newbie here and i don't know anything about the vacuum system in my 81 300sd i have read some on it any my tranny is acting up on me by not shifting properly and my driverside door lock wont work ani i think that i may have vacuum leaks everywhere ho do i know if the vaccum pump even works where is it and how much do those mity vacuum things forgot the name of it cost and where do i get it from sorry for the long post love my new 81 300 sd btw it was given to me as a gift and has'nt ran in over 3 years but it starts right up on a dime any info would be helpful

Here are your answers:

Vacuum Diagrams W123 and W126 models
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=105297

mityvac, MB diesel owners hero.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=768686&posted=1#post768686


Pages you need to bookmark:

Diesel Discussion
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/forumdisplay.php?f=15

Name these parts, to help new members.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=727618#post727618

MercedesShop - Do It Yourself Articles
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf

http://207.210.95.34/~boostd/
http://www.mbz.org/
http://electrical.300series.com/glowplugs.html
http://www.w123.net/
http://skinnerbox.steaky.org/Service/W123/Index/617Tindex.html
http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jjs5772/W123/
http://home.concepts.nl/~vlimmere/index2.HTM

__________________
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Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
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Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

if the brake pedal isnt too hard to push the the pump works. the most common leaks are due to oil in the lines,the vacuum valves on top of the valve cover and a leaking tranny modulator

__________________
have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

Other common problems are loose, cracked or dislodged rubber fittings which connect the hard vacuum tubes, door, trunk and fuel filler actuators with leaky diaphragms.

__________________
Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

I made my own vacuum pump. It's ten times better than a mityvac for one tenth the cost. I made it originally for bleeding brakes but it has many other uses, such as siphoning liquids and testing MB vacuum systems.

If you want to make your own electric vacuum pump here's how to do it. Start with a small refrigeration pump from a fridge or air conditioner. Mount it to a wooden board for a base. Add a tin can to hold the mayonnaise jar. The mayonnaise jar is your vacuum reservoir and catch can for liquids. Run a piece of 5/16 clear plastic tubing from the pump intake to the jar lid. Run another tube off the jar lid to whatever you want to vacuum. In order to do this, you will have to solder 2 tubes into the jar lid. So pick a jar with a metal lid, and save some of the tubing when you salvage the pump.

To wire it, take the fridge cord and wire it up. Get one of those lamp switches that goes in the cord, and put it on near the plug. This is your control switch.

Now when you need vacuum you can attach the hose, plug it in and flick the switch.

When bleeding brakes I put the pump on the floor near the master cylinder so I can hold the switch and top up the master cylinder at the same time. Connect the hose to the bleeder valve, and open it 1/4 turn. Then turn on the pump until the fluid comes up the clear plastic line. Once the brakes are bled I switch off the pump and go and close the bleeder. When I pull off the hose the residual vacuum prevents the fluid from spilling.

With this device it is possible to bleed the brakes in 1/2 hour, solo, and not get a drop of fluid on the floor.

Now if you want to use it to test vacuum systems it might be handy to add a T fitting and plug in a vacuum gauge. But this is not strictly necessary if all you want to do is find out if something is working or not.

If you have an old fridge or air conditioner, or can find one, and you have a tin can, a board and an old mayonnaise jar you should be able to build one of these for practically nothing.

thanks guys for all of your input and my brake pedal goes all the way to the floor it stops the car si maybe my vacuum pump is ok