I'm sorry for the stupid question. But one of my majorest automotive weak spots is figuring out how to do things like getting behind door skins and glove boxes and radios. I'm terrible at it.

How do I get 'behind the center vents'?
Behind the glove box?
Behind the console?

(The footwells I know how to do)

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Again I didn't read your signature. So my diagnosis may not work for you. I assumed you had a 123. In the 123's you can pull the glove box out by pulling the center part of the plastic tabs in the box. Then pulling the rest of the plastic tab out. Along with disconnecting the light. And the box pulls out. Then you should be able to see what's going on back there.

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OK, I'll try to get back in there somehow. it may be easier than I think

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

You first need to test the system. This is done by removing the right side carpeting and cover from the transmission tunnel. Of course, the right side kick panel and the right side floor carpeting must be removed first. Once you gently bend the carpeted panel, you can remove it without removing the console.

Now, you'll see a row of six vacuum control switches next to the radio. These will operate the six pods in the system. The horizontal leg of the switch goes to the pod. Connect a Mityvac to the hose that leads to the horizontal leg and see if it holds vacuum. Depending on which one's don't hold vacuum........you'll need to locate and replace those.

The best thing is to test all six lines and report back as to which hold vacuum and which don't. We'll go from there. #1 is at the top.

I'm doing that as we speak.

Uh... what do I do if mine has seven? It's obviously designed to have seven, I see the little box with the fittings and they're stickered and color coded so I know which is which.

I started at the bottom since I could get to it, i'm having trouble working my fingers in to disconnect them carefully (the lines are as brittle as the others in the car, which means there will be broken lines before this is over no matter how careful I am)

Number 7 won't hold vacuum and I stopped there to come ask what was going on.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Yep......the SDL's have seven........I must have been sleeping........the SD has six.

Unscrew the bracket with the seven switches from the vehicle body. There is a screw at the top, IIRC. You'll never get to all those hoses if you don't.

Done!

Here's the results.

I checked the source just for fun, and it didn't hold. However, we know why, the 22 bullet we plugged one port on the T thingie with had split it. We're headed to Advance in a minute or two here to get a Y or T or something to fix that leak so we can track down others in the engine area. That's a new problem, though, the climate was bad before that particular leak was created.

As for the climate switches:

1. At the top. Colored dot was brownish, line was solid red. It was right, however, according to where it was plugged in. It held 1.5 inches at best, but I heard its pod operating up under there somewhere (that's the only one i heard.) I think it's okay. Should I replace it "just to be sure"?
2. Green with blue tracer. zero.
3. Red with yellow tracer. Held 5 inches.
4. Red with black tracer. zero.
5. Red with white tracer. zero.
6. Solid green. Held 7 inches.
7. Red with blue tracer. zero.

In other words, everything except 3, 6, and maybe 1 is positively bad.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Well, unfortunately, you've got a lot of work ahead of you............

The worst part is #4........the center vents. This pod is nearly impossible to remove unless you've got tiny hands. To access it, remove the climate control unit........it's sitting way back in the space with the hose end facing you. Maybe you'll get lucky and the pod will hold vacuum..........and the problem is the hose. Maybe..........

The remaining problems are fixed by removing the liner for the glove box. Pull the interior light and unplug it first. Once the liner is removed, you'll find two main air door pods directly behind and slightly below the box. You'll need to pull these pods and test them individually. They're probably NG. Be careful.......they look identical, but they are not. Each pod has two vacuum connections.........test both connections on the pod with the Mityvac. They just rotate and can be removed easily.

Numbers 5 and 7 are the defrost pod. It's also behind the glove box liner.........all the way on the left side of the space.........facing downward at an angle. It looks easy to remove, but, the arm is a problem. The pod must be turned and twisted to get the arm in place. The defrost pod also has two connections. You don't need to test it. It's NG.

Damn Brian...How do you know all this "stuff". Is it from working on your own cars or do you do have a shop and work on them for a living?

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I'm sick of .sig files