URGENT: Vacuum lock for fuel filler door
 

Hey all:
I went to fill up yesterday when I couldn't open my fuel filler door. I had to go in the trunk and manually pull on the actuator to open it. It was a cold day so I thought maybe it froze, so I locked and unlocked the car a couple of times but still nothing. The other thing I noticed is that I can no longer lock the whole car from the passenger front door, if I lock that door it only locks that one and the vacuum system won't even turn on. What does this mean? Is that a vacuum leak or a bad actuator? Please give me some ideas because it is a pain to reach in the trunk everytime I have to fill up. Just to clarify, everything else works as it should. All doors lock when the drivers door is locked. The trunk never locked or unlocked the whole car for me. There is a way to deactivate it and I think it was deactivated (the procedure is in the manual...it's fine as it is for me).
Thanks in advance.

DO'NT WORRY IT'S EASY
 

Mr. Kato, I had similar experience in my 190E, 2.6L, 1988.

The fuel door actuator could be the culprit. It cost $25 at: FINISH LINE , MIAMI.

The driver door lock in my car is failing like yours. I need to reemplace the lock only, but the MB dealer ask me the car's original property documents for salling the lock. It cost $88.

May be you don't need to change the electronic cilinder key. It cost $300, only can be sold by MB dealer.

Please first at all, check for any vaccum leak.

Take care with the vaccum pump it cost $300.


Tanks

Mario Farias
laprefar@cantv.net

I'm sorry forgot about the trunk
 

Mr. Kiato. If you can't close the car from the trunk, then you have

leaking or the vaccum pump is burned. Test it located under rear right seat.

If you want desactived the fuel door actuator only disconect its two little hoss and joint both end.

But if the fuel door actuator close it means that vacuum line is working.

Try to close and open the doors from the passanger door. If it close and open all the doors then the vaccum system is OK and the trunk actuator is "finito".

Mario Farias
laprefar@cantv.net

Your fuel cap actuator is probably bad, and that could end up burning out your vacuum pump if you do not fix the problem soon. Have the problem checked by a competent MB technician, others will take you for a ride and your problem will remain.

Thanks for the replies. I recently changed the vacuum pump so I am pretty sure it is ok. vnoronha, do you know any good mechanics in NYC where I could get this checked out? Thanks.

fuel door
 

If your door locks and unlocks, and no other doors, trunk, or fuel works, it could be the switch in the door that starts the pump. Can you activate the system from the trunk, that would confirm the door/wiring. Can you ever hear the pump running? Bypass or remove the gas flap actuator untill you fixit!