R129 late model PSE pump

[s5tuart]

Prepping my SL for sale and we find that the PSE pump is on it's way out.
It's no longer available from MB although it is listed at £560??

Can anyone help me with someone who can do a refurb or supply a used or pattern part please?
Maybe an equivalent W210 part of which there is an abundance on Feebay?

Thanks in advance

 

[John Laidlaw]

Hi Stuart, presume you've tried Carl at R129.co ?
I think they list on ebay I noticed and might be worth contacting directly 01580 291222
http://www.r129.co/
They support this forum as you probably know....

 

[LostKiwi]

+1. They sorted me one when mine failed.

 

[s5tuart]

Indeed John. Carl was my first call when the indie gave me the news. He doesn't have a late model but may be able to refurb if I don't find one elsewhere.
He suggested selling the car as-is but I explained that's not the way I want to do things. (Too much room for misunderstandings if things go pear-shaped )

 

[LostKiwi]

What's actually wrong with it? If it's just the pump it should be possible to fix.

 

[s5tuart]

What's actually wrong with it? If it's just the pump it should be possible to fix.

I'm not 100% sure until later when I go to collect the car for the time being. The little button that helps pop the boot open has a leak so has seemingly been causing the pump to labour. With that blocked everything works as it should BUT the boot lid takes minutes to open when the remote or the centre console buttons are pressed.

 

[LostKiwi]

OK. Sounds like either a leaking pipe or failing boot lock diaphragm. I doubt it's the pump as the pump will affect all locks - it's a single pump with multiple outlets. From memory the boot and glove box all share a common circuit.

 

[s5tuart]

OK. Sounds like either a leaking pipe or failing boot lock diaphragm. I doubt it's the pump as the pump will affect all locks - it's a single pump with multiple outlets. From memory the boot and glove box all share a common circuit.

Absolutely correct! The boot lock diaphragm is shot according to the indie but he reckons there is still more worry regarding the pump itself. Perhaps i'll need to talk to him later and find out exactly what he thinks. He is recommending replacing the pump if I understand correctly.

 

[LostKiwi]

Inside the pump is an electric motor with a vane pump running off the output shaft. From memory (and it's a while since I pulled one apart) the vane can stick in its guide or wear it's tips. Equally if it ingests grit it can damage the vanes. One trick sometimes possible with vane pumps is to remove the vanes and refit them the other way round.

 

[s5tuart]

Inside the pump is an electric motor with a vane pump running off the output shaft. From memory (and it's a while since I pulled one apart) the vane can stick in its guide or wear it's tips. Equally if it ingests grit it can damage the vanes. One trick sometimes possible with vane pumps is to remove the vanes and refit them the other way round.

Many thanks. I'll know more in an hour or so. If I'm able to self-refurb that would be great!!

 

[s5tuart]

Back with the car. The indie is fairly sure the pump can't supply enough oooomph! He has blocked off the leaking boot assist actuator pipe and at least the doors and fuel filler locks are working fine now. It's just that the boot takes ages to open and we can hear the pump labouring away while it's trying. I'll take a look for part numbers tomorrow. Hope fully I can do a refurb on it.

 

[LostKiwi]

First step would be to change the boot actuator/fix the rear hoses.
If it still struggles pop the top of the PSE pump off (not difficult). Internally there are a couple of hoses - make sure they aren't leaking. If all ok there then pull the pump out and check the pump. Check the motor moves freely and the pump isn't jamming. If necessary lube the vanes and try it. If the vanes are damaged check to see if the can be reversed. If not vanes from a 202/210 pump may fit (no guarantee).

 

[s5tuart]

Update.
I'm of the opinion that the pump is working correctly. I managed to remove the connector that goes to the drivers door and there is plenty of suck and blow. I removed the block that has the fuel tube on it, (the fuel one is the black rubber tube on the grey block) along with 2 others found on the same grey block.
Plenty of pressure with my fingers held over the outlets and when reconnected the fuel cap lock zooms back and forward very quickly.
I have yet to change ( or get changed) the boot actuator but the tube for that was blocked off by the indie. (The black tube above the hand written label)
There are another 2 yellow tubes running from the block of 3 that i'm unable to check the pressure of because I can't seem to remove them from the grey block and I don't want to be too brutal.

So, my thoughts are that it's not the pump but another leak that needs finding.

I'll keep this thread updated in case my findings help someone else...

 

[LostKiwi]

Agreed it definitely doesn't seem pump related. To get the pipes out of the connections use a spanner that fits snugly over the connection and lever out gently.

 

[s5tuart]

Agreed it definitely doesn't seem pump related. To get the pipes out of the connections use a spanner that fits snugly over the connection and lever out gently.

Thank you for that. I didn't want to break anything and make things worse. I'll see what I can find...my usual tool kit is a bread knife and a hammer!
The new actuator is on it's way so once that's fitted I'll start fault finding again.
Thanks for all your kind help. It's very much appreciated.

 

[LostKiwi]

No probs Stuart - had a few issues with my own PSE pump (which I have yet to fix as I've given up on it for now!).
Done loads of research on the damned things as a result but still no closer to finding my answer!

 

[s5tuart]

No probs Stuart - had a few issues with my own PSE pump (which I have yet to fix as I've given up on it for now!).
Done loads of research on the damned things as a result but still no closer to finding my answer!

Well, if there's anything I can do or look for while I'm fannying around, just let me know.
I did see a variety of PSE pumps on ebay with different part numbers (all except mine!). Some quite reasonably priced, so it may be worth another look...

 

[LostKiwi]

Ok - here's the history....
Bought the car and everything worked. Then one morning the PSE pump did nothing. Replaced it with a new one as the old one was full of water (entry point was the seal around the fuel filler - one to watch for).
After fitting the new one the locks all work except both front doors. There are no apparent leaks.
The doors share the same circuit as the boot (which works fine). Swapping the door feeds to other working circuits makes no difference. The doors still steadfastly refuse to work! So all the door pockets, glove box, storage cubby, boot and fuel flap work perfectly all the time. I can't believe that both doors (which are on separate feeds) failed at the same time.
Really odd issue.....

 

[s5tuart]

Ok - here's the history....
Bought the car and everything worked. Then one morning the PSE pump did nothing. Replaced it with a new one as the old one was full of water (entry point was the seal around the fuel filler - one to watch for).
After fitting the new one the locks all work except both front doors. There are no apparent leaks.
The doors share the same circuit as the boot (which works fine). Swapping the door feeds to other working circuits makes no difference. The doors still steadfastly refuse to work! So all the door pockets, glove box, storage cubby, boot and fuel flap work perfectly all the time. I can't believe that both doors (which are on separate feeds) failed at the same time.
Really odd issue.....

That's odd indeed! If swapping the door feeds to other known good feeds makes no difference then it's not the PSE but something down the line, UNLESS;
a. the pump needs coding to the car via Star
b. the door locks are in the wrong starting position for the pump (eg. they are open and the pump is trying to open them not close them...I believe there is a latch inside the pump to determine blow or suck?)

 

[LostKiwi]

That's odd indeed! If swapping the door feeds to other known good feeds makes no difference then it's not the PSE but something down the line, UNLESS;
a. the pump needs coding to the car via Star
b. the door locks are in the wrong starting position for the pump (eg. they are open and the pump is trying to open them not close them...I believe there is a latch inside the pump to determine blow or suck?)

Tried cycling the door locks but no difference. There's no coding for the pump as far as I'm aware (it opens the boot and storage cubbies after all!).

Really bizarre....

I'm waiting till I go somewhere near r129.co to talk them into swapping the pump to see if a different pump makes a difference but thats really clutching at straws!