1983 380sl Central Locking Problems

[SLrookie]

Tried to put gas in my car and I could not unlock the fuel door. Door locks also did not function centrally. I checked the fuses but nothing there. I also noticed my fuel efficiency gauge was not working. I suspect a vacuum problem. Any way to check this to know for sure with out advanced Mercedes knowledge? Need help fast, running out of gas...Thanks.

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by SLrookie

Any way to check this to know for sure with out advanced Mercedes knowledge? Need help fast, running out of gas...Thanks.

For sure it's a vacuum leak. I believe there's a manual release on the inside right hand side of the trunk.

If your driving a 25+ year old Mercedes, you better get some knowledge real quick. Either that, or get use to paying big bucks to your favorite mechanic.

[Strife]

A spectacular vacuum leak like that shouldn't be hard to isolate. It's the "small" ones that are a @#$@#$@#....

[SLrookie]

Thanks found the release in the trunk. Now the next headache, isolating the leak. Saw a great article using golf tees and a pump. Any other tricks I might try?

[meltedpanda]

First make sure you are producing vacuum, check the pump!
then
pull the door panel off the drivers door, you will most likely find it ( leak) in the multifunction vacuum valve there, if not get a mityvac and start at manifold and work back.
also look for broken lines at the door hinge area

[abiby]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

First make sure you are producing vacuum, check the pump!
then
pull the door panel off the drivers door, you will most likely find it ( leak) in the multifunction vacuum valve there, if not get a mityvac and start at manifold and work back.
also look for broken lines at the door hinge area

You probably don't want to spend too much time looking for the pump that isn't there, or at least isn't in my '82.

[meltedpanda]

opps wrong car, I was thinking about my diesel, so forget my post, all except for the mityvac part, and the lines through the door openings

[Wodnek]

Before any diagnostics, spend some time under the hood simply looking for a vacuum hose or line that you knocked off.

How are your brakes? If your brake pedal is really hard to push, then it is a main line.

[SLrookie]

Thanks for the info all. It was the main line that was knocked off at the rear of the manifold (On point Wodnek). Slipped it back on instant vacuum and better idle too. The diagrams of the central locking helped a lot too.