Author Topic: Sending Unit (Read 20068 times)

bpossel · « **on:** March 08, 2007, 19:01:25 »

Hi All!

I recently replaced my sending unit. Is this the correct one... PN VDO 110 542 1204

The reason I ask is that I decided to run the tank down until my red light came on. Once the red light came on, I drove the car another ~20 miles.

When I then filled the tank, I was only able to pump in 16.1 gallons.

Something is not right. The tank should be ~21 gallons, and the reserve ~1-2 gallons...

Any idea on what could be the problem? Just starting to prepare for the trip to Joe's this summer

. Want to make sure that I know the limits of the gas & tank capacity, etc...

Thanks!
Bob

bpossel (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL / '97 E320

Ricardo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2007, 21:44:24 »

Bob
Is it possible some previous owner switched out the original tank for the smaller version? That's about the same as I get with the small tank in my early '67 250SL.

bpossel · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2007, 06:57:34 »

Hi Ricardo,

Actually, I installed a new MB gas tank (PN 113 470 07 01) a couple of years ago along with 6 new injectors & a rebuilt injection pump from Hans.

With your comment, I am going to call the Classic Center later when they open and see if this is the correct part number...

Thanks,
Bob

bpossel (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL / '97 E320

bpossel · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2007, 08:11:51 »

Just got off the phone with the Classic Center. I do have the correct part number, this is the larger capacity fuel tank.

I found an earlier post from Bruce that may help me?

"...I can usually get another about 4 gal and a "full" tank if I bring the nozzle about half way out and slowly add the fuel. If there is not a lot of other noises around I can here the fuel guggle as it gets close to full. I also keep the fuel nozzle close to the bottom of the neck. Bruce; 268Blaugrun(green) 1970 280SL; IL"

I am going to give this a try next time I fill 'er up!
Bob
------

quote:
Originally posted by bpossel

Hi Ricardo,

Actually, I installed a new MB gas tank (PN 113 470 07 01) a couple of years ago along with 6 new injectors & a rebuilt injection pump from Hans.

With your comment, I am going to call the Classic Center later when they open and see if this is the correct part number...

Thanks,
Bob

bpossel (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL / '97 E320

bpossel (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL / '97 E320

Roman Kishi · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2007, 22:12:29 »

Little off topic:

How low you can let the gauge go down before the light comes on? I never tried to find out. I think I chickened out of leting the tank go low on gas

In the photo, is it the 1st, 2nd or rd line from the top?

Download Attachment:

Tankgauge.jpg
18.01 KB

Roman
Northern Virginia
280 1969,Signal Red, Auto

Ricardo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2007, 08:15:29 »

Roman
I can't tell you where the light will come on but I can say that it may not come on at all, if the sending unit is gunked up. My sending unit initally seemed erratic and bounced around quite a bit. When I took it apart I found that the insides of the canister were all gunked up with crud and the light wouldn't come on until I cleaned it up properly, so you are wise to not let it get too low on fuel if you aren't sure the low level light is actually working.

ami · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2007, 13:47:30 »

Can I ask what this post by Roman actually says please. bpossel said that he had just replaced his unit, so whats the info about crud meant to do...help?

Try squeezing a bit more in after the sort of gas pump trigger auto shutoff is activated. Perhaps withdraw the nozzle a little. Some of my cars do this, I dont know know why, the naughty monkeys! Trying to worry Mommy.'

'

Why not try driving around with a can of gas in the truck and then seeing what happens. Do it a few times and take the average please.

quote:
Originally posted by Ricardo

Roman
I can't tell you where the light will come on but I can say that it may not come on at all, if the sending unit is gunked up. My sending unit initally seemed erratic and bounced around quite a bit. When I took it apart I found that the insides of the canister were all gunked up with crud and the light wouldn't come on until I cleaned it up properly, so you are wise to not let it get too low on fuel if you aren't sure the low level light is actually working.

1970 AC 428 coupe
1970 Fiat 850 Bertone
1970 Fiat 130 Coupe
1964 Porsche 356c
1966 Ford Mustang
1974 Lotus Europa
1988 Maserati Biturbo
1973 Maserati Bora
1983 TVR Tasmin
1979 BMW M-1
1973 Mercedes 3.5 280 se c
1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC
1968 Jaguar E type XKE
1970 Mercedes 280 SL
1954 Mercedes 300 SL
1989 ferrari 400i
1974 Ferrari 246 GTS

All perfect and used as often as possible. Currently having 1958 Aston DBS (301) and another 300 SL restored.

Roman Kishi · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2007, 17:54:15 »

Ami

This forum is for us who love and cherish our Pagodas.Its a place for the simple and the very complicated questions. It's not a place for sarcastic mordant comments. If you have any real comments or questions please forward it.

Roman
Northern Virginia
280 1969,Signal Red, Auto

Kemal · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2007, 19:17:37 »

Well said Roman.

Kemal 280 SL Manual

saygold · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2007, 23:20:01 »

When I first got my car, the guage was way off. The red light would come on after about 15 gallons. A new gauge fixed the problem. The last time my guage came on, I drove for another 30 miles or so. I went to the gas station the next morning, and ran out just as I was pulling up to the gas pump.

I also have had the problem with putting in the full volume in the tank, but I though it was a function of how much "stuff" was in the trunk.

Has anyone looked at the sending unit closely? I thought the "red light" activation point could be adjusted slightly at the top of the gas tank. I do not have any of the maintenance books with me for reference at this time.

Ken
1966 230SL (4-speed, euro, and too far away!)

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2007, 00:26:20 »

I've seen the light come on only once in my 8 or so years of Pagoda ownership; the car started stalling only a few miles later! (and I had to revert to the emergency tank I tend to carry with me for these occasions).

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

ami · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2007, 02:47:11 »

my English is formal and sometimes my tone is misunderstood. I am 'a foriegner' so please forgive me., I learn't through very strange teachers, so once again I apologise. Especially to Roman as I meant the comment for Ricardo. I agree with you love about this forum and I love it too and I have many cars that I love inluding a concours condition pagoda that took nearly 50000 dollars to put right, so I do know about cherishing cars. I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on cars making them beautiful. I know Cherish..... but I still don't know what his post actually says, thats all. What am I like?'

' My comment about the gas nozzle is valid. I really do suggest that he tries this.

quote]Originally posted by rkishi

Ami

This forum is for us who love and cherish our Pagodas.Its a place for the simple and the very complicated questions. It's not a place for sarcastic mordant comments. If you have any real comments or questions please forward it.

Roman
Northern Virginia
280 1969,Signal Red, Auto
[/quote]

1970 AC 428 coupe
1970 Fiat 850 Bertone
1970 Fiat 130 Coupe
1964 Porsche 356c
1966 Ford Mustang
1974 Lotus Europa
1988 Maserati Biturbo
1973 Maserati Bora
1983 TVR Tasmin
1979 BMW M-1
1973 Mercedes 3.5 280 se c
1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC
1968 Jaguar E type XKE
1970 Mercedes 280 SL
1954 Mercedes 300 SL
1989 ferrari 400i
1974 Ferrari 246 GTS

All perfect and used as often as possible. Currently having 1958 Aston DBS (301) and another 300 SL restored.

glennard · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2007, 07:53:54 »

All in the spirit and category of 'Permissible Pagoda Persiflage'. -after 40 years of 113 mania.

quote:
Originally posted by rkishi

Ami

This forum is for us who love and cherish our Pagodas.Its a place for the simple and the very complicated questions. It's not a place for sarcastic mordant comments. If you have any real comments or questions please forward it.

Roman
Northern Virginia
280 1969,Signal Red, Auto

Ricardo · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2007, 09:09:45 »

Hi Ami
Let me try to explain what I was suggesting for Roman. His question asked "when will the warning light come on to show that you are almost out of fuel". My reply was that it might not work at all if the sending unit in the gas tank was not working properly. From my experience the sending unit on my car was clogged up from sediment and not functioning correctly. I found this on two other Mercedes I own as well, so I suggested that if he had not seen the warning light come on, then perhaps it was not working.
It is sometimes easy to "assume" meaning to words, that may not have been intended, but we are all just trying to help each other and maybe add a little humour.

ami · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2007, 10:18:05 »

Hello

I know, but he started his post saying the he had REPLACED the sender unit so the problem could not be that the sender unit was covered in crud, could it? Thats all please.:X

quote:
Originally posted by Ricardo

Hi Ami
Let me try to explain what I was suggesting for Roman. His question asked "when will the warning light come on to show that you are almost out of fuel". My reply was that it might not work at all if the sending unit in the gas tank was not working properly. From my experience the sending unit on my car was clogged up from sediment and not functioning correctly. I found this on two other Mercedes I own as well, so I suggested that if he had not seen the warning light come on, then perhaps it was not working.
It is sometimes easy to "assume" meaning to words, that may not have been intended, but we are all just trying to help each other and maybe add a little humour.

1970 AC 428 coupe
1970 Fiat 850 Bertone
1970 Fiat 130 Coupe
1964 Porsche 356c
1966 Ford Mustang
1974 Lotus Europa
1988 Maserati Biturbo
1973 Maserati Bora
1983 TVR Tasmin
1979 BMW M-1
1973 Mercedes 3.5 280 se c
1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC
1968 Jaguar E type XKE
1970 Mercedes 280 SL
1954 Mercedes 300 SL
1989 ferrari 400i
1974 Ferrari 246 GTS

All perfect and used as often as possible. Currently having 1958 Aston DBS (301) and another 300 SL restored.

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2007, 15:13:57 »

( sigh )
Do I have to explain everything? ( lol )

The 65 liter fuel tank will go to the reserve light after 59 liters are used if the light is working. There is no real reserve and the fuel just runs out until the tank is empty; the light only tells you that you're running low.

The light works from inside of the sender. There's a metal plate on the bottom side of the float that comes into contact with two pins at the bottom of the sender which closes the circuit to make the light work. If the pins or the plate are covered in crud it probably won't work. This light has to be working in the gauge or it won't matter if the sender is working but most problems like this are found in the sender.
The bottom of the sender has a steel disc over top of a plastic cover. Remove these parts and you will notice that the plastic cover has a maze on the top side. This maze has a small area that lets the fuel drain out as the tank gets near empty as well as the tube having two drain holes. These drains allow the fuel level on the gauge to go down slowly and not bounce around as the fuel moves around inside of the tank. In a sense, this acts as a sort of dampener.
If any of these holes are pluged the sender won't function properly. In most cases only the bottom drain on the maze will be plugged. This can make the sender give out false readings and leave you stranded without any fuel when you thought you had a 1/4 tank left. At the very least, this tends to retard the function of the reserve light if the fuel remains inside of the sender.
It's very easy to clean the reserve light contacts but be VERY careful with the small wires inside of the sender. They WILL break easily.

Dan Caron's
SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
slbarn.mbz.org
1 877 661 6061

J. Huber · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2007, 16:45:34 »

I don't know about you guys, but I sure think its nice having the Benz Dr. back and setting us straight on things! He'll have this place running like a top again in no time...

James
63 230SL

66andBlue · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2007, 17:24:42 »

quote:
Originally posted by Benz Dr.

( sigh ) Do I have to explain everything? ( lol ) ..

Of course, I was waiting for it for too long - just make sure not get into this "dreaded pretzel hold" again!

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

Ricardo · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2007, 19:04:45 »

And as a final comment from me on this....
Ami... I agree that Bob said he replaced his sending unit....my answer was directed to Roman who asked a separate question from Bob's original, but still looking for some information...which I thought I could help with....no disrespect to Bob's original question intended.....
As you explore the site you will see that often an original topic or thread will get sidetracked by other questions and sometimes go off in a completely different direction....maybe we should try to keep things in their own thread but stuff happens and it's all interesting to most of us, most of the time....kind of democratic really...

J. Huber · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2007, 22:53:07 »

Hey Ricardo, I found your input completely relevant. The thread is entitled "Sending Unit" -- and while you deviated slightly from Bob's exact scenerio, yours was good info. Not everyone here has identical problems, and I suspect that multiple angles on a topic will generally help the most people.

And, about a thread being hijacked and taken in a completely different direction -- your talking to the king. It may annoy some, but it is certainly not done to take away from the original post.

By the way, once my red light comes on, I believe I have about 2 gallons left. And, when filling, if I just let the pump click off, my tank is not full. I can sometimes hand pump at least another 2 gallons. I usually listen for the fuel to come up the filler neck.

James
63 230SL

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2007, 00:38:33 »

He he he......

I forgot all about the pretzel hold story. Perhaps one of the best I've ever told. Not as good as my rabbit story, but pretty close.
( I suppose someone will dig it up now that we've talked about it )

Dan Caron's
SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
slbarn.mbz.org
1 877 661 6061

waqas · « **Reply #21 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:14:22 »

Hey Ricardo,
I just did a search on the fuel tank sender (my fuel needle is doing some pretty wild dancing while I drive), and I found this thread, which had nothing to do with my problem. Too bad you couldn't stay on topic and keep your stray comments to yourself and help me continue on in the dark. But noooo... you had to mention possible sender problems, that the sender might need cleaning, and now I need to go check out the sender and possibly clean it out... thanks for making my life more difficult!

Oh wait, there's no place for sarcasm on this forum!

Now I need to go search out the good doctor's pretzel story before my life can be complete...

WAQAS in Austin, Texas

Ricardo · « **Reply #22 on:** May 24, 2007, 21:50:14 »

Waqas
Now pay attention to the directions from Dr. Dan and don't be breaking that fine resistance wire inside there, or it won't be me making your life more difficult...it's 1 ohm per foot, I believe, but I couldn't find any... take your time, unscrew the small nut on the bottom and carefully pull off the canister...as Dan mentioned they are a nifty little device, "those clever Germans"...
Be careful around your open tank and DON'T try to vacuum the crumbs around the sending unit hole.....

waqas · « **Reply #23 on:** July 01, 2007, 16:00:10 »

I finally got around to removing my fuel sender... and it had disintegrated! When I pulled it out from the opening, the canister had separated. The bottom nut somehow came off (or corroded off), and the bottom is floating around in the tank somewhere. Thankfully, I was able to pull out the canister using a pair of tweezers and needle-node pliers. I replaced the unit with a temporary replacement from my parts car. This definitely explains the violent bouncing exhibited by the needle!

Does anyone know if having the bottom plastic disk bouncing around in the tank will be a problem? (I'm not sure if it's likely to clog any outlets/inlets...)

WAQAS in Austin, Texas

rmmchl · « **Reply #24 on:** July 01, 2007, 18:35:15 »

i don't believe these tank hold 21 gallons--------------i know what the manuel says, but I'm being honest-I'll fill up when it looks like its on empty and only put no more than 14 gallons in.

News:

Author Topic: Sending Unit (Read 20068 times)

bpossel

Ricardo

bpossel

bpossel

Ricardo

ami

saygold

ami

glennard

Ricardo

ami

Ricardo

Ricardo