fuel pump relay location

[280Ejim]

Hi, my car is a 1982 280E. It seems that the Fuel Pump Relay has failed, so I'd like to see if it can be repaired/resolder joints. I've removed the panel below the glovebox. If someone could please give me instructions what I need to do to find it I'd be most grateful. Thanks very much for the help, jim.

[CraigB]

W126 from that era and I think earlier W116 are in the big box with the fuses under the bonnet. I think I have seen W115 with it under side kick panel on drivers side. I've never worked on W123 but I am sure someone like Tsharkey will tell you exactly where it is when he logs on and sees your message.

[John Green]

I've removed the panel below the glovebox. If someone could please give me instructions what I need to do to find it I'd be most grateful.

Your almost there. 82 models had the relay a little higher up the A pillar, look between the glove box housing and the pillar.

[280Ejim]

Hi John and thanks for your reply. Just checked, and it's not there, so my car must be a 1983 model. My mistake. If you could let me know where the Relay is for the 1983 model I'd appreciate it, thanks, jim.

[nea100]

Hello Jim,

Its been a few years, but when I changed mine in a 1984 280CE I believe the relay is behind the (vertical) kick panel on the left side footwell.

That was also where I found and recently changed a 1982 230E relay.

Good luck mate.

[280Ejim]

Thanks nea100, That's probably just where the Relay on my car is as well. Can you please give me instructions on how to remove that panel without damaging anything. Thanks very much, jim

[tsharkey]

At the risk of letting Craig down (and in my defence, I only own diesels).


Are you 100% sure its not where John describes - Up high in line with the glove box ? Even the late model 230TEs have them up there.

If it is behind the panel

1. Leave the upper panel out
2. Prize the plastic at foot of the door well up (it sits under it)
3. Remove passenger carpet
4. Gently lift door trim rubber off it (it will hammer down)
5. It is press clipped in in about the middle, it will spring out

[280Ejim]

Hi Tim and thanks very much for your help, much appreciated. My concern when removing trim panels is to prevent damage to anything. They are very cleverly designed of course, but sometimes the small tabs or clips can be broken if the parts are removed wrongly. By someone who doesn't know what they're doing - me. I always check youtube for info and demonstrations, but for this job I could find very little. In the end I looked on ebay in the U.K. hoping to find the pieces of trim involved for sale. They were, so from the photos I was able to see the reverse side and edges of all the pieces, and with that info, I could remove them all safely. The Relay was behind the side trim panel, about halfway down. Sure enough, the solder on one of the connections had split, so I carefully resoldered it, making the joint just a tad beefier. Hopefully it will last another 40 years. My fabulous car is now singing again. Thanks to everyone who posted, jim.

[CraigB]

Well done - that's a good news story and evidence that even if this forum is a bit quieter these days, it still works!