Are the door locking vacuum elements on 1983 Mercedes Benz repairable? I was thinking several years ago someone posted, that he fixed the leak in one of them by using a bicycle patch. Also, can they still be purchased? I am back at trying to fix a leak in mine. I replaced the switch in the driver's side door. They won't unlock for just a short period of time.

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Rebe

Not sure which portion is broken but it looks like the actuator itself may possibly be replaceable but if it's not perhaps this DIY repair might be of use:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/392851-need-help-finding-vacuum-element-0008008775-a-2.html

I don't know if the vacuum actuators for the 83 are the same as my 84 300D.

You need to determine what is leaking.

The outside boot is the most repairable. People have used n tip of a rubber or latex glove for that or somewhere in the thread there is Bosch rubber boots.

On mine it was the inside diapered that had developed slit in the corner of it. In the corner a bicycle patch would have been I believe too thick.

I don't know the rubber cement for bicycles tubes would stick a slit back together or not. But one of our members used glue that he used to repair his diving wet suite.

The possibility of repair depends on what you find. So you would need to remove it test it and take it apart and see.

I tested mine by hooking some vacuum hose to one nipple and blowing into the hose with the actuator under water.

The bodies on my 84 are plastic. The older W123 vacuum actuators had metal bodies and there at one time was kits to repair them.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

See post 16 where I test a door actuator.
Post 18 has an outer boot repair using a glove finger.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/322550-w123-door-lock-actuator-diaphragm.html

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I am kind of at a loss on my vacuum repair. I had noticed that the fuel door was locking as the doors and the trunk. What caught my attention was that the fuel door would unlock in a short amount of time. This lead me to think that it might be the problem. I removed it, and the trunk element. I tested both of them, and they both tested good. Both of them held vacuum very well, and unlocked. I don't have a clue why the fuel door was operating the way it was. Another question I have is can the tubing get porous and leak? I can see it getting cracked and broken, but I didn't think it would have holes in it? The line from the fuel door to the trunk seems to drop down on vacuum slowly. I am not sure what size of tubing and rubber connecting it to the elements is?

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Rebe