Thanks to this forum..I am really confused now
 

I have a 86 300E 5 Spd.my center vent stopped blowing air...I checked the threads here and found out that it could be because of the Vaccum Valves go bad or tear so one does not have the same vaccum ( which should be around 25) or if the climate control was not working properly..today I took my car to a mechanic and he checked the car and told me that my 4th cylinder was not working properly and my problem could be because of that. So I need to get my engine repaired before he can even fix my problem and even after getting that fixed he cannot telling me if my problem will be fixed as I may need new climate control unit and/or the valves..so I am looking at an expense of over $3000 still not knowing if the problem will be solved or not...any suggestions ..I need to take my car in on Fri if I need my engine done..thanks for all the help:musicbooh

By the way what effect does having the bad 4th cylinder have or what symptons..as my car runs fine..no stalling, no problem with power, no smoke, no shuttering..idle or in low speeds, so how can I say that theh cylinder or the valve there is really shot

Odds are that it is indeed the center pod that has a bad diaphragm.

How was it determined that you lost a cylinder? (I am assuming you mean in the engine).

Let's say through magic, you are only running on 5 out of 6. Missing a cylinder, is not going to affect your center vent in any way.

Not sure what kind of shape your 300E is in, but if you want, you can jury rig the flap open. To stop airflow, you can use the dial.

Thanks Larry..that is exactly my thinking was, as to how losing a 4th cylinder in the engine caused the center vent to stop working, I had taken it to the shop today and the mechanic told me that he tested the 4th cylinder by taking out the spark plug..his rational was that the the cylinder of the engine supposedly creates the vaccum and according to him when he checked the vaccum reading was between 5-10 instead of being about 25..so if there is not enough vaccum being created how do we know if the diaphrams are torn or bad or if it is the climate control. so we need to fix the 4th cylinder first to determine anything further.....by the way according to the thread on this forum..when the vaccum valve goes bad..there is a default where u get air from the two side vents and most of the air is coming from the defrost..and that is exactly my symptom was..I did rig the center vent and I am getting some air there but I still want to get it fixed...my 300e is in very good shape..I have always kept it in very good condition. pl tell me if I am going crazy/nuts:dizzy2: if now I am doubting my mechanic..this is the first time I have brought my car to him and supposedly only works on Mercedes...

Where are you???
 

The center vent is not effected in any possible way by a piston cylinder issue.

I fear this bad cylinder #4 diagnosis may be wrong.

Please look at this part of the forum:
Good MB Shops
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/good-mb-shops/


Have a great day.

Definitely follow the link that whunter put up for you - RUN, don't walk from the "mechanic" you went to.

Many things on your 300E are operated by vacuum - is there anything else that is not working, or working slower than usual?

Hey thanks guys..whunter and Larry..by the way I am in S. Cal..in Ontario ..near LA....everything else works perfect I mean the doors and locks (which he explained were being controlled by the completely different unit under the rear seat).so he said it is completely a different system controlling the locks..I don't know what else is controlled by the vaccum unit but I don't have any other problem or issues with car ..I will check the link right now and see what I learn there.. thanks again once for replying

Well....at least he got that part right.