PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Dcraig · #5 12-11-2001, 12:31 AM

Thanks Ken300D-

1) I assume that if there wasn't any vacuum at all, the car wouldn't run (engine would), or if it did, very poorly.

2) Being that something doesn't work, like the door locks, we can assume we have a leak.

So my questions are:

1) How to find the offending part.

2) Where do we start to look? Example: Where do I test the locking fuel filler door?

You said to test each component. My problem is, I don't know where to look, and a step by step, linear way of going about it would save a lot of time.

I just finished changing 8 'L' rubber hoses on the drivers side of the engine compartment. I also looked under the passenger seat and saw a loose blue vacuum hose. When I looked under the drivers seat to get an idea where it might go, I found one loose there also.

My indie mechanic told me that there are 5 places (junctions) to test to diagnose a vacuum leak. Unfortunately, I didn't get the locations.

I'm sure I could search the entire forum for the answers, and find them. I only thought that a central location would be a good idea.

Larry Bible helped me the other week when I posted a question about my trans not shifting. He told me to look on top of the valve cover at the vacuum junction. Unfortunately, I have a 1985 California version and I don't have that junction. I thought it was a vacuum leak. After an evening of searching the forum, I think I found the answer, and it wasn't a vacuum leak. I think it's a sticky kickdown switch. I ordered one from Randy at EPS today. He said he rarely gets requests for these, but thanks to this forum, I found the answer.

This forum is fantastic. Any answer can be found, and it has saved me thousands of $$.

Just as there is a proceedure for changing a door check on a 124, or removing the radio on the same model, I think a vacuum testing proceedure would be very helpful.

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm not sure I'd own a Benz without this forum.

Craig