Writing via my Dad's account,

Regarding our "father'n'son" hobby car of note:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=46703

While 'she' is still running strong, has a euro 5-Speed to get the power to the road, AND surprisingly gets good diesel mileage (touched on 28+mph on a cross-country drive).

The trunk lock has been a thorn in the nether regions, due to vacuum issues and the irksome lock mech.

Condensed:

Normally, I'll keep the lock mech. in the _horizontal_ position, to even out the odds of it opening. As it's the |vertical|, that causes no end "fun and excitement" upon returning to the car after a grocery run.

Well, the Minnesota -13 F temperature must have cause a temporary cerebral flatulent because I flicked it to vertical, and shut the trunk. Just as a distant cry of "DOH!", echoed about my frozen cranium.

Key inserts fine, but no movement from vertical is to be had, and I tried both the normal daily use and the reserve key. No joy.

While, I am going off to purchase the "MacGyver" tool-set supplies. My other problem related to the MN cold, is the gas flap lock mech. sticking closed, which I'd just normally rip-off a glove, pop the trunk, and pull on the offender.


Well... This is not an option, with a locked trunk, and an impending empty fuel tank.


So, I need to know if anyone has had good experience with a locksmith in this (cold) end of the world, that I might have a backup option.... Were the Macgyver technique to 'not function as desired'.


Cheers and thank you in advance,

Gordon

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www.reproduce100s.com

What is the year and model? It is possible that after finding the correct vacuum line, that you can actuate the fuel door and/or the trunk vacuum cylinders using a vacuum pump.

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Dave
1983 300D Daily Driver

83 300D (turbo)

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www.reproduce100s.com

Well, it's a whopping 3 degrees F, so with coffee in hand, I'm going to venture out with my wife's hairdryer and with luck convince the gas flap to open. That'll be one problem, less...

Perhaps, the hairdryer will make nice with the trunk lock too.

As if not, will have to fall back to the MacGyver technique... Though, Dad's in NV and my only other helper is 8+ months pregnant, and not too motivated to "play trunk monitor" in the cold, while I play with the MacGyver stick.



"Never give up, never surrender", as Dad would say. Though he'd also say, "they can kill you, but they'll not eat you", which always stumped me....




cheers,

Gordon

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www.reproduce100s.com

One thing you might keep in mind when you get the problem sorted out... always unlock the doors too open the trunk, in other words, dont come up to the locked car and open the trunk with the key, unlock the doors then open the trunk. I dont know why but I have had trouble when not doing it this way.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I have a sticky gas flap latch, too. usually a sharp blow with the hand right inline w/ the vac accuator causes it to release.

I beleive they are operated by using vac to lock, spring defualt to open???? so it may work.

where in the metro are you??

I has issues w/ the TD latch, ripped open the hatch and cleaned/ lubed everything, now works great 95% of the time. I have still had to crawl in from the front to unlock it once or twice. but also I did manage to unlock the hatch and crawl up front when the drivers lock iced up.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

The trunk actuator has lock and unlock, unlike the fuel flap.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Ok, well....

The portable 'global warming" device, aka "hairdryer" has rescued German engineering, from the clutches of 'brute force and ignorance' (normally the extreme solution, of last...).

Gas flap: operational, cleaned and lubed the vac-lock shaft - check
Trunk lock: fully (!) operational in all positions, and lubed with key de-icer, which was locked safely in trunk - check

Note to self: write thank you letter, to Al Gore for the hair dryer invention. Also, to find a 12v DC hairdryer to add to my MacGyver tool collection, to which, I will safely 'lock' in the trunk, again.


Doh!


I must say, "nothing so focuses/galvanizes a 'car tinker-er', as does a pregnant wife." Which goes without saying...


Thank you for all your help MercedesShop members! Though, I'm still interested in a good locksmith too, in the area.


Sincerely,

Gordon

P.s. now, I relinquish the in-valuable forum back to my Dad!

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www.reproduce100s.com

yes, I was only refering to the fuel flap. I figured that getting fuel was more important than the stuff in the trunk.

locksmith- where in the metro are you?? I had good experience w/ Har-Mar locksmith in the mall on snelling and hiway 36.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Mobetta,

The gas flap, I believe is due to residual moisture. As after washing the car, one winters day, it almost succeeded in freeze/locking me into the car. That was the first time I had to "hack" into the analog gas-flap lock, via the trunk.

---

We've just moved into the St Paul area, from the Mlps area.

If you glimps a silver "cyclops fogged light" 300 D in warping into your rear-view mirror on 494/35E/35W/100, or pulling numerous "G's" on the freeway cloverleaf's, that's us!

To quote a movie line, "she may not much to look at, but she's got it where it counts".



Gordon

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www.reproduce100s.com

Har-Mar, eh? I'll find their ph.# and program it into my cell.


BTW is their a MBZ group in the area? Pardon, since arriving to the area 2+ yrs ago, I've had the nose to grindstone w/work.


Gordon

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www.reproduce100s.com

Steve,

Your signature has a great deal of "5-Speeds" in it! Did you just stumble upon these, or does WA have a supply?

Mine was 'donated' by a PO of a (was) nice euro 280 CD. And only then, found by a serendipity...


Gordon

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www.reproduce100s.com

I dont really know of a group 'round here so much. I've got a few buddies that drive them, but thats it.
I just moved from the St Paul side over to Minneapolis myself. seems we switched places.

Is this the inter-cooled 5 spd??? I would love to see it sometime....


there was a while this winter when I did not lock the car unless I had a tube of de-icer in my pocket. finally warmed up a bit and got some proper lube in there, sofar-sogood...

I drive a manilla beige wagon all over the metro.
looks like this w/ thule bars on it

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Gordon,

Dude, skip the locksmith idea, call Wynne at World Auto, 952-949-2277 and have his man Tom Lund give it the once over. These guys are 20 years long from bailing from Feldmann's ripoff Motors. THEY ARE THE BE ALL END ALL of trusting knowledge and quality. I've been working with them for 13 years and other than Werner Huber in Golden Valley, I wouldn't trust a sole other than the aforementioned to touch the locks. The locksmith is a one way ticket to disaster.

If you want to go with origianl, the MB lock shop in outside of Baltimore is the only place in the country short of doing it yourself to keep the integrity of the lock cylinder and key cut. That being said, Reed at Sears parts is your man for ordering a replacement cylinder if it keeps mucking up.

Geeze, you live in the most trusting big city in the country, I NEVER locked my car, let alone block the trunk from the doors. Chill and leave it upright, nobody ever mucks with old Benzes anyway. Beside, your sacks of Byerly's best fix'ns will go in the trunk with no hassles of keys.

Mark

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Mark
========
THE WHITE FLEET
2016 GLE300d 4-MATIC 38K BROWN!
2012 S350 Bluetec==94k WHITE

2007 ML320 CDI==166K WHITE (FOR SALE)

Under new management:
2005 E320 CDI--140K--WHITE
1995 E300-Diesel-133.5K--THE CAR IS BLUE
1986 300SL--97.5K (European) AND WHITE. Back in Europe!
1991 190E 2.3-73K California Perfect.--WHITE
1995 E320-Wagon-159K--WHITE (recently scrapped)
1987 300D Turbo-213K--WHITE
1987 190D 2.5 Turbo-288K--WHITE

When it comes to the quality of the work, an auto locksmith will provide a much better job than a car dealership. A mechanic car dealership have a basic idea about locks and keys while the auto locksmith have expertise on keys and locks concerned.

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Locksmith Minneapolis