My daughter's '88 420SEL has had the wood panel over the shifter/window switches come loose. We now sometimes notice a gas smell in the passenger cabin on startup which seems more noticeable from the opening where the wood panel is displaced. No noticeable starting or performance changes. Any diagnoses? Thanks.

Hey, C43:

Have the same year and model, and sometimes note gas smell on startup-especially when backing-out with windows open.

I don't know what it is either, and I also don't have a performance problem. I suspect it's a mixture thing, or something with an exhaust valve.

Hopefully, someone out there will cue us in.

I should add that there does not appear to be any gas smell under the hood, including sniffing around the air filter assembly.

Next time you do a cold start, have someone watch the cold start valve. It might be leaking a little.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.