DOOR LOCKS...Vacuum

[nickjzee]

1984 300D

Dear fellow Mercedes lovers,

I need help with my door lock vacuum element in the drivers door. I replaced the vacuum element, rod, and one way check valve, yet my element leaks out of the end.

I've attached an image to help. The black arrows indicate the new components. The red arrow is where it leaks from.

I feel this is a simple fix, but don't know how. The manual indicated an adjustable switch as it has slotted holes for adjusting. The new white one do not have these same slotted holes.

I found that if I lock the door from the inside, and move the shaft toward the rear about .5mm the element will function correctly and lock the doors. (To lock the car, I'll open the rear driver door, reach in, and quickly lock it and push the shaft with my finger. The air will leak out eventually.)

If the lock is the locked position, the car will not turn off with the key, as the air escapes with an audible hissing sound.

Thank you for you help in advance.

[Hirnbeiss]

Is the check valve in backwards?

[nickjzee]

Nope. Not in backwards. I flipped it just to make sure.