W123 1983 230E Oil Leak Under Dash
 

Hi, I've been having a leak underneath the driver's side dashboard. At one point it was the little oil pressure hose connecting to the instrument cluster because I had recently taken out the cluster to have it serviced. I've since tightened the nut on the hose, and when I reach back there, I don't feel any oil leaking from it. I also thoroughly cleaned the dash cover from all residual oil, so I don't think that's it. However, I'm still getting little puddles of oil linking onto my rubber foot mat. Is there any place else underneath the dash this leak would be coming from? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

My guess it's coming from the oil guage pressure line. Get a flexible mirrow wand thingy and a flash light. Pop the cluster forward so thay you can fit the mirror and aim the flash light at the connection. Start car and look for leak. Maybe a pinhole on hose. No other place oil can leak inside.

Check the vac' hoses that go through the fire wall. Migrating oil from engine will do that .

Most Ignition Key Vac' Switches I have dismantled on 123 diesels have had lots of oil in them. The rubber connecting hoses perish and leak.

Audi 5000 vehicles had that problem too with vac' signal to ECU..... they installed a line filter in the hose.

Can happen with any type engine with vac' hoses.

Eay,

You broke the oil gauge. Get a new one. FYI- the gauge you need to hold the body with a ?13 mm wrench when tightening the oil line with the smaller 10mm. Very common problem-post gauge cluster removal.

Fix it quickly- it's a mess to get all the oil out of the mats, pedals. You use to be able to get the lower panel sound insulation cheap from the dealer. The tar piece under the carpet can be replaced too.


M

It can't be in the ignition switch
 

W123 with a 280 gas engine don't have vacuum to the ignition