Fuel line troubles with M-class
 

Ladies and Gents

The Benzo left us stranded in a parking lot this evening.

Upon returning to said vehicle post-shopping, I noticed the scent of gasoline. Didn't think much of it until attempting to start the engine over. No Dice. Engine was turning over, just no ignition. Just like being out of gas... gas gauge said 1/2 tank. well...

After rolling down the window, the smell was VERY pronounced.

In taking a walk around the vehicle, I spyed gasoline dripping PROFUSELY just in front of the left rear tire and onto the pavement. :eek:

Apparently, a fuel line has given way. :mad:

Wife, three dogs and the cargo hold full of groceries... JOY Luckily, we were only two miles from home.

I had the vehicle towed (flatbed) to the homestead and will survey the situation in the morning.

Background on vehicle:

1998 ML320 w/ 117000 miles

Please forgive me as I'm still a newbie in the Benzo realm. Is this a common issue for the M-class?

Any insight would be most appreciated.

Respectfully,

Robert

No, not in my experience. There have been fuel system problems, but nothing involving a leak. Has the filter been replaced? Should be done every 60K miles. If it has, maybe the fuel lines in the area of the filter was damaged at some point and waited until now to leak. This could also have happened if the fuel pump/level sensor was replaced i suppose. maybe if you're running the original filter yet :eek: the clamp that hold the filter in place has somehow perforated the outer filter case?
Gilly

gilly,

Thank you for the reply. :)

Upon investigation, the fuel line on the gas tank side had popped off. :eek: The retaining 'clip' was missing. :mad:

I put the Benzo on a jackstand, removed the wheel and fender liner, and temporarily 'quick-fixed' it with a couple zip ties.

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/...5-80-15016.jpg

As far as replacement fo the fuel filter, not to my knowledge. It came with very little maintenace records but it will be addressed first thing Monday morning along with shock replacement. ;)

Regards,

Not so fast there, amigo.
First, by the image you posted, I would guess the filter was replaced once. That's the good news. The bad news is, you can't buy that particular filter any longer. It's been updated with a longer filter, and some new lines are also required to install the new filter. Which I guess isn't all that bad anyways, since I'm sure you are going to want to replace that busted line, and that line of one of the ones that get replaced.
The upshot of all this is that it's not all that easy to do. The left side of the rear seat needs to be removed, then the carpet that's under that half needs to be pulled up. Under the carpet is a panel I usually refer to as "the paint can lid". It's glued down with body glue (please don't use "body glue" for anything other than it's intended purpose). What I usually do to keep a nice flat "paint can lid" is to heat up the perimeter of the lid with one of these hot air blowers like a body shop usually has, like a hair drier on steroids. That softens up the body glue enough to allow it to be pried off without too much force, and the lid stays nice and straight. After you get that off, you can get to all the fuel connections on the top of the fuel pump. Only other word of caution is that for those fuel line connections, we have a MB special tool pliers-thingy that pushes those locking rings in to allow the lines to be disconnected. Don't know of anything else that will work real good for releasing the connectors. Hard work and perserverance, I suppose.
Gilly

Gilly,

WOW! definitly a wake up call there Chief.

I should have better clarified the Monday morning comment.

As much as I prefer to perform maintenance/wrench on my vehicles, your above description plus the wife's insistance on the shocks being done by a professional, is enough to toss in the proverbial shop towel and get a MB-tech involved.

Thanks for the "How-To!"

This thread is in the Benzo archive. ;)

Robert