Boot lock vacuum seal??

[mike_es]

Morning!

Was working on the wife's slk yesterday as it had the usual c/l problems.

Sorted the drivers door, it had broken on the knuckle and bodged by creating a tube out of gaffer tape???
So with the help of narrow pipe (from a wd40 spray can) and some plastic heatshrink tubes job done.

However, when I went to check the boot, there is a small white reservoir on the mechanism which creates the pressure to move the rocker arm for locking and unlocking, which was/ is hissing. I've tried lubing the seal, creating a better seal around the outside, but it is leaking air where the piston enters.
Is there a fix for this, a replacement part I can get or am I stuck with a manual boot?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mike_es]

So am I to assume that everyone on here does not sort problems on their own cars?
Seems like the only answers are to posts asking for for help on which independent specialist to take the car to, or what colour to choose for the leather on a new car

 

[Dec]

Is the above your type of vacuum actuator?

Replacement should be available from an MB dealer or scrap yard.

See also… http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/206658-r170-boot-lock-2.html

Dec

 

[mike_es]

Thank you for replying.
The leak is from the white reservoir next to the actuator, just above the blue arrow in your pic (actuator 3 in the other pic). Where the rod goes in is where the air is leaking, so I assume the seal is damaged somehow?

 

[Dec]

Something like below?
I think the black “rod” part detaches from the reservoir.

Dec

 

[mike_es]

AHA!!
Light dawns on fevered brow. (Hopefully)
I was of the opinion the rod actually moved but that pic shows it can't.
Thank you.

 

[Dec]

There is a rubber diaphragm inside the reservoir, if it is torn then the rod can’t be pushed across by the air that is blown into it. You can’t really repair the rubber, it needs to be very flexible and any repair would make it partially ridged and so it won’t seal properly.

You could take it off and open it up to see how it works, put it into hot water first, to soften it as the White plastic is very brittle. The only solution is to replace it, other cars use a similar reservoir/actuator like the W202 lock pictured below.

You need to seal the end of the tube with masking tape if you don’t replace the reservoir.

Dec

 

[mike_es]

To be honest I need to replace the reservoir as a couple of the tabs have snapped off but the diaphragm itself is still supple and without pinches.
Is the reservoir available by itself, do you know, or am I looking at buying the whole assembly?

 

[Codger49]

Looking at EPC for a 170.465, it looks like the white plastic actuator is 'Element - A140 800 29 75' and is connected to the vacuum tube by 'Plug - A202 805 03 44'

 

[Dec]

You could try an MB dealer and see what the say.
If the rubber is good then it should be possible to cover the thing in mastic in order to seal it, or is it gone too far to be repaired like that?

Is the boot lock key hole slot in the Vertical or Horizontal position?

Dec