C240 W203 200. have two fuel tanks

[piperjon]

Hi guy,

My brother is going to buy a 2000 Mercedes Benz C240 Elegance W203 and the fuel gauge was not working. So it has gone to have it fixed before he picks it up. But reading the UK form it talks about 2 fuel tanks and what trouble they can have. But I can see that they were talking about diesels cars after I read the whole form.

So here in Australia do these Merc's have the same fuel tank system???
Regards
john

[Ivanerrol]

Two fuel tanks.
W211 has two fuel tanks.

I have read that fulling the fuel to maximum sometimes sorts out the fuel sender issue.
Problems start with the sender when too frequent running at very low fuel levels.

[Tony From West Oz]

Hi guy,

My brother is going to buy a 2000 Mercedes Benz C240 Elegance W203 and the fuel gauge was not working. So it has gone to have it fixed before he picks it up. But reading the UK form it talks about 2 fuel tanks and what trouble they can have. But I can see that they were talking about diesels cars after I read the whole form.

So here in Australia do these Merc's have the same fuel tank system???
Regards
john

The W202 has a "Saddle tank" (on all models) which straddles the driveshaft and exhaust pipe. The fuel is transferred to the "anti splash container" on the RHS of the tank, from both sides of the tank, using venturi activated by the fuel returning to the tank (excess fuel is pumped to the engine so that a large amount of fuel returns to the tank).
It is possible that the venturi on the RHS of the tank can block from contaminated fuel. If this happens, the remedy is to replace the fuel tank because the venturi is inaccessible.
If the venturi on the LHS of the tank gets blocked from contaminated fuel, it can be removed and cleaned, or replaced (it is part of the fuel sender unit for that side of the tank.)
Each side of the tank has a separate fuel gauge sender and the sum of theses gives the fuel gauge information on the total fuel quantity remaining.

I believe that the saddle tank continued to be a feature of later C class models.

[Ivanerrol]

I believe that the saddle tank continued to be a feature of later C class models.

It's jumped several models.
W203, W204, W209, W211 etc etc.

You can drop down the rear seat backs on some of these models

[Tony From West Oz]

I believe that the saddle tank continued to be a feature of later C class models.

It's jumped several models.
W203, W204, W209, W211 etc etc.

You can drop down the rear seat backs on some of these models

Ivanerrol, the W202 (that I had) did not have fold down rear seats, but had the 'saddle tank'. Were fold down rear seat backs an option for that model? The previously 'normal' tank location (for earlier models) between the passenger seat and the boot is incompatible with fold down rear seat backs. Thus the saddle tank design was introduced.
Are you saying that the "W203, W204, W209, W211" do not have a 'saddle tank'? Do they have separate fuel tanks? If so, how do they manage fuel usage between the 2 tanks?

[Ivanerrol]

Later models have saddle tanks with an ever increasing complexity of tank transfer and internal pumps.
The W211's internal fuel pumps are such that changing them is almost no longer a DIY job.

The drop down rear seats are an optional extra in later models - CLK's, CLC's - standard.

I guess that the W202's were still relying on the solid plate in the rear between the boot and rear seat for body strength integrity.

[piperjon]

Shame about MB spares closing there spare parts down. I only found out yesterday. But life goes on and I wish John & Sandra well.
John

[piperjon]

Hi again guy's.
My brother did buy this 2000 Mercedes Benz C240 Elegance W203. and has a few problems like a dead short when you leave the battery connected it is dead the next day or so. Also where is the dam oil dip stick to check the oil.
He is going to take it to a Auto electrician hopping he can find the problem.
John