Well the ol benz decided to try and give me a fit yesterday. The vacuum system has been getting a little week and leaking down lately. Yesterday was becoming pretty bad when it wouldn't lock or unlock doors and at the end of the day it wouldn't shut off. Oh yeah the brake pad sensors worked great, that light came on too. Almost had to look at the owner's manual to figure that one out.

I thought at first it was going to be door lock slave so I was ready to take off all the door panels and start poking around. But I thought I'd go back to square one at the vacuum source. applied vacuum to the system locked and unlocked all the doors with the ignition off. All looks good. Now with the ignition on. Thought it weird that I'd have to build up more vacuum with the vacuum pump but away I go and hand pump the vacuum up again. Test the doors again all good. so I shut off the ignition again. And again no more vacuum. Ok use the hand pump again build it up (10" or so vacuum). Turn on the ignition again (not starting it) and again no more vacuum. In the on position it looses all vacuum and does vacuum down very well. So I'm thinking the switch it self

Oh yeah that fitting on the brake vacuum check valve at 34 years old is pretty delicate. I'm sure of it as I just broke two of them tonight

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

Reguardless of broken Nipples on the Vacuum Line Vacuum should not keep you from starting unless there is some issue with the Vacuum Switch on the Steering Colum.

Disconnect the Brown Vacuum Line from the Vacuum Shutoff Valve/Servo at the Fuel Injection Pump. That keeps vacuum from having an effect on the Vacuum Shutoff Valve/Server and your Engine should be able to start but of course not shut off.

If your Engne will not shart like that you have some other issues besides the Vacuum problem.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

take the brown line with the blue stripe, and connect your vacuum tool to it. try to pump it up (down?) and see if it holds vacuum... when you turn the ignition switch, you are connecting the vacuum shutoff switch to the engine shutoff control... see if oil is creeping to the tool.

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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!