I have owned my '80 116 chassis MB for nearly six years. It has been a very reliable vehicle with very minimal headaches. In the past two weeks, I have replaced all the brake pads. both rear swaybar links, and have reconstructed the broken down driver's seat to near-new condition. I had intended to sell the car as soon as I had all the little maintenance issues fixed, but have decided to keep her instead.

My most serious issue, at present, is that my heat only works intermittently. I never know when or on what day the heat will work. I do know that I must replace the A/C compressor, as it locked up last summer. My question to the experts here is: If the ACC servo works OCCASIONALLY, what are the odds that it is totally shot? I don't mind paying for the newer version replacement servo system, but again, how reliable is that system? Hot weather will be upon us before we know it, and in the meantime, I wouldn't mind having some reliable heat when needed.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Here's my to-do list: Replace driver's side p/w regulator and all p/w switches, r & r motor mounts, repair air cleaner bracket OR get the K&N kit and eliminate the rattle for good, replace trunk seal, fine detail the interior, and last but not least, get the old gal painted.

__________________
1980 300SD 146K miles.

I'm not real familiar with your model,,... but if it has a 'mono valve', I'd say the diaphram is shot in it. Replacement kit is around $40, and takes about 20 minutes. This valve is most likely mounted on the firewall, just to the passenger side of center.

Before ordering a kit, you can take the 'guts' out and look at the diaphram. If its tore, you'll be able to see it.

Good luck!

Blue..

the 116 had the dreaded ACC servo... search it.. you will see why its hated

Your intermittent heat could be caused by a flaky A/C amplifier but is more likely the Servo. You can replace the servo with a rebuilt or for a more permanent solution from Unwired Tools. At one time it was available here through Fastlane but I can't seem to find it now.This is not an inexpensive fix but has received high praise from those who have purchased it.

I think most folks on this forum would strongly advise against the K&N filter. You can do a search on that and read the strongly held opinions. A new bracket for your air cleaner can be found for under $20 if you shop around.

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

try and find a used window regulator as new ones cost a fortune. I imagine they fail for lack of grease and the torque from the motor ends up twisting the frame until it cracks leaving it permanently bent. So that said..grease up the other regulators to keep them working.

if the rear seat has come apart, try an upholstery shop. had the underside padding strips resewn for about $100 and guy did an excellent job..now just need something to replace the disintegrated horsehair.

the air cleaner bracket costs next to nothing if I remember correctly as does the rubber mounts and cups. I repainted mine as well with POR-15 black and it looks pretty good from 5 feet and certainly better than it was even close up. Fix it right and save yourself the berating for trying a K&N setup.

__________________
1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

The main problem with the servos is that they crack and leak. I'd want to test both the push button unit and the amplifier before condemning the servo. There is a servo test manual floating around the internet somewhere. I think I once found it on a Chrysler Imperial website. If you can't test the servo, maybe someone has a spare one around you could swap in to see if it solves the problem before spending the big bucks for a replacement of some kind.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Should you determine that your Servo is kaput and decide to replace with the Unwired Tools upgrade here is a link to the product sold through Fastlane.

ACCII Replacement

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

Do those unit also handle all the vacuum inputs/outputs for the vents?

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

OR, try something like this: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=1635
Intercooler would be optional, GM 3.8L air filter boxes are plentiful in the junkyards, and the K/N filter vs Stock would be user preference. The only unknown here is how the oil separator was dealt with.
I plan on trying the GM air filter box this spring on mine.

__________________
'83 300D Turrrbo 295K miles