CDI FUEL FILTER?

[43scabs]

so my 2005 cdi has had its first incident. it died all of a sudden as i was pulling away from a stop light. i was heading down a hill so i was not really on the accelerator, and i didn't even notice that it had stalled until i saw the lights in the cluster come on. i coasted to the side and turned the key off. no weird noises, no weird performance issues. it was almost as if i had bumped the key somehow. tried to start it and it cycled the engine but it never started. all the fluids and temps were good. i was very displeased. once i finally cooled down (i was on very little sleep and was convinced it was gonna cost me a ton to fix, it was late, had to wait two hours for a tow, ect.) i thought about it and decided that what it is doing is sure a lot like when the fuel filter on my 82 MB 300td got clogged. it wants to start, there's just no fuel getting in there. i think. the only thing i dont get is that it seemed just fine before the incident. i had been on the freeway, it was being a little dream right before it ruined my night. i did try it today, and it sounded the same. cycled, but no fire. so, assuming that the tolerances on the smart are just very tight as compared to my old benz and that when a clog occurs, it shuts things down in a hurry instead of stumbling and slowly dying, i have decided i need to replace my fuel filter. if anyone has an alternate theory, please chime in ( unless its expensive).now i just need to track one down. i live in the states so i cant just hit up a dealer. also, can i get one that is just the filter and not the water sensor gadget? or do they only come in a bundle?my smart has 84000km on it. thanks a bunch

[PrairieBoy]

There should be a light on, somewhere on the dash, if the fuel filter needs changing.It's to tell you if there is water in the filter.Was this light lit when you had the problem?You could try disconecting the battery cable for a few minutes, them reconecting itand see if the car runs again.Other wise it looks like a trip to the dealer for a quick fix! (hopefully!)Maybe a US dealer that sells the new 451 smart could repair yours too. Good luck!

Edited April 11, 2009 by PrairieBoy

[MikeT]

It could be any one of many, many things. You ought to invest in a ScanGauge to be able to read error codes, because a clogged filter would leave a code (low fuel pressure).As for the filter, you can get it at a Freightliner or Dodge shop, get one for the Sprinter CDI engine.But buy the ScanGauge first.

Edited April 11, 2009 by Mike T

[lebikerboy]

Eddy sells just the filter...

http://shop.flyingtiger.ca/index.php?p=pro...5&parent=66

[cassini75]

well you can get one in the USA from your friendly Mopar dealership, they are the EXACT same as the ones used in the Dodge Diesel Sprinter 3500, the sensor stays, but it goes into the filter, the Mopar part # is 5170896AB, also Napa # is FIL 3934 Should run around $50USDand by the sounds of it your Way overdue for a filter anyways

[MikeT]

Mine was first changed at 90,000.....

[smartzuuk]

Can you name another part the Sprinter shares with the smart?

[43scabs]

thanks for the replies!i do have a scangauge and what was weird was that no codes were detected. it was the first thing i checked. also, the water sensor light did not come on......well, at least in that very quick few seconds between totally normal function and being stalled i didn't notice it. but from what i understand, you could get a clogged filter, completely independent of water build up, right? i figure i will start with the filter first, because in my past experience with diesels, that seems like a good place to begin. i have been switching back and forth between bio and dino lately, so some extra crud wouldn't shock me. i will also disconnect the battery and see if that resets something. what is so frustrating is that nothing looks wrong, so its hard to put my finger on it..... i almost wish i had some catastrophic leak of some sort so i could at least be like "theres the culprit!" (well, maybe not a catastrophic leak)thanks againi will find the closest sprinter parts supplier tomorrow- that is a great tip! thanks

[MikeT]

Aha, the biodiesel is the missing bit of info, so yes get the filter, in fact get two because you might need another one soon!

[Duck]

There should be a light on, somewhere on the dash, if the fuel filter needs changing.It's to tell you if there is water in the filter.

The Canadian cdi is the only smart that has that dash light, though - the four-light cluster was an add-on (like our side marker lights, and the "whale humps").

-Iain