Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-28-2009, 11:50 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NJ, Red Bank area
Posts: 66
Pneumatic / vacuum central door locking: advantages?

Anyone knows if they are that, contrary to electrical systems, a pneumatic / vacuum central door locking works:
* even if the battery is dead?
* even if the car is flooded / submerged, i.e. the electrical system shorted?
* and / or else?

__________________
1991 W126 300SE (M103)
1995 W124 E320 Wagon (M104)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-01-2009, 12:47 AM
babymog's Avatar
Loose Cannon - No Balls
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
As it is actuated pneumatically, by an electrical pump, ... no it will not work without electricity.

The earlier cars worked from engine vacuum.
__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-01-2009, 02:33 AM
Strife's Avatar
General Purpose Geek
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: KY USA
Posts: 2,238
I read somewhere that MB felt that in an accident where the battery is damaged (cracked open, for example) the actuators would still work. With the older rubber-cased batteries, this happened quite often.
__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-01-2009, 10:28 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Little Neck, NY
Posts: 110
I think they are just quieter. Some other German cars also use similar systems.
__________________
2004 E500 4Matic 138,000 miles
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-01-2009, 07:55 PM
babymog's Avatar
Loose Cannon - No Balls
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
If you need to open the door after an accident, from the inside, you open it. From the outside it is unlikely that a rescuer will have a key.
__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-02-2009, 12:27 AM
Strife's Avatar
General Purpose Geek
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: KY USA
Posts: 2,238
Well, on my car, the driver's lock also opens the passenger's lock, so MAYBE this might come in handy in an emergency.
__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-02-2009, 09:47 AM
babymog's Avatar
Loose Cannon - No Balls
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
Maybe, but if there's no electricity, the driver's lock won't open anything except the driver's door.

Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, others used a single-point pump and pneumatics when they introduced their central locking system. Most of Asia and Detroit used solenoids. Some like Land Rover use motors. They all work and they all require electricity.

Unlike some people's beliefs, your windows and locks will probably work fine with the car immersed. The water (especially fresh water) will not "short out" the 12v electrics, although salt-water will make short work of electronics. The pneumatic pump for the locks however, is designed to compress air, not water, and any water ingested in the pump will stall it so perhaps the electric solenoid version is better?

Either way, the doors of the car will open from the inside when locked. The rear doors will not, but the buttons are on the forward end of the doors to be accessible to the driver and not short-armed children in the back seats. I think it's a good design.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:24 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page