450SL 80 Runs rich, smell gas while driving, black powder from tailpipe, get 2 mpg
HI All,
I am new to this forum. I have owned a 450SL since 2000, my only car.
Since moving to Vegas (1 year ago)I brought my car to 3 different German repair shop here in Vegas, now my car is absolutely a mess. Such a mess I can't drive it anymore.
I do not know anything about mechanic, but I want to fix it myself now.
I have spent over 15K on this car which I can't drive anymore.
I REALLY NEED HELP!!! I am a woman and don't know much about mechanic, pictures and explanation would be great for me.
If you know someone in Vegas that can help me , it would be a blessing too.
Thanks
Jackie
Here are the pbs :
1. Smell of gas (or mixture with gas) when driving, it is so strong I can't drive it anymore
2. I get 2 miles per gallon (YES)
3. Runs rich (car starts great, runs great) - Didn't pass the smog test for the 1st time in years.
4. Black powdery stuff coming from tailpipe when starting, running...
When I accelerate gray smoke coming out of tailpipe.
What was done on the car this year
1. Full pump and all hoses
2. Intake manifold
3. All bad hoses were changed all over
4. Car got tune up every 6 months
5. Aux fan changed
5. Thermostat changed
6. Cram shaft
7. Oil pan gasket
9. Engine seal (don't know the exact word)
10. Last tune up 2 months ago (changes coolant as well)
11. Coolant bucket changed
What I did by following what some of you said on this forum :
1. change gas cap, didn't do anthing
2. Open trunk, removed tire, checked with full gas tank if there is a leak inside the big plastic box.. NONE
3. Vaccum (not sure what to look at), the WUR has one hose not connected, I read it's normal.
4. I would expect with all my tune up done that all filters are new. I checked air filter, seems ok (I noticed oil inside by the air filter)
HOW DO I START TROUBLESHOOTING MY CAR ?
THANK YOU TO ALL.
What year is the car? What have prior mechanics diagnosed the problem as?
1980, roadster 450SL.
It all started when I moved to Vegas.
The first repair shop was great but Sig Autohaus has retired, he did change seals and gaskets. Car had no leaks and he fixed them all. He changed the cam shaft too. The car was running like a charm after Sig worked on it.
Later on, I changed all 4 tires. A couple weeks later I had a little noise on the back right side of the car. I didn't think of the tire, I went to a German car repair (SIG HAD CLOSED his shop). They told me it was the full pump that needed to be changed, then all the hoses under as well.
From that day my gas mileage and smell started. I returned to them they told me there were no problem with the full pump, charged me the $110 for the check up.
I had the tire repaired a the tire shop a few days later, it was not mounted properly and was flat every so often. The noise might have been just that.
Later on I had the car overheating, same repair shop changed the coolant bucket. Car was still overheating and I decided to go to another repair shop german car shop. They kept the car almost 6 weeks and I returned it 3 times. They changed the aux fan, the intake manifold, changed all the hoses in the engine.
I Got the car back, car was still overheating, they kept it a few days, when I took it back, I got stuck again, car overheating and shutting off.
I requested a thermostat change and coolant change.
From that day on, the car has been smelling gas, getting 2 miles per gallon, smoke coming out, black powdery stuff coming from the exhaust.
I went to the shop to tell them how unhappy I was and my car was a mess and they all tell you that what they did on the car couldn't create my problem.
My car has passed the emission test for 8 years, only this year it failed because these guys messed it up and I am certain of that. My car was serviced in San diego CA for years and was always running fine, moved to Tampa FL car was serviced by a german guy, excellent mechanics.
What could have created that mess ?
I have ordered the DVDs on how to repair this car. I need some good advices on troubleshooting.
You'll find three competent shops in Vegas right here: NV, Las Vegas. I'm sure any one of the three can bail you out.
I checked your link, I have been to 2 of them, 2 bad ones which overcharged me.
One mentioned SIG, this guy was great but he retired.
I will check one on your list that you mentioned which I don't know.
TX
What year is the car? What have prior mechanics diagnosed the problem as?
Something I didn't mention or was not clear on, is that the car was fine before all that repairs that was done here in Vegas.
When I went back to these guys, none wants to be responsible, all said that their work can NOT affect the pb I have.
After my emission smog test failed I went to a European car shop to get it fixed. He told me "give the burden to somebody else, you'll save money"
What can someone like me with no mechanic background do in that case?? LEARN and get my hands on it...
I am so pissed that I can NOT go back to a car shop anymore.
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450SL 80 Runs rich, smell gas while driving, black powder from tailpipe, get 2 mpg 
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