[angeliamce]

1995 C220 feels like car wants to die...could it be fuel filter??

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Over the last couple of weeks, car feels like it's going to die. Car has always been dependable, then my 19 yr daughter started using it around a month ago. Now when I drive it, it feels fine then I may come to a stop sign and when I pull out it feels like it's not getting any gas. It starts fine, so I was thinking time for a new fuel filter. Is this the symptons of needing a fuel filter, occasional feeling like it's not getting gas. Putt...Putt...sound. Thanks for any assistance. Basically I asking how to tell if one needs a fuel filter or fuel pump or something else?????????

 

[tirona]

fuel filter is a good place to start, it is cheap and easy to replace. if you don't want to wait for shipping, napa stores carry both "mann" and "bosch" fuel filter and costs around $15-20.
from your description most likely is the fuel filter. the car usually will start with a dirty fuel filter, if you had a bad fuel pump you would usually have difficulties starting the car or not starting it at all. do yourself a favor and change the fuel filter quick, since a dirty fuel filter will put more strain on the pump which is much more expensive. also make sure your daughter doesn't always let the fuel level get very low before refueling and that she doesn't put cheap gas with ethanol in it, premium is best.

 

[marvinstockman]

If problem is only at idle where you need the least amount of fuel, it's not the fuel filter. Dirty throttle body? Use throttle body cleaner, not carb cleaner.

 

[acousticplayerjb]

Unfortunately, this could be due to a number of problems. If you take your car to autozone, they'll hook a computer up to the car and see if it is sending any error messages. They'll do this for free, but you might have to actually recreate the problem with the computer hooked up to get a code. If you don't get a code, that significantly reduces the number of possible things that could be wrong.

The fuel filter is definitely a good place to start since it's cheap to replace. Honestly, even if it's not the problem, I'd still change it out anyways if you're not sure when it was last changed.

I'd also recommend checking the fuel pressure while the car is running. A fuel pressure gauge is pretty cheap online. I'm not sure the exact fuel pressure you should have, but in my 2000, c230 kompressor, it's around 44 to 46psi. If there's a lack of fuel pressure, you might have a problem with your fuel pressure regulator. If you're unfamiliar with that, let me know and I can go into more depth about how to check the fuel pressure and test the pressure regulator.

Does the car ever cut out while moving? I would be very weary of suspecting the fuel pump without trying other things first. Anyway, change the fuel filter and let us know how things go.

 

[MB-W202]

MAF, throttle body actuator. the actuator doesn't throw codes.