Fuel filter/water separator service ... what?

BodhiBenz1987 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:28 am

I spoke with my father this afternoon and he told me he had just picked up his CRD (we both have 2005 CRDs) from the dealer, which had charged his $240 to replace the water separator unit as a part of routine maintenence. They told him this must be replaced every XXX amount of miles (I don't remember the specific mileage of my dad's vehicle or what maintence plan he's on) ... I was under the impression that a water separator element was to be replaced along with the fuel filter element, NOT that the entire unit needed to be replaced. Now, I question this dealer's idea of what needs to be done to the CRD because they have a history of patchy knowledge of the vehicle. They also tried to push my dad into another oil change (he had changed it on his own less than a month ago) because the oil looked "really dirty." Really? Diesel oil that looks dirty? Oh the horror!

Is that right? We're supposed to replace the water separator every 30k for $240?

My next question: Where is the separator located, and can the element be replaced easily on one's own. Anything that can be done sans-dealer is a good thing.

05infernoCRDL · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:19 am

i was under the impression it just needed to be drained out the bottom.... brb

*edit* as per FSM Associated pics not included

(1) Disconnect the negative battery cable.
(2) Disconnect the water in fuel (WIF) wiring harness connector located under the fuel filter.
(3) Connect a drain hose to the WIF sensor.
(4) Place the other end of the drain hose in a approved and properly marked container.
(5) Open the bleed screw on top of the fuel filter housing.
(6) Loosen the WIF sensor on the bottom of the fuel filter to begin draining.
(7) Allow the filter to drain into the container until fuel is visible.
(8) Tighten the WIF sensor, remove the drain hose and clean any spillage.
(9) Tighten the bleeder screw on top of the fuel filter housing.

*edit edit* to remove WIF sensor
(1) Disconnect negative battery cable.
(2) Disconnect WIF sensor electrical connector.
(3) Drain fuel filter/water separator assembly by
loosening the WIF at bottom of fuel filter and opening the bleeder screw on top of the filter/separator.
(Refer to 14 - FUEL SYSTEM - STANDARD PROCEDURE).
(4) Unscrew WIF sensor from fuel filter/water separator assembly.

the WIF sensor must be expensive... seems like a 45 min job

*edit x3*
another familiar face from MS shop

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

What the heck is a water separater unit? Its the FUEL FILTER. Your dad was had.

dgeist · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:10 am

Drewd wrote:

What the heck is a water separater unit? Its the FUEL FILTER. Your dad was had.

Da. The "water separator" is the small empty cavity at the bottom of the fuel filter. If there's water in it, you connect a little drain hose (if you care about cleanliness), unscrew the thing a little, drain out X amount of water (which may or may not be there, depending on the conditions, etc). Re-prime the filter, and you're done.

The fuel filter unit itself might run 40 bucks if you get it from the dealer, but it sounds like they charged him 2 hours of labor to do a 10 minute job.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:08 am

Most dealers are clueless about the CRD - I'd bet they replaced the entire fuel head instead of the filter only
In the parts manual Fuel/Water seperator is the entire unit 52129237AA ~ $150 and the Filter only is 52129238AA ~$40

cheaper online
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=214583

kccrd · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:35 pm **Posts:** 267

When I noticed a little smoke coming from the fuel heater connection and the inside of the plug a little burnt I took it to my jeep dealer and complained he said he would look into the problem. The next day I got a call from the dealer and said my part was in, the day before they had ordered a new fuel filter head unit so I showed up took the 155.00 part home exchanged it in about 10 minutes took the old one back received a full credit on my credit card problem solved you should never have to change the head unit unless it is leaking or you have a problem with the heater portion. The water separator is in the filter like the other person stated. Oh and by the way I pay $25.00 and some change for my fuel filters from my jeep dealer you can deal with them if you try a little and be nice to the counter guy that always goes a long way.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:41 pm

Factory service schedule in the manual lists at least every 25K miles to replace the fuel filter cartridge - not the entire bloody ASSEMBLY!!

Along with the comment about the engine oil looking "dirty" - these people are either clueless, thieves, or both. Best thing your father could do would be to find another place to get his CRD serviced ASAP.

BTW, how's your '87 300D running these days?

BodhiBenz1987 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:55 pm

Thanks guys, that's what I suspected. I don't think they were intentionally trying to cheat my dad. My guess would be they read "change fuel filter/water separator element" and thought that meant replace the head unit. They don't seem to like to waste time on logic or careful reading when it comes to the CRDs. My dad and I both took our CRDs in there for their first oil changes two years ago, and they put 12 quarts of oil in both cars. Carelessness. I don't think they're greedy or mean or out to get us, I just think they don't know much about CRDs and don't care, and don't want to waste their time on them. I also don't think they particularly care for me or my dad, and I'm not entirely sure why. I have always tried to be polite and friendly to them, but they seem offended by me. I think it might be because I ask too many questions out of natural curiousity, and they read that as a threat. They got really curt with me a year ago when I brought my car in and told them about a hissing sound when the turbo spooled up that sounded like a hose leaking. They test drove it and called me to tell me there was nothing wrong with my car ... it was just the sound of the turbo spooling up. It was the only time I ever felt that "duh, you stupid woman" vibe from any automotive place. I was polite but insistant that it was not the normal sound, and I could tell they were offended that I was basically telling them they were wrong, which they were ... a week later I had their diesel specialist look at it and, lo and behold, there was a leak in the turbo inlet hose. I think between that and the 12-quart incident, they're just embarassed or resentful, so they roll their eyes when I come in, or my dad. It's frustrating because we're both intelligent car owners and we both try hard to treat the dealer employees with respect. But enough ranting ...

I haven't personally bought parts from the dealer, but my dad has and hasn't had any problem at the parts counter. Apparantly the parts guys didn't get the anti-CRD memo.

Maybe it's just coincidence, but the staff members at every parts counter I've ever been to at a Mercedes dealership or at a Jeep dealership have always been really friendly and as helpful as possible to me. Service is another story.

BodhiBenz1987 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:11 pm

retmil46 wrote:

Factory service schedule in the manual lists at least every 25K miles to replace the fuel filter cartridge - not the entire bloody ASSEMBLY!!

Along with the comment about the engine oil looking "dirty" - these people are either clueless, thieves, or both. Best thing your father could do would be to find another place to get his CRD serviced ASAP.

BTW, how's your '87 300D running these days?

I don't think they're actually trying to rip anybody off, I just think they're totally careless (see the stories in my post above). They do the minimum, which apparantly doesn't involve reading manuals, using common sense or learning basic information about the technology they're servicing. My dad and I have started doing our own oil changes on the CRDs, and it looks like now we're going to try to do everything possible on our own ... my dad hesitated to take it back to this dealer, but decided to give them another chance. I get the feeling this was the last chance. There's another dealer about five miles away that's starting to look like a better bet if there's something that needs professional service.

The Benz is running great ... knock on wood ... it's been kind to me this winter. Nearing 240,000 miles ... a few miles ago a hit a great "milestone" ... 238,509 was exactly 50,000 miles since the MB dealership told my dad to "retire" the car (another careless-dealership story). I'm looking forward to some projects when the weather gets nice enough, including some new speakers and audio fun.

BodhiBenz1987 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:07 am

Good news ... turns out i misunderstood my dad, and he didn't have this "maintenence" done. The dealer recommended it, for $255, as well as another oil change ("the oil was dirty"). They replaced the EGR valve under warranty, and while they were doing that I guess they went searching for non-existant maintenence issues. My dad was smart enough not to have them do it. He's going to buy a filter and change it on his own.

Fuel filter/water separator service ... what?

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