Thanks everyone for your help, I truly appreciate it. And thanks Bob for the logical roadmap for sourcing out the problem - very helpful.

If you remove the glovebox, you can see and test the solenoids that control the vacuum pods.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles