Donnie,

I want to replace the vacuum lines thruout my '85 300D. How do I know how much vacuum line to buy from Partsshop? Also how long do you foresee this job taking?

Thanks,



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Frank,
Why do you wish to replace all of the lines?
Gotta leak? Bored? Nothing to fix, so you are looking for things? :D

Vee Heff Kwestschuns

-Larry

Who's fixin' what ain't broke? he he

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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'68 Olds 88 Convertible
'84 300 SD (sold it)

Thanks for the replies fellas. You REALLY answered my questions.

I want to replace them because I know that thru time the hoses get brittle and weak. The car is a 1985 and has over 280K on the odometer so its not like it has been sitting in the garage getting polished up weekly (I can't afford playtime vehicles like you guys). I just want to do some PREVENTIVE maintenance. It will also help me to understand the vacuum system better.

Now that I've justified myself, can I get a response from someone about how long this will take and also about where and how much hose I will need?

Larry, du hast bloodsin im kopf! (I know I spelled it wrong)



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

I have not ever done this. I'd replace the ones in the engine bay, but not the ones on the interior. The only leaks I see in there are from the actuators.

Start with about a meter and go from there.
Thanks for waiting on me.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1991 GMC Syclone
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Just so you know...my 73 280 has vacuum lines that are still in good working order, and not brittle. (even the ones in the trunk)
And, comne to think of it, all the time I spent so far pulling of and refitting the ^&%&% $olex carb., I have not come across a brittle line in the engine compartment either.
The actuators, however, are a different story.
-Larry

I was thinking about doing this with my '80 928, and understand that once the material that makes up the vacuum lines gets old and brittle it becomes an on-going problem due to leaks and loose fit. Someone advised me that in addition to the vacuum hose, there are a lot of vacuum accuators that also get old and brittle. And that same person suggested that changing these accuators is a good "while you're there" opportunity. And a lot of electrical contacts that might want to be examined and cleaned, while you're there….. So it becomes a big job. Worse is that that in pulling everything apart there's a better than even chance of introducing new issues.

Even though in the last 2 years my car has had about 4 hoses (water), 2 fuel related (injector system), 2 vacuum (engine area), and 1 (hydraulic) replaced due to age, I'm still debating. Let me know how it goes!

Regards,

…tracy

Thanks Benzmac (and Larry) for your repsonses. I will purchase a few meters of hose from partshop and go from there. When you guys say actuators, are you referring to the diaphragms? If so, how many are in the vehicle?

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

[This message has been edited by fz500sel (edited 08-23-2000).]

Most MBs I've seen have one actuator per door lock, one for the gas cap access panel lock, and one for the trunk lock.

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Steve
1979 240D
1990 300E

Steve,

Does the air circulation (or A/C) system use actuators also?

...tracy

Sorry Frank, I was just yankin your crank. I knew that Benzmac, Steve, or MOB would come to the rescue. Unfortunately, I have not tried what your are wanting to do.

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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'68 Olds 88 Convertible
'84 300 SD (sold it)

[This message has been edited by mattsuzie (edited 08-24-2000).]

hey matt(or suzie, whichever one you are) :),

No problemo. I can give it as well as I can take it. How did the door thing go for you?

So, Benzmac, when you say actuators are you referring to the diaphragms?

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

The actuators have diaphragms in them . The diaphragms in the '85 model will not be servicable and will require replacement of the whole actuator. Someone mentioned th A/C system. There are actuators here also.The one most likely to fail is also the most challenging to replace. The center vent servo. Have an extra pint of blood on hand if you decide to do this one w/o pulling the dash(G)The only in car plastic lines I've ever seen fail are one that have been exposed to battery acid, where a hole has been eaten thru the firewall ( poor/no maintenance)and run down the inside floor pan soaking these lines in their protective sheath or cover

The door thing wound up great. Saved a nice buck and now have a drill to boot due to the generosity and expertise of the posters, including you on this site.