Can't put fuel in my car!

[MoreTorque99]

My car has this strange and VERY anoying problem of not being able to put gas in it.

I put the pump on the slowest automatic setting and after about 1-3 gallons it clicks off like the tank is full. If I want to put more in, I have to manually squeeze the pump ever so slighly so fuel can trickle in. For a full tank, it would take about 15 minutes.

This happens about 50% of the time when I fill up. Other times, it just goes in fine.

What can possibly be happening?

(Car is a 1999 C43 AMG)

[Renn 208]

the vapor return on the pump isn't sealing properly. Don't know if it's really anything you can fix, I just know that from time to time, both the 210 and 208 run into this.

When this happens to me, I simply don't use the automatic pump tab. Hold down the handle manually, and also adjust the attack angle of the pump to be higher than usual. This usually allows for a good run

[vbrock1137]

Happens to me every few months. Try pulling the pump farther out. Works for me.

[!!!!!NJ Drive]

you silly ppl pumping your own gas...

[Renn 208]

Originally posted by !!!!!NJ Drive
you silly ppl pumping your own gas...

You silly people, living in New Jersey by choice!

[audiophile]

Originally posted by !!!!!NJ Drive
you silly ppl pumping your own gas...

with the prices the way they are I shouldn't have to.

[Nitrous911]

Serious...I pay like $2.90 a gallon in the Bay Area.

[benzaddict]

In thr right rear wheelwell there is a fuel expansion tank that incorporates the fuel filler neck and is for vapor recovery before the fuel flows down to the tank. These often get plugged and don't vent causing filling problems exactly as you described. We replace them all the time, it's very common on 202's and 208's. They are very simple to replace, just remove the inner fender plastic and a few hoses. It takes about an hour.

[spriro]

It happens to me once in a while. usually on a pump that does not have the rubber flap/cone.
I found a pump near my house that never give me that problem. So I just stick to that place.

[kameraguy]

Originally posted by benzaddict
In thr right rear wheelwell there is a fuel expansion tank that incorporates the fuel filler neck and is for vapor recovery before the fuel flows down to the tank. These often get plugged and don't vent causing filling problems exactly as you described. We replace them all the time, it's very common on 202's and 208's. They are very simple to replace, just remove the inner fender plastic and a few hoses. It takes about an hour.

I have the exact same problem too.

And thanks for this info benzaddict. This may be what a lot of us need to correct this nagging issue!

[allirroz]

Originally posted by benzaddict
In thr right rear wheelwell there is a fuel expansion tank that incorporates the fuel filler neck and is for vapor recovery before the fuel flows down to the tank. These often get plugged and don't vent causing filling problems exactly as you described. We replace them all the time, it's very common on 202's and 208's. They are very simple to replace, just remove the inner fender plastic and a few hoses. It takes about an hour.

Am planning to pass on my car to my wife and wouldnt want her to have difficulty filling the tank. It has been annoying but learned to live with it.
By chance would anyone know of exact part numbers of the parts that need replacing to eliminate this problem? TIA


EDIT: is this all what I need ? sold by autohausAZ
1164700129
Mercedes (OE)
Fuel Tank Filler Neck; Inlet Restrictor with White Nylon Flap
1 per car. Mercedes (OE)

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by !!!!!NJ Drive
you silly ppl pumping your own gas...

I have a friend who has a friend who owns the gas station where the accident happened and people died that caused that "no self service" law to be passed.

[ludachris]

mine does that sometimes too. i usually just move to the next pump or i pull the pump out a little bit to allow the vapor to vent.

[JRE320]

Originally posted by Nitrous911
Serious...I pay like $2.90 a gallon in the Bay Area.

Where in Bay Area are you located? Damn your gas is cheap. I don't see any gas station selling that price.

[Nitrous911]

Originally posted by JRE320
Where in Bay Area are you located? Damn your gas is cheap. I don't see any gas station selling that price.

Well back when I said that it was April 2005, so it has gone up quite a bit since then.

[Logic]

i see this issue sometimes at a gas station i always go to and i find that it depends on the pump your using . are you going to the same pump or gas station? if so try changing or avoid that pump that does that?

[C230KSPORT00]

Yea this happens to me almost every time I pump gas. I just adjust the angle of the gas pump and I hold it manually. Lol I didnt know everyone had this problem. Weird...

[Kropf]

Originally posted by !!!!!NJ Drive
you silly ppl pumping your own gas...

When I let station attendants pump gas into my previous non-Benz autos, it amazed me at how many scratches were on the rear fender around the filler door because they weren't paying attention with the nozzle!
So now I fill my own, thank you.

Looks like there are different versions of the Expansion Tank (104 in the listing):

[allirroz]

So , Am I seeing the picture right? That the expansion tank includes the filler neck, as benzaddict also indicated.

[allirroz]

Bringing back up an old thread.
Can anyone provide a part number on what to replace to fix this re-fueling annoyance? thanks

[DirectLA]

For those who haven't yet replaced the fuel expansion tank, if you simply twist the handle to one side or the other this fixes the issue and works every time for me. Pulling the handle out is risky as you could spill fuel on your paint or yourself.

The advantage to this method is that you don't have to remain at the pump like you would if you were lifting the handle up.