Vacuum fail- on the road

[snapped_bolt]

Here we go!

Last night at about 9:50 PM I got a call from my daughter. Her description led me to believe there was some sort of vacuum system failure on her 1980 300TD. Shifting problems, then nearly all brakes lost. She was on her way to work. She made it, but now that the shift has ended her car will remain until I can find a way to get into town and have a look.
We had replaced the glow plugs and fuel return lines on Thursday; there is a chance that the main vacuum line was damaged then. Don't know. I am hoping the worst case is only a matter of a torn diaphragm on the pump. I can handle a pump rebuild, but I'm not quite ready to pull the engine if the pump grenaded.
She has Monday and Tuesday off, so if I can manage to get out there, diagnose the problem, get the rebuild kit and rebuild/ install it before Wednesday noon we will be OK. She really doesn't want to miss work!
She apparently drove over 10 miles (highway) with the trans acting up, but she did manage to get it back into 4th and get to town. While in town, the shifting problems were intermittent. The brake booster stooped boosting in the parking lot at work; fortunately it is a big parking lot and she got to her parking spot without further incident.
It's nice to have some excitement in your life! But not this type.
When things calm down I will repeat my instructions to her- If the car starts acting up, stop, and call me before driving any further!
If there are any forum members in our area (Bellingham) that are bored today, we could sure use some help!


snapped_bolt