Changing fuel lines on E320cdi

[jonny2tanx]

Hi

I am trying to change the fuel pipes on a 2000 E320 cdi. I have changed the one from the filter to the feed pump but the one from feed pump to hp pump and hp pump to rail are proving very difficult due to needing hands the size of Thumbelina and actually having them the size of Shrek. I'm considering removing the brake vacuum pump to try to get more room. Am I opening up a whole new can or worms if I do this? I have tried to remove the cowl and fan but they are absolute to do.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm changing the pipes to try to cure an intermittent problem with starting which I believe is air in the system (I can see bubbles in the pipe from filter to feed pump wen I rev the car hard)

 

[tmaoahthfte]

Hi Jonny, I've recently changed the same pipes on my 220, I found it much easier to fit the pipes without the hp pump in situ as I'd removed it to change the seals. This meant that it was a bit of a pain to refit the bottom mounting bolt on the pump as it's hidden slightly by the pipes but overall I found it easier doing it that way round. Get some new clips if you haven't already, I bought six as I knew I'd be breaking some before I got it right
Bob

 

[ringway]

The job is easier if the cowl and fan are removed. You need something quite shallow to get the fan off though and added dexterity to get it back on again.

 

[Dunhamkid]

The job is easier if the cowl and fan are removed. You need something quite shallow to get the fan off though and added dexterity to get it back on again.

I agree!!

 

[jonny2tanx]

Thanks all for the advice. I was going to remove the fan and cowl but see its not easy for a person with fingers the size of Lincolnshire's finest pork sausages. Do you need a special tool to remove the fan?

 

[ringway]

Thanks all for the advice. I was going to remove the fan and cowl but see its not easy for a person with fingers the size of Lincolnshire's finest pork sausages. Do you need a special tool to remove the fan?

You can use an allen key to get into the gap (rotate the fan to the top to remove each bolt). The tricky thing is replacing the bolts though, a lot of patience is required.


Proser (Mark) a member on this forum has a special tool for the job.

I'll send him a PM to find out what he normally uses.

 

[BlackC55]

Remove the vac pump then it's a doddle.

 

[proser]

To get the fan shoud off I use a long pry bar to push the fins of the fan towards the engine and then the shroud will clear.

To get the fan off I use a long handled allen key (5mm). To get better leverage (when the fan hasn't been off before) I use a 8mm deep socket and extension bar.

To fix the fan back on I use the flat on from this set with a 5mm hex bit. Makes life very easy

If your no too far away, come by and I'll help you out in getting the thing sorted.

 

[jonny2tanx]

Thanks all for the advice, and especially Mark for the offer of assistance. Unfortunately the way the car is at the moment I dont think I'd make it to Stafford! G/f tried it yesterday morning for a 10 mile round trip and all was fine, whilst I was swearing at a patio door I was trying to fit (heavier but easier to fit than MB fuel pipes). I tried the car an hour or so later and it wouldnt start. There was fuel in the pipe from filter to feed pump with no sign of bubbles, so am starting to wonder now if it is air in the system as that is where I have seen bubbles previously. I left the car for an hour, came back and it fired up first time.

Someone suggested it may be the fuel shut off valve, whatever and wherever that is. Is this a possibility?

 

[jonny2tanx]

Changed the pipes from feed pump to what I now know is the shut off valve and hp pump to rail yesterday. Absolute to do even with the brake vacuum pump removed - the clip under the hp pump was probably the most frustrating part. The car started up after a few turns, and seems to run ok after a few false starts. However, there is still what looks like bubbles passing through the pipe from filter to feed pump when I rev the car hard. These dont seem to be passed through to the other end of that pipe where it goes into the feed pump. Could this be diesel froth (if there is such a thing) rather than bubbles?

 

[jonny2tanx]

An update: Just been out in the car for a few miles - ran fine all the time. Got home, lifted the bonnet and the fuel lines were all full that I could see. A very minor amount of 'froth' in the pipe from the filter when revved hard, but the car kept on running fine for a few minutes afterwards. I closed the bonnet (with a bit of a thud) and the engine cut out immediately. Still appears to be plenty of fuel in the lines. Thoughts now turning to things electrical, and possibly the aforementioned fuel shut off valve.

Is there any way to test this item?

 

[BlackC55]

Can I make a suggestion.

Rather than guessing at the fault get it diagnosed by a specilaist or a dealer. It will save you money in the long run.

My guess is a fuel pressure issue caused by a failed component. The red herring is the car cutting out when the bonnet was shut.