Does anyone have a spare "T" adjuster thing for the vacuum modulator? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Turbo190D · #1 06-13-2017, 07:39 PM

Anyone have a spare T that you would mind parting with? I'll pay for it or pay shipping or whatever. Otherwise do you know where I can buy just the little T piece? Hate to buy a new modulator just to rob a part off of it.

EDIT: If you're wondering, I was trying to adjust mine and the piece fell out. I've been looking for almost an hour. Best I can tell is that a black hole opened between my face and the modulator and it fell in there.

tyl604 · #2 06-13-2017, 07:45 PM

Magnetize something like a very long screwdriver and sweep the ground. Steel coathanger might work; have not tried that.

Turbo190D · #3 06-13-2017, 07:55 PM

I tried something similar, using an old car speaker magnet and rolling it along the ground. Tried one of those "magnet on a stick" things wallowing it around in the general area of the modulator under the car to see if it somehow got stuck behind the trans pan or something, but no avail. Hunting around in there with a mirror returned no results either.

I'm guessing it's not a good idea to drive around with the handle out. I'd wager it wouldn't have that "tooth" system to hold the handle in place unless it was needed. Sucks that my car's been taken away from me over a stupid freaking tiny T handle. Why in the world they thought it was a good idea to make the adjustment system that way is just beyond me.

tyl604 · #4 06-13-2017, 07:59 PM

How about using a hair drier and methodically blowing everything over to the wall.

Turbo190D · #5 06-13-2017, 08:06 PM

I was working outside on my driveway

The pavement is so rough that I doubt it would move. I feel confident its not on the ground though. The last time I saw it it hit the insulation stuff around the transmission tunnel. it's like it hit that and vanished. I never heard it hit the ground and never felt it, but I can't for the life of me figure out where it would be up in the car.

If anyone has one laying around they dont want to part with, if you can send me the measurements of it I can probably file a piece of scrap steel down to the right size...

It makes me sick that some silly little piece like this is the source of so much trouble.

tyl604 · #6 06-13-2017, 09:03 PM

Maybe find a junkyard near and get the whole thing.

Otherwise out of ideas but good luck.

Turbo190D · #7 06-13-2017, 09:05 PM

There's only a couple yards nearby and they won't keep anything older than 2000

If nobody has one I'm thinking I can poke around in there with a square drive bit and find one that fits nicely, then file down a piece of scrap metal into something that'll work. Gonna be a lot of work for a stupid little part but oh well.

Turbo190D · #8 06-13-2017, 09:22 PM

You think its ok to drive without the handle in there?

compress ignite · #9 06-13-2017, 09:47 PM

If the Black rubber cap that covers the "T" does not seal against the Modulator
itself ,Y'all will get "Funny" shifts.

Tyler's suggestion is the quickest and cheapest,since you can't figure out what
size the "Operating End" of the "T" handle actually is.

Turbo190D · #10 06-13-2017, 10:01 PM

I've still got the cap, and it's back on there. The handle is just missing.

I'm 100% certain its not on the ground. Somehow it's managed to get stuck up in the car somewhere, I just have no idea where. There's so little room in there I can't really feel around. I've hunted about with a magnet on a stick and a mirror on a stick but no luck.

Turbo190D · #11 06-14-2017, 08:30 PM

Well, I used square drive bit method to nail down what size it was. Ended up making the T thing out of plexiglass, because that was the easiest. I turned the modulator down about half a full rotation. It helped but still shifts too hard. I'll dink with it later, as it's good enough to do for a work night.

tyl604 · #12 06-15-2017, 04:38 PM

Turn it down more

Junkman · #13 06-16-2017, 07:29 AM

Have you measured the pressure? I remember something going wrong when turning to much but don't remember details.

Turbo190D · #14 06-16-2017, 09:09 AM

Haven't measured pressure yet. I don't really like the idea of being under the car while it's turned on by myself. Girlfriend has been TDY and still has several weeks to go and my buddy just had a baby Wednesday, so I'm pretty much limited to what I feel comfortable with doing solo.

kuene · #15 06-16-2017, 11:38 AM

there is a a cheapish oil pressure kit from HF. it has all the fittings/adapaters and gauge needed to test pressure - and you don't need to be under the car while you turn it on. i own and use it to test mine.