Thanks Ferdman.... would the other seal leaking make it appear that gas is coming out of the holes in the eha? I didnt see it, but dad said it was coming out of the holes. I am not sure if the seal only blocks the gas from where it bolts on to the distributor?

86560SEL, I don't know for sure ... but best to replace the other O-ring before jumping to the conclusion that you need a new EHA valve.

Send me a private message if you want the source for a new $218 EHA valve.

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Fred Hoelzle

Thanks! Well I am going to take a trip to the dealer tomorrow and see if I can pick up this other o-ring we need and see if that is the issue. If not, we will probably try to buy a used EHA. He cant afford a brand new one right now.

I must say that I am kinda suprised at Peachparts here. Like I said, two were shown in the pic and I assumed they would be sold in pairs. I mean, who would only replace one of these once they took it off? One would assume that both would be sold in one pack. $15.00 shipping for one little ring... didnt want to pay another $15.00 shipping, so hopefully the dealer has one.

I emailed them (Peachparts) to see if perhaps two were supposed to be two in the pack since it was actually open. I sent the email on Friday night asking if two were supposed to be in the pack and that it was showing two o-rings in the pic and thought I would at least get a response by Monday (today)when I got home from work, but I didnt. Maybe they are on vacation? Oh well.

86560SEL, I checked the Peach Parts website for the O-rings and it lists the price for 1 O-ring, as most parts websites will, even if 2 are required. If in doubt it's best to call and ask.

Suggest you call your local MB dealer's Parts Department to confirm they have the O-ring. My experience is that they don't stock every imaginable part, but can usually get it overnight if you call ahead.

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Fred Hoelzle

Thanks. Just called the dealer (which is always kinda rude) and he said they didnt have it, but could order it, but it would be Thursday before it got here and its $3.00. I could next day another one from Peachparts, but then its another $17.00 after shipping.

Yeah, I should not have assumed that they would come in a pair of two, despite that it showed two o-rings in the picture on that part and that they one would normally replace both at the same time. Thats what I get for assuming. lol. Funny, Peachparts never did email me back, kinda disappointing customer service, could have at least emailed me back to tell me something. . Oh well.
Still, I think they should edit that pic and only show one o-ring and not two.

Guess I will leave it up to my dad... we really needed this car repaired like yesterday.

edit - went ahead and called the dealer back and ordered... will pick up on Thursday. HOPING its only the seals leaking after going through all of this.

86560SEL, please explain why you consider calling the dealer's Parts Department rude. Their techs provide a service for MB owners and I find them to be very helpful, and most are very knowledgeable. In this economy dealers are glad to make money any way they can.

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Fred Hoelzle

Oh, wow, you would have to know this dealer... I guess they are all different, but the one parts guy I talk to is rather short (maybe not to the point of being rude, but not very nice) and knows nothing about the older Mercedes. As I had posted in another thread I had went to pick up an oil filter for this car a few weeks ago... I told him it was a '88 300SEL. He then asked if it had a 3.5L or a 4.2L engine in it. He didnt even know that it had a 3.0L. He obviously knows nothing about the older Mercedes... I mean a "300" Mercedes in the 80s was a 3.0L, he didnt know that. Even my 2 year old nephew knows that. lol.

I told him it was a 3.0L inline 6-cylinder... he went back to the computer, then walked off mumbling to himself that he didnt think it was a 3 liter engine. I told him I knew it was. He then asked if I had the VIN with me and I told him no. He said in a not-so-pleasant tone that next time I needed a part for the car it would be a good idea to bring the VIN (which it would be, but he could have used a different tone). Then he ended up selling me a BMW oil filter saying it was the same and that it was cheaper... which was funny, because when I purchased an actual MB oil filter from that dealer a few months ago, (a different parts guy) the MB filter was $7)... then this guy charges me $16. for the BMW filter.

Then when I made this recent call about the o-ring to the dealer (I know it was the same guy, I recognized his name and voice), he answered and I told him I needed to see if they had a part in stock... he hesitated, then said, "well what kind of car is it", in not a rude tone, but a not very nice one either. I told him... he punched and punched on the computer, then was asking me if it was called something other than an EHA valve seal... then he asked me what it was! LOL! He didnt know what an EHA valve was! I told him and he crossly said, "well we probably dont have that in stock anyway". I told him it was part that was used widely on the older Mercedes. I had finally get the package that peachparts sent the ONE o-ring in and he finally found it by looking it up by that part #. He ordered it, so I am hoping I will get the right part tomorrow.

I just pity the people that have to use our local MB parts department, I am glad I dont have to deal with them that much.

Oh boy. I think its still leaking. We have not had really much time to check it, but my dad took the car to the gas station today (about 2 miles away) and put gas in it for my mom. She was going to leave in it. I walked by the car and "sniffed" around the hood opening and still getting that gas smell. It may be where it had leaked and still had that lingering aroma, but I am going to take it apart again tomorrow and check it again. Possible that the EHA itself is shot. Found a used one, supposed to be a good one for $20. May have to go that route.

I told her not to drive the car until I could inspect it and she took the extra car we had. Glad we have that car. 182K mile '97 Oldsmobile Achieva. Never one problem out of that car since new except for the water pump at 156K... (knock on wood!) still amazes me.

Update - yep, the EHA was still leaking, even with both new seals. Apparently the EHA itself is shot. I ordered a used one off of ebay for $19.00 - thats warrantied to work. Should be arriving on Wednesday.

There is a junk yard a mile out the road that has a 1985 380SE that dad went to see if it had one, but he said it wasnt on there. He said it looked like it never even had one, but its my understanding that they had them as well. I dont recall if my old 380SE had it or not, because I never had the air filter off of it.