I know that I have called Rusty and replaced a the vacuum pods before. I find that it is the best way to fix the problem as that everything works like the manual says.
Of course if the car is not work fixing, then just patching might be the best option. However I have found that it takes the same amount of work to patch a car as it does to fix one, thus it is often better to start with a better car, and when your done you have a nice car. Trampas -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sunny Letot Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 7:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vacuum elements in a 85 300SD (126 chassis) - any oneelse been here? Have a look at these wikkis from over at Mercedes Shop -- they may help, since the 126 back-of-dash is very similar to the 123, only roomier (really!). http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W123HVACVacuumActuators http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W123Evaporator That being said, I'll tell you the solution Dave Morrison (the author of those two articles) suggested to me. Unplug the vacuum element, stick a golf tee or whatever in the end of the tube, and use a small block of packing foam (not a peanut, the closed-cell type stuff) to block the louver door open. We have the ability to close it with the dash lever, which has nothing to do with the vacuum-controlled flap, so why do we need both? After hours of annoyance and frustration, THAT suggestion was a flat forehead moment. Especially here in Texas, we cool far more than we heat, so we tend to want the center vent open far more than closed. I've done it to four 123s and two 126s, and I love it. The center vent is open until I decide to shut it, and the vacuum system works fine. And the little pink vacuum pods stay where they are, unmolested, unneeded, and causing no problems. New elements are darned expensive, and replacing them with salvaged ones only delays the problem since that soft diaphragm is going to tear eventually, and the hard plastic is already very brittle. Just a suggestion -- it's sure easier than what you're doing. BTW, has anyone ever wondered, as I have, what posessed the Sindelfingen engineers to use pink plastic for these? The first time I pulled a dash at a boneyard and saw these little pink blobs tucked back there (I didn't know what they were yet!) I thought, "WHAT the ????" Sunny "Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." Robert A. Heinlein _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
