if you have a habit of breaking more than you fix, it's worth your time and cash to visit a reputable shop.