Hi All! I've got a 1985 300TD that I'm doing a light restoration on.

Mechanically the car is good; I have put a few thousand miles on it in my short ownership. Up until recently it ran and shifted beautifully.

Unfortunately, I was sandwiched between a Kia and a Nissan in a 4 car rear-ending pile up. It was relatively low speed, and my beloved 300TD only received minor damage (Front grill & aux fan destroyed, and rear bumper shocks collapsed).

The only worrisome symptom that I've noticed since the collision is that the shifting timing and feel has become strange. Here's what it's doing:

• 1st to 2nd: Early and extremely firm
• 2nd to 3rd: Early and firm
• 3rd to 4th: Hangs/late and smooth

After scouring the forums I see that the VCV/modulator use vacuum to adjust shift firmness, and the bowden cable adjustment can adjust the timing. Since my problem involves both feel and timing I'm a bit lost.

So far I've lightly searched for vacuum leaks in the engine compartment using a mityvac and haven't found anything obvious. The line from the blue "UFO" down to the transmission holds vacuum and does not leak, which I think rules out the modulator getting damaged (right?).

Are there any other vacuum lines that are known to be in a "pinch point" that may have gotten crushed from the engine/trans shifting during the impact?

Can a vacuum leak at the rear of the car (aka a line for the hatch lock, or the fuel door lock) effect the transmission?