1995 Mercedes E320
Mileage: 128,000


We're having a problem with our 1995 Mercedes E320. It's seemingly an intermittent problem with exhaust-like fumes entering the cabin. The fumes were so noxious that we've had terrible headaches and neckaches. It's so bad that neither of us is willing to drive the car.

Our regular Mercedes shop and the dealership service department have told us that they cannot duplicate the problem. They have assured us that we do not have an exhaust system leak and that our emissions system is functioning properly. Further, they've told us that given the way the car is designed there's almost no way for fumes to get into the cabin.

We're at our wit's end and need help from someone.

Here's a summary of what's been done to the car recently:

7/25/08 - Regular Mercedes shop drove the car for several days, but could not duplicate or detect the problem with fumes. Read and cleared codes, cleaned MAF sensor, cleaned intake and added fuel treatment to tank.

8/14-20/08 - Regular Mercedes shop drove car for several days, but again was unable to duplicate or detect the problems with fumes. Replaced mass airflow sensor and air filter.

8/23/08 - Girlfriend drove the car on a short morning trip, and while stopped at a stoplight was suddenly overwhelmed with what could be described as exhaust-like fumes coming from the front of the cabin and exceptional heat radiating from the front floorboard and center console area. Girlfriend became ill with symptoms including headache, muscle ache and extreme nervousness. I drove the car on several trips around town later that afternoon, but did not observe any further problems. We parked the car outdoors overnight.

8/24/08 - I drove the car with girlfriend in the passenger seat hoping to duplicate and observe the same condition she had observed the previous day. We drove the car on several stop-and-go trips. During the third trip, the check engine light came on after about five minutes. Though no other symptoms were observed, we decided to drop the car off at regular Mercedes shop, hoping the codes would offer some insights into the problem.

On the way, suddenly the overwhelming exhaust-like fumes came flooding into the cabin and exceptional heat began radiating from the front floorboard and center console area. I stopped the car and had girlfriend get into the car to confirm that this is what she had experienced the previous day. Driving the short distance of less than a mile made me ill with immediate symptoms including headache, aching muscles, difficulty concentrating, and irritability--despite that I had opened the windows and sunroof at the first sign of a problem and turned off the air conditioning.

8/25/08 - Regular Mercedes shop said they could detect no fumes. They reset codes and used Power Clean fuel cleaner. Regular Mercedes shop said that if this didn't work, that we should take the car to the dealership service department.

I have put no more than 50 miles on the car since picking it from regular Mercedes shop. Each time I have driven it since, I've experienced noxious fumes and the symptoms outlined above.

The Mercedes dealership has had the car for observation and diagnostics for a week and cannot duplicate the problem.

Clearly, this problem is intermittent, but it is very serious.

...and what was the code?????????????????

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A Dalton

Good question. I was never told the actual code. I'll have to ask the first mechanic and post that. He and the dealership have been communicating--very collegial as I understand it.

Thanks for your reply.

A possible suspect is the AIR pump system is being activated when it should not be ...ask him if it is an AIR code. [ code 4]

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A Dalton

If you are at all handy, the codes are owner accessable on that chassis....

go here :

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=107630


Is the Check Engine light ON ??????????????????????

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A Dalton

The sudden and exceptional heat sounds like quite a clue. Heat is one thing and that would be odd enough. But for it to be "sudden and exceptional" combined with your immediate physical reaction really makes me think that exhaust is actually coming in the car.

I had a leak where the downpipe connects to the exhaust manifold on my car, and the symptom was that when I was stopped (not moving) and especially before the car was fully warmed up, I would get strong gas fumes in the car. There was only about a 1/8" gap (due to the fine quality Crapco cat converter I bought). But that small gap leaked quite a bit of exhaust. But not as much as what you seem to be describing.

Has anyone done a careful physical examination of the exhaust components at the front of the car (manifold, downpipe, back a couple of feet)?

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra