Ok...

Did some vac diag with my new MityVac (awesome tool!).

My locks go up and down as they should when tested. Hatch, gas, doors, etc... all good. I have not tested the driver side door lock as of yet... you'll see why in a sec.

Now, we move to under the hood. I tested the "check valve in the engine bay near the oil filter" -- this is OK.

So, I remove the check valve and I have two yellows going thru the firewall -- one with the grey stripe, which is suppose to go the resovoir vac tank allllllllll the way in the rear of the car... and other solid yellow one goes to driver door lock. Let's forget about the one that goes to the driver door lock for now because I'm not really into pulling the door panel off at this time.

I hook my mity vac up to the grey stripe on and pumped it 71 times. -- it did not hold ANYTHING -- the guage would not move more than 2mm and then drop back down as I released the pump action.

I am assuming that the "plastic bubbles" tank in the underside of the rear of my car is the resovior for the vac.

And I would ASSUME that the black line that runs down the side (I forget driver or passenger) is the one that goes to this tank... ??????

In anyevent...

WHERE does the black bubble pack (i know, not the technical name) connect to this line?

Am I missing somthing here?

Here's a pic:



Thanks again.

I belive the name of the line that goes between the yellow w/grey stripe line and the vacuum supply tank is called the suction line. I am assuming that this is the black one that runs down the passenger side as per Haynes.

I guess, the best thing I can do is find out how to remove the vacuum supply tank and THEN test the suction line.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

WoooHooo I think I found it... now that I read.. (duh) -- (I wouldn't have thought to read about removing the bumber to figure it out... but okay) --

"On models wquipped with centra locking system... photo 37.4 page 201... NOW here's a GREAT question... is it the same on the sedan as on the wagon?????

Ha!

You have a leak in the vac reservior, but I don't know if the door lock tank is under the rear bumper or under the driver's side fender (this is the more normal place for the door lock tank).

Try plugging the line with the gray stripe and then see if the locks operate off the MitiVac and the driver's door. If so, you need to track down the leak in the reservior. Most likely under the driver's side fender -- remove the sheild behind the tire to check. There are rubber grommets that connect the tank to the line that often leak.

I'd also check the tank at the rear -- if it holds vac, the line is leaking and you will have to chase it down. The line goes under the trim along the doorsill, and up under the rear seatback into the trunk. Most likely place for a break is in the trunk -- the lines can get caught on something and get pulled off farily easily.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

psfred -- this is a wagon... follow the same instructions?

Thanks again.

Yup. I'd find the line to the vac tank in the rear bumper and verify that the tank is OK first, then trace down the leak. Lines will run somewhere in the rear cargo area, probably in the spare tire well. There is also a set to the rear liftgate, probably go up the rear pillar from the taillight area.

I'll bet you have a buster or pulled loose line back there.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks psfred.

The lock in the tailgate works both up and down via the vac line @ the passenger foot area. The fuel door locks as it should. I need to clean and lube the spring down for the fuel door a bit, but it works as it should. My guess is these things have not worked for a while -- which I'm not happy about... but they work.

Thanks again.

I got the car on Tuesday -- the ground has NOT been dry since... totally UNFAIR -- I need to get under this car PDQ!

The leak is in the hard plastic line or the connectors in the line or the tank.

Pull the line from the tank, and stick a golf tee in it and see if the line holds a vacuum.

If it does, there is probably a leak in the tank (that bubbly think under the third seat location). If not, then check out the line. I think it runs down the left side of the car.

I imagine a leaky tank could be fixed with a tire patch or perhaps a boat repair fiberglass kit. It's hidden, and your repair can be really ugly and no one would know. You could epoxy a piece of aluminum or plastic or rubber over it. Finding a leak would probably involve removing it, but perhaps you could put a compressor on it and listen for a hiss.

My car locks just fine if you turn the key within 30 seconds after getting out.

The liftgate locking valve is more complicated than the door valves, and perhaps more likely to malfunction.


Good luck!

Most likely the leaks are in the black rubber connectors or the door actuators.

__________________
Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

"Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana"
---Marx (Groucho)

1984 300d Turbo 132000 Miles
My Leak Was The Fuel Lock Actuator Its Spring Loaded Open, Lock All Doors Over Night If It Can Be Open The Fuel Door 8 Hours Later Its Leakin Replace Done. 1 Hr