1982 240D OM616, this is all new to me....Please Help
 

I just bought this car a few weeks ago for my daughter that does not have a license yet. I am VERY VERY new to MB, I really like the car, but I do like to understand it more... I have read and read about vacuum lines and how they need to go here and there.... I have a list of questions and will probably froget some along the way.

#1. could someone get me a REALLY good picture of how the vacuum lines hook up the "VCV" which I think are the switches that are around the throttle cam.. on this enigne it has 2 that sit next to each other. when it shifts it seems to skip 2nd and go right through 3rd to 4th.

#2. why remove the Throttle plate, and the EGR valve?

#3. should there be auto locks? and or trunk release?

I am glad to be here, and thanks in advance for the hlep.

Welcome to this forum!

I have had three of these cars and you'll like them and have a warm and fuzzy as far as safety for your child is concerned. They are not super fast, but no 16 YO needs a hot rod.

You can search this forum for threads that will handle all three of your topics. You might also want to get an owner's manual for the car on Ebay or if someone here has one to sell, buy it! They are informative.

Find someone who can "base line" your car, i.e., go through all maintenance items so that the car will operate at its typical super dependable level.

Ask here if anyone knows a good mechanic (not the dealer!) and / or would do it for you, for a fee, of course. We have many fine mechanics working here.

Start with the filters and selected hoses and go from there.

Your shifting problem is probably not vacuum related. The problem is called 'stacked shifts'. If you search on that term, you will find information. It's possible that you can resolved the stacked shifts by adjusting the bowden cable. A search on 'bowden cable' will bring up lots of info about adjustment.
Vacuum controls the harshness/softness of shifts. The bowden cable controls the shift points.
I didn't think the 82 model had a throttle plate. Perhaps it does.

Yes, doors, fuel door and trunk have vacuum controls. They are all controlled via the yellow line in the engine compartment that goes thru the firewall. If you have none of those things, that yellow line is probably disconnected and plugged due to vacuum leaks in one or more of the control diaphragms in the doors or trunk.

for a 85-300D (not sure about 82) it all goes on or off via the driver's door key or inside lock button

Thanks al for the suggestions... I will try to post a pic of the vacuum lines that I am mostly in question of, first. I will dig into the doors and trunk release some time in the future. I am pretty sure that I don't have a Bowden Cable. I have read some on the linkage knuckle on top of the vavle cover.... it is very loose. I will be doing all this work myself being I can't afford a mechanic.

Some years used vacuum to control everything on the transmission.

Pics will help.

My old 82 had a throttle plate, the fella I sold it to has removed it and the erg valve. Doing so will help "performance" and stop (slow down) clogging up the intake.

The erg valve redirects exhaust into the intake to reduce pollution, but that is hot and lacks oxygen, you want just the opposite for an internal combustion engine to function at it'd best.

If you have two keys for the car, one should be a master and one a valet.

Lock the trunk and/or glove box with the master and the valet key won't unlock either.

With the trunk lock in the horizontal position, the trunk should open with a push of the button, if the drivers door is unlocked. Put it in the vertical position and you have to use the master key to open it.

I'll second getting an owners manual.

This thread is directed more at a 300CD, but it should point you in the right direction.

http://www.peachparts.com//shopforum/showthread.php?t=295616

IMO, there are only two things you can do with an automatic 240D: 1. Covert it to manual or 2. Use it for parts.

Here is the best picture I got of the parts in question, the Valve switch on the left is not hooked up at all. I have looked and found some drawings of vacuum hoses, but still could not be sure where some of them went.

Also, I am not sure what a "w123" is and please correct me I think this is an OM616?

SKIPPY, I don't have the time for an manuel switch or I just might.

W123 is the chassis number given by mercedes... not sure what those hoses are... i also have a 240D but its a earlier model so the vac setup is totally different... you have an OM616 engine

Check your pm's... in the user cp...

From that picture it looks like you may have a transmission solely controlled by vacuum with no bowden cable or rod. You'll have to search on adjusting that particular model. It only existed for a year or two.

Lucky me,... it is not the common engine that everyone knows tons about... I have been driving it to work, it seems to do well if I can just get it going off the line.

The engine's one that didn't change much from 1977 to 1985. The transmission control setup is what varied from year to year.

oh, what is up with my fuel gauge? jumps from empty to ??...??? hopefully what I have in the tank, every ten seconds.... worried the needle is going to fly off. and What does "R" stnad for? where "E" for empty normally goes?

What is the normal operating temp, mine runs at 80