The rear passenger-side door on Max, my 300TD will no longer open. The lock doesn't appear to being going up with the others when I unlock the front door. Would it be safe to assume that this is a vacuum problem?

If it is, how do I get the door open to fix it? The lock button won't come up when I pull on it. I don't know if this is normal in cases of vacuum failure or not.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I would doubt it's vacuum if the other locks are working. Maybe the linkage came off the lock behind the door panel?

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

If that's the case, how would I go about getting the door open to get at the locking mechanism?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Just take the panel off, and the stuff will be on the left. Two screws for the chrome C shaped thing, two screws for the handle, and pop the clips loose. Then lightly hit the panel up to dislodge from the clips holding it to the door, and don't forget the window switch. Vac actuator held on with 2 8mm bolts, but that's beside the point. You can look in there and see the mechanism.

Hmm...I think it will be tricky to get the inner panel off without being able to open the door...well, you won't be getting the chrome c-shaped thing off. But you can take off the inner door lever and get at the linkage through the cutout in the panel. If the knob won't raise, something is probably jammed in the linkage, but who knows what came loose to got stuck in there.

You might have to take the panel off the OTHER back door to see how the linkage works, and what you have to pull/push on to get the latch to release.

Sorry, I don't have any magic tricks to help you.

__________________
1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

I seemed to have forgotten that part. Sorry Tom.

Okay, Pizzachef doesn't have any magic tricks. Anybody else?

Seriously, I appreciate your coments. When I have time during daylight hours, I'll try what you suggested Geoff. At least I'm pointed in the right general direction now.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Well, I was mistaken, the chrome c-shaped thing on the rear doors is accessible (for removal) with the door closed, its the front doors that you can't get to the screws with the door closed. So you may be able to get the panel loosened (if you can't get it all the way off) with the back door shut. Taking the seat bottom cushion out looks like it'll give you more room to work.

__________________
1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

you can get at the vac lines under the passenger carpet- along the outside of the car.
try pulling vac on one of the yellow/grn lines. not the one that comes across from the other side, and not the one that goes forward to the front door. this leaves 2 lines.
one should go to the rear door, one to the trunk/fuel door.

this may help, or maybe not.

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

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

Can I get an update please?? I've just stumbled across this thread and noticed it's recent, I'm having the exact same issue. Tried the mity-vac on the vacuum lines going to the door and no change, I can neither pull or push vacuum (if that makes any sense) to the actuator. Thanks, car is an 83 240D.

__________________
1985 300D Gretchen (Astral Silver) 220k
1983 240D 4-speed Evelyn (Orient Red) 203k


TANSTAAFL

Is the vacuum system such that any one component on it that leaks (such as the lock on this one door) would render that whole system inoperative?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

have you tried pushing down on the lock knob? mine sticks sometimes, and this solves it.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I can't remember. I'll go out and try it as soon as I get a chance. Thanks, VS.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Well, I wouldn't say inoperative, but a leak can make the doors either unable to lock or unlock...or both of you're really unlucky

There are two vacuum circuits, a "lock" circuit and an "unlock" circuit. The master switch on the driver's door is just a 3-way valve that directs vacuum from the supply (the pump or reservoir) to either the "lock" or "unlock" circuit. So you could have locks that always lock but never unlock if you have a leak in only one of the circuits.

Also, if the leak is small, the locks can still operate when the car is running, but allow all the vacuum to escape once the engine stops.

Its really pretty easy to isolate a leak with the mityvac by pulling up the carpet to get to the vacuum lines. That way you only have to take one door apart (hopefully) to fix a leak. There was a really good pictorial on the other forum but I can't find it right now.

__________________
1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

I tried pulling up on the lock button while working the door handle inside the car yesterday and it came open. Then I got the door panel almost off except for one screw at the rear of the armrest. That one must be glued in with Locktite! I'll work on this more when it's not freezing-frickin'-cold outside.

Thanks for your help.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles