WOW. W140 doors & trunk wont shut, rear driving antenas stuck
 

Today as just as I parked the car in my house, I saw that the rear driving "antenas"-used for easier parking (pre '96 W140) were stuck, i.e. didnt return to they original position (inside) even though I had the tranmission in Park, and they("antenas") only stick out when the tranny is on Reverse. I oppened the trunk to see how can I get to them and when tried to close the trunk (my W140 has the close assist system that pulls the doors and the trunk when shut) it wouldnt close. There is a handle that gets out from the trunk's lid located just above the licence plates that sticks out when the button for opening the trunk is pressed. When I pressed the trunk opening button after manually turning the metal part inside the lock, it should have released the the handle but it didnt.
Another think I realised was that when trying to close the doors by pressing the lock button on remote locking control the doors wouldnt lock.
Is this some kind of a fuse problem or is it worse than that.

Thanks

If anyone can help please do it faster since I cant lock the trunk I tie it with thin rope, and it is really embarrasing.

Read this...

http://v12uberalles.com/Closing_Assist_Pump.htm

Read the pcmaher link to understand the operation, but I think
you have a fuse problem (or 2, since both of them
are out of order). Look in the fusebox in the
trunk. Are any fuse blown there? The number 3 fuse lists as both
central locking and closing assist in a diagram I got. Number 9 is
the closing assist pump alone.

I do not know for sure, but I think both pumps are connected
to a convenience control module, on the same side of luggage as
the fuses, under the lining, that may have failed.

br,
syljua
1998 W140 S320

There are two pumps in the car, the one under the passenger rear seat handles lock/unlock, lumbars, backup assist, trunk handle, provides vacuum for HVAC when car is not running, lumbars, and rear headrest with the non electric rear seat. It is a failed pump $spensive, a leak in the system it shuts off in 10 seconds on the locking function and it shuts off in 60 seconds on lumbar and climate control leaks.
If the doors and trunk dont pull down it is the other pump over the drivers side rear wheel also $spensive.
There is a release uner the trunk lid that allows the latch to be retracted manually it is in the owners manual.
I think there was a bulletin about a defective hose in the pump but I seem to recall it was for a later model. I would pull the fuse wait and reeinstall it to see if you can hear the pump run, there is also a tool called MIGHTYVAC which can be used to draw a vacuum in the various circuits (hoses) to see if they hold.
The close assist also has a safety, two attemts and it will disable the circuit.

Thanks.
Heres my situation.

Of course, as most of W140's, my close door assist works for at least two times to like days(when its cold).
But that worked until two days ago and the close assist still works at the doors.
I checked the fuse #3 at its fine.
When I press the button that opens the trunk (after previously manually pressing the lock inside) you can hear the sound things moving(so I guess the pump is ok) where the latch is, but the latch doesn't come out.

I hope this helps.

check fuses in trunk I believe #9 is for closing assist and the backup antennas are probably on a different fuse. Even if the fuse is not blown remove it and wait a couple of minutes to allow for reset and then reinstall fuse and see if things work.
Hope this helps

i know this is an old post, but hey... its related.

anyway, we have acquired a 95 s280. everything vacuum works except for the backup antennas. how is it triggered? i'm willing to cut up some wires to test trigger the pump if ever. thanks guys

I'm having similar problems with my 93 300SE. Although my closing assist system works, my locks, back-up assist antennas, trunk handle and lumbar quit working.(the lumbar has been out for months, the others just went out last week)

did they stop working all at the same time?

anyone?

My lumbar have been out for a while. I suspect there was a leak in tha passenger side seat. But all the other systems just went out the other night.

Its not "normal" for the closing assist not to work. My 99's closing assist works flawlessly every time. Take a look at the URL that was posted earlier. You may need to invest in a new closing pump or may have some leaks in your vacuum system. Im dealing with a vacuum leak myself in my 126. :(

Sometimes you can extend the life of the pump by a couple of years by disassembling the pump and cleaning the orange disk valve and seat that is in the end of the pump.
As the pump wears, graphite powder builds up on the seat of the valve reducing the pressure that the pump can produce.
Place a mark across the sections of the pump so they can be properly re-assembled. Remove 5 screws holding the end of the pump to the electric motor. Disassemble.
You will notice bumps of graphite on the seat. Clean the seat with a Qtip and water (maybe little soap), clean the disk and screen.
Re-assemble and evenly tighten the 5 screws.
The above is for the Bosch pump.

This is EXACTLY what my car is doing. I can't seem to find t he trunk latch you guys speak about that you can manually shut ur trunk with? ANy help?

( 92 sel 600)

Does this sound like a fuse problem or a pump problem, cuz at first when I replaced the fuse it worked but now taking the fuse out or replacing it does not work. Thanks.

Just curious, WHAT AND WHICH TRUNK LATCH are you gentlemen talking about?

There are two pumps on the 140, The "close assist" which draws in the doors and trunk lid is next to the gas tank over the drivers side rear wheel (fuse #9). The lock unlock which also powers the lumbars, back up rods, trunk handle on some that do not have the updated trunk lock, and vacuum headrests, in adition to providing back up vacuum for the HVAC, this pump is under the passenger side rear seat I dont reall fuse number.