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B200 stalling after gassing up

16K views 32 replies 12 participants last post by  Road_Ghost 
#1 ·
I picked up a used 2006 B200 with 115,000 Kms on it last week. It runs fine and all that except for a stubborn 'check engine ' light and the fact that it has a hard time starting after fill ups. The engine shudders and dies a few times before finally starting up. I have checked with 2 mechanics and both are saying fuel vapors are to blame, although they did not tell me the codes. Has this happened to any of you before? My first Benz and I hope I won't be disappointed. Thanks....
 
#2 ·
The charcoal canister circuit may be messed up. Do you "squeeze in every last drop" when you are filling? Get the actual code from the person who did the diagnosis and tell us what it is.
 
#3 · (Edited)
#4 ·
pfsantos, I have gassed up 3 times so far (I do about 1000 kms a week) and the last time i went for 3/4 tank and it stalled too.

Mike Tee, I did the 'squeeze to the last drop' the first 2 fill-ups. I will see another mechanic on the weekend and will get the codes this time.

that code reader has been on the radar recently, perhaps now is the time to get one. Any good brands or will a CrappyTire one suffice?
 
#5 ·
Mike Tee, I did the 'squeeze to the last drop' the first 2 fill-ups. I will see another mechanic on the weekend and will get the codes this time.
What you have almost certainly done is fill the charcoal canister lines with liquid fuel, this is what is causing the stalling and the CEL codes. You must NEVER fill a post-1975 gasoline car beyond the first click off, or this will happen. You may get lucky and find the system self-corrects after some weeks, but most likely the canister is hooped and needs to be replaced.
 
#6 ·
meng83 - please fill in your profile with location...

Since you mentioned 'Crappy Tire', I take it you're in Canada. Yes, the Readers there are fine. You can also check Princess Auto. They're sometimes on special there too.

What Mike said is correct, but since I'm an optimist, I'll say maybe in time the Charcoal canister and lines will drain/evaporate and you won't have to spend a dime. I know some Charcoal canisters have a drain at the bottom. Let me google it...

Bert Rowe's Mercedes-Benz-'A'-class info. Fuel Flap lock, Fuel Filter, Fuel lines, Petrol Tank, Petrol Pump, Fuel Level Sensor.

looks like the charcoal canister *may* drain/empty to the filter then to the engine
 
#7 ·
pfsantos, that's a long tutorial and way to technical for me! thanks though...and yeah, I'm in Toronto!

Mike Tee, the terms CEL and the charcoal canister lines are new to me. when filling up, I have always 'clicked' the pump to round off to the next dollar without damage (so maybe I've met my match.. er Mercedes..)
 
#8 ·
CEL = check engine light

Charcoal canister = device to capture Hydrocarbon fumes instead of venting them to the atmosphere - the charcoal canister has a purge valve that instead redirects these fumes to the intake air, so the HC are burnt in the cylinders.

You should have the codes read to see if my guess is correct.
 
#9 ·
I'm sure that the other guys with the charcoal fill thing are more likely right than I am, but one summer, a boat that I sailed would stall when the tank was relatively full. It turned out to be a soiled fuel filter in the feed hose.
Just throwing it out there incase it may be the same situation :)
 
#11 ·
I had the same issue on my wife's old 99.5 Jetta 2.0L. Not sure if the B has one, but replacing the Purge Valve (Called N80 Purge Valve on vwvortex.com) fixed it and I cleared the code myself with a OBD2 scanner. I took it to a local vw specialist who perform a major tune up and when the code came back said it was sediment in the fuel tank. (total BS, on vwvortex, there are thread with the same issue and the same fix was tried at VW dealerships) so the error code must have been incorrect or misleading to the mechanic. I replaced the valve and it was fixed instantly.
This was all caused by trying to top off the tank. Don't do it! There's a little sticker that says DO NOT TOP OFF This is the result.

Anthony
 
#12 ·
thanks for all your kind replies. i was supposed to see another mechanic this past weekend but couldnt make it so i ordered myself a scanner to see those codes for myself. if its any good indication, she started up on the second try.
 
#13 ·
I finally made it to MB on the Queensway and had the 'vent valve for evaporative emissions control system' replaced yesterday. the valve was stuck open. my reading was code P0441 - evaporative emissions control and it kept coming back. Hopefully that solves the problem. you guys were right! Thanks again.:thumbsup:
 
#14 ·
Could you show us a pic of the part or location of it for future reference? It would help a lot, especially those without WIS. (Like me) Thanks.

Anthony
 
#16 ·
Has anyone here actually replaced/cleaned the purge valve? I just can't seem to see it in my '06 B200 turbo (or maybe I've just got really bad eyes?).

I've used the purge valve location illustration posted previously but I can't seem to match it with anything under the hood. Hopefully someone can upload another picture... :) Thanks.
 
#17 ·
B200 / 2006 engine won’t start after put gas in the tank

I see from discussions that the problem might be caused by the charcoal canister but I am still confused (not sure).

First time engine didn't start after I filled up the tank to the top. I called towing service. When they brought the car to my house and put it down on the road - it started.

Second time (2 days later) I thought I can outsmart the problem and added only 20 litters (about 3/4 tank full) - it didn't start again... I called towing service again. When they brought the car to my house and put it down on the road - it started.

Third time (five days later) I thought I can still outsmart the problem and added only 25 litters doing it extremely slowly - adding a drop / per second... same result engine didn't start. I called towing service. This time they were too slow to respond. Before the towing truck came I tried a few times and suddenly the engine started and went home without towing help.

What I learned is: It was a matter of time after fueling up. So per my observation it was 50 min after fueling when the engine started.

Any thoughts for possible reason / cure?
I ordered and waiting for a Bluetooth adapter car codes reader but my concern is that there was no error displayed at any time. So I am not sure if the reader will see some error codes...

Thanks
 
#18 ·
Could be that your starter or possibly your starter relay are on the way out..

Check to make sure that your battery and starter connections are tight..and not corroded..and that your battery is in proper working order..

Keep us in the loop on this one please..
 
#21 ·
I should clarify:
When I try to start after fueling the engine is cranking normally. Battery, starter etc. is working just fine but the engine does not start. I wonder if it could be a sensor / computer issue. Somehow it sense a fuel has been added and then blocks the ignition somehow for a certain time...
 
#31 ·
Hi folks my case is closed now - it was faulty EVAP purge valve.
Unfortunately I had to go to local (Canada) Mercedes dealership as other mechanics suggested.
The total cost of the repair was CA$ 540 incl. diagnostics / scanning, labor and tax. The valve itself was CA$ 239.
 
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