I went back and bought a coil of slightly smaller-gauge vacuum lines, and it turned out that the only problem I had been having just now was that I was using vacuum lines that were too big. This smaller tubing had to REALLY be forced on, but it seals tight and I'm shifting smoothly enough.

Now... to find the OTHER vacuum problems in my car...

My two center air vents on my dash don't work. I understand that they're controlled by a vacuum actuator much like the ones that don't lock or unlock my doors an hour after my car has been shut off. Also, my car often doesn't stop running until a minute after I turn the car off (sometimes shorter, sometimes longer) which is really annoying.

I have been told that I have a vacuum leak SOMEWHERE that is causing all of these problems, but I have no idea where to start looking. I have checked all of the door actuators, and they appear to be functioning (with a hole plugged, they're impossible to work). The fuel tank door lock has been bypassed by a previous owner (the bypass is sealed up tight... that's not a big priority) and the trunk actuator is working fine. I have even tried to manually move the one inside the center console that opens the foot vents in the front, and although those vents DON'T work when my car is running, I cannot make them open manually.

So in a nutshell, I have a leak SOMEWHERE.
It is not any of the 4 doors, or the fuel door, or the trunk, or the foot-vent actuator. I have replaced all of the little rubber connectors that I can reach under the hood. (You know, any that appear to be coming out of one of the little plastic round things on the driver's side under the hood).

Where could the leaks be? Can I get a vacuum diagram somewhere?

And don't even get me STARTED on the water leaks every time it rains. But while we're on my topic, what could make all 4 floormats (front left/right, rear left/right) VERY wet when it rains hard? I have to dry them out on my lawn, and leave my car out with the windows open on a nice day to get rid of the mildew smell.

Right now it's parked under the overhang of my barn, but I'd love to find the source of the leak, so my car doesn't have to be afraid of the rain. By observation, the only way that a massive amount of water could get into both sides of my car is if it found a way past the firewall... such as getting into those two air intakes on top of my hood (right at the bottom of the windshield) and not draining properly. Could this be the case? And if so, how can I remove the black plastic screens (rather delicate) so that I can clear out blocked drains? I really hope there's some easy, obvious way to get in there.

Sorry for such a long post, but I've got a few issues I'd love to clear up with my car. Truthfully, the water leak is MUCH more troubling than the goofy vacuum system (that I can life with).

Thank you SO much,
Jerrold
1985 300D
232,000 miles
Vacuum Issues
Leaks Lots Of Water
Drippy-Looking Paint
Rust In Wheel-Wells

...And yet I love my Benz!!!!