I swear if you dont get one thing repaired, something else happens.


There is a strong fuel smell coming from the hood of my mothers Mercedes. I tracked it down to this hole in the top of the air cleaner... it has never did this before until tonight.



She had been on a 70 mile trip and said she didnt smell gas when driving, but when she got home, I walked out to help her and I smelled fuel as I walked out of the front door! I thought it was the gas cap, because as I reported the other day, we were smelling fumes from the gas cap area... I checked under the hood that day and there was no gas smell at all from under the hood. Never has been except 2 years ago, there was a faint smell of it, but it went away and never came back until today and traced it down to that hole. It gives off that smell like an old carburated car gives off when its turned off. I felt all under the air cleaner and looked with a light, its dry as a bone. I am wondering if perhaps the throttle body is sticking open allowing the smell or ? I know the gas cap seal is bad... would that cause the air pressure to allow the smell to escape from the air cleaner area? Now she is afraid to drive the car.


Thanks for any info!


BTW, the engine is a M103, inline 6, 3.0L.

There is probably a fuel leak somewhere near or around the fuel distributor. That little hole is where you put a screw driver down to adjust the fuel mixture. I believe there is a small tamperproof ball that is supposed to keep people out and changing it. Has someone been adjusting it lately?

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1989 300CE

No, never. He did have the air cleaner cover off when we were having that starting problem that ended up being the ignition coil. We never touched it until someone said to depress on that plate to see if it pressed down easy to check for fuel pressure. Other than that, its not been tampered with. I have owned the car for about 4 years. Even the other night when I drove it for 60 miles, I came home and smelled that gas around the cap area, then smelled under the hood and not even a hint of a gas smell under the hood.

it sounds to me that the eha is going bad,its located on the lower back of the fuel distriobutor,its a black plastic actuator,it assists with cold starts,it has a small 2 prong connector that faces the pass fender,disconect it,see if the smell of gas goes away,generally when this item is gfoing bad it leaks fuel,and gives off a strong odor.it controls the flow of fuel in and out of the distributor.

If you remove the entire air cleaner assembly you will be able to have a better look at the fuel distributor. I too had a similar problem with a fuel smell in the engine compartment. The smell would also come into the car for a minute or two after I started the car. Turns out in my case that the EHA valve was leaking.

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1989 300CE

Thanks. I looked all under there and it was all dry... I didnt smell any gas below the top of the air cleaner when I poked my nose down there, so I dont know.

I certainally hope its not the EHA valve... I just went and checked the price on those and WOW! My dad will fall over with a heart attack if thats what it is. Even on this site its like $350 for a tiny little (what appears to be electrical) box?. Thats crazy. Dont appear to be available as an aftermarket part either. What if you simply leave the EHA disconnected, will the car still work OK, or is this essential for the cars operation?

I feel bad because it was my car for 3 years, never any problems and I sold to to my parents really cheap and now this is issue #2 this car has developed since they have had it and that has not been too long either.

I will probably end up giving her my Lincoln and I will sell the MB and buy something else.

Thanks. We will take it (entire cleaner assembly) off and check it. If it is indeed the EHA valve, I guess we will have to sell the car.... cant afford $350 for a new one. My dad can, but he would flip over that much $ for a small crazy part like that. I feel bad because I sold them the car now all of this happens.

This place has one for $257, but still, thats alot of $!
http://www.discountmbparts.com/catalog/?N=11149+4294963357+1668+8531

I see where "seals" o-rings are listed for these to purchase for less than $2, but someone said they were not repairable? Is it these seals that leak?

http://www.discountmbparts.com/catalog/?N=11149+4294963357+1668+8532

Yes, the o-ring seals are very often where the EHA leaks. Definitely repairable. Takes 10 minutes.

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1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

86560SEL, if you're lucky the source of the leak is the green O-rings which can easily be replaced.

It's also likely that the EHA valve body has developed a hairline crack. If that's the case you need to replace the EHA valve. Best way to determine is to remove the air cleaner assembly when the engine is cold then start the engine. Inspect the EHA valve closely for weeping gas ... the black plastic will get wet. If you inspect the EHA valve after driving the car the under-hood heat will evaporate the weeping gas.

It took me quite a while to identify the cracked/leaking EHA valve on our 1991 300CE. Replaced the green O-rings but that didn't resolve the problem.

Call a salvage yard about a used EHA valve. Although a used one may also leak, it may be worth going that route if you're strapped for cash.

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Fred Hoelzle

Thanks Cal and Ferdman! You were right! I just took off the air cleaner assembly and sure enough, that EHA valve sure is leaking gas! Shew! I had changed the plugs (spark) and moved it and smelled gas again... then we started it with it off and it was dripping. Good Lord and my mom drove this car 70 miles on the highway like this yesterday with her sister and my 2 year old nephew! It dont appear to leak near anything hot enough to cause a fire, but sure dont want any gas leaks under the hood.

Now, I checked and those o-rings are around $2.00 at autozone. Now I am hoping its the seals and not the actual EHA... its really $ like you said. Cal-learner, you said its easy? I am not much of a mechanic, so now is the seal replacement a DIY job for someone like me or is it touchy and should be left to a professional?

Any special steps or precautions in removing this? Step by step on how to change the seal appreciated. After the seal if it stops leaking, I am assuming its only the seal and the EHA is not cracked.

Thanks!

Oh, here are the pics of the leaky thing...


thats gasoline you see on my finger...



Cant find at any local parts stores, so I went ahead and ordered this... (praying its only the seals and not the entire EHA)

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1988-Mercedes--Benz-300sel-Fuel--Injection&yearid=1988%40%401988&makeid=63%40%40MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40X&modelid=6220%3AED%7C10000012%3AMBC%7C1515%40%40300SEL&catid=240621%40%40Fuel+Injection&subcatid=240642@@E%2EH%2EA%2E+Valve+Seal&mode=PD

Do let us know after the replacement; the effect on the engine performance if any change.
thanks
mak

Will do. This thing has apparently been leaking for awhile. Should get the seals soon. I did "next day" but it was 5:00 on Thursday... will probably be Monday before they arrive.

86560SEL, replacement of the green O-rings is straightforward. Unplug the wire, remove the 2 screws securing the EHA valve, replace the old O-rings, and reinstall in the reverse order.

The fuel system is pressurized and gas will spray out when you remove the screws unless you pull the fuel pump relay and start the engine to relieve the system pressure. Otherwise, simply use a rag to soak up the leaking gas and proceed to replace the O-rings.

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Fred Hoelzle

Thanks. Oh well... dad called me today at work and the package arrived, but there was only ONE o-ring in the package. I clicked on "1" quantity, assuming there were two o-rings in one package since one would normally replace them in a set and it showed TWO in the pic on the peachparts site here (see link above (kinda sneaky, lol), but there was only ONE in the package and we paid $14. shipping and to get another, its going to be another $16.50 (with shipping). (He said that there was also a hole in the package, so its possible the other had fallen out if two were in there originally). Oh well. Anyway he said he replaced the one and started the car and he said he didnt think it was the o-rings leaking, as gasoline was coming out of the holes on the eha valve. So... I am guessing its the actual EHA that is bad? He called one place to find a used one at a local MB shop and he said he could get one, but it would be at least $200.

Now... my next question how many other MBs interchange this part with others? I know where there is a 85 380SE in a junk yard... would it have the same EHA valve?

86560SEL, you can buy a brand new EHA valve for $218 online. Perhaps the indie was quoting the price for a new EHA valve, not a used one.

Before going ahead and buying a new EHA valve replace the other O-ring to confirm that it's not simply a seal problem. Buy the O-ring from your local MB dealer. It will be less expensive than placing an order online for less than $50 and paying for delivery.

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Fred Hoelzle