My father's 1981 300SD has started to randomly exhibit a hard brake pedal problem and a one-time (so far) exaggerated engine shutdown. While troubleshooting I saw an end of a vacuum line sitting on top of the engine. You can see it in my pic: http://www.divshare.com/img/6010186-d8a.JPG I assume, hopefully correctly, that this line should go into one of those holes in that rubber boot that the other lines are going into. So now the questions are: which hole does the open line go to and would this be the cause of the hard brake pedal and the exaggerated engine shutdown? Thank you.

I think that hose will fit in the bottom hole. I did away with my egr set up (for "testing" purposes only) and found the car runs a lot better. What you are discribing will not be from the line in the picture, that line is from the 2-3 shift levers located behind the black rubber piece. You have a vacuum leak somewhere. Get a cheap mighty vac that will pull vacuum and check some lines. You may just have a loose connection at the emergency stop switch. Post over in the diesel section and you will tons of support.

__________________
If it ain't broke take it apart and find out why.

1983 300SD, 4 speed
1994 C280
1987 300TD wagon
1996 HD Road King

Ride in Peace Eric Peterson, Harley of Macon