defrsting, ventilation problem

[yves]

I just bought my first mercedes, a 300sd 1981, 122,000 km.

None of the function (defrost, bi-level, normal) are working. Hot air come out only by the side vent air outlet. I haven't tried the ac yet, to cold in Quebec.
Ambiant temperature raise to a confortable level.
Blower is working only at high speed.

Will soldering the climate control panel solve the problem?
Or could you direct me to other thread that could hepl me?

The car came with a Chilton manual with not much in it. Is the Bently a better one?

Thanks for all
Yves

[haasman]

Yves

It could very well be leaking vacuum acutators in the dash. These acutators are like small bellows that push/pull levers for air distribution.

It is not uncommon for these to leak in the age of your car. Access to them is by removing the console, the radio/ashtray unit and then the heating/AC control unit.

I believe you can also remove the glove box (since your car doesn't have a passenger side airbag) and find a cluster of vacuum lines. You can try using a vacuum tester such as the Mighty Vac and test each acutator individually to find the leaking one.

Haasman