Heater Box Broken Vacuum Port

[puchak]

Going through my dash and I found a broken vaccum line that runs to the heater box.

What does this vaccum line do? Looks like I will need a new connector, unsure of P/N if anyone can help me out.

 

[gsxr]

Uh-oh. That's a male-to-male fitting that connects to the center vent pod. There's a rubber hose on the inside which connects to the pod.

Part number is 000-805-00-03 but it went NLA over ten years ago. You'll need to cobble up a patch.

 

[puchak]

I'm checking out a parts car later tonight, I could check if it's intact. Does the fitting slide out?

 

[gsxr]

Based on your photo, it slides into the hole from the INSIDE of the heater box, and is retained by the round metal locking clip. You have to pull the dash and remove the top of the heater box to access this stuff... at which point you might as well also replace/rebuild all the vacuum pods while you're in there.

 

[puchak]

I already have the lower dash taken off, and was planning on taking the upper dash off as well to make sure there are no more surprises. So that could work, I can probably create some elegant homemade fitting to cure the connector woes. What is the function of this vaccum anyway?

As for the pods... Are the Klima rebuild kits good? I saw Gerry mention them here, but I'm unsure if I'm looking at the right thing.

 

[gsxr]

I already have the lower dash taken off, and was planning on taking the upper dash off as well to make sure there are no more surprises. So that could work, I can probably create some elegant homemade fitting to cure the connector woes.

Cool - replace the 4 pods that require pulling the dash (center vent, 2 main air flap/recirc, and diverter if you can still get one).

What is the function of this vaccum anyway?

Assuming you mean the function of the plastic piece that broke, it allows a rubber hose to fit on either side. No need to pass through a tube or hose.

As for the pods... Are the Klima rebuild kits good? I saw Gerry mention them here, but I'm unsure if I'm looking at the right thing.

I believe the Klima kits are primarily for the 126 chassis - not sure if those kits work with the 124 pods. The Murphy/PP ACD-2010 diaphragm will rebuild the center vent pod 100%. The ACD-2010 kit will rebuild half of the pink dual-chamber pods, and ~90% of the time, that's all you need (the other half is usually fine). The diverter pod is NLA and there are NO repair kits available, it's smaller diameter. This one is usually ok, so you can leave it alone if you can't find a NOS diverter pod.

 

[puchak]

I know that the vaccum goes through, lmao!

What does that vaccum specifically DO? You know, it being broken - what am I losing? Just asking from a pure curiosity standpoint.

Jokes and curiosity aside, looks like I need to reach out to PAC. Just 3 diaphrams given the diverter pod situation?

 

[gsxr]

I know that the vaccum goes through, lmao!

What does that vaccum specifically DO? You know, it being broken - what am I losing? Just asking from a pure curiosity standpoint.

OH! Sorry, I thought you knew... that is for the center vent pod. No vacuum means the center vent never opens, you do not get cool air out the center vents in cooling mode. The center vent pod is NOT fun to access or replace. Search the forum for details on repair & replacement.

Jokes and curiosity aside, looks like I need to reach out to PAC. Just 3 diaphrams given the diverter pod situation?

Yup... make it 4 diaphragms if you want to do the defroster flap pod while you're in there. The defrost pod can be access through the glovebox / passenger airbag opening, but it's way easier with the dash off.

 

[puchak]

Oh, that explains the cold air in the middle. Oddly enough, my W202 suffers (benefits?) from this as well... thought it was a Mercedes-Benz thing. LOL.

Okay thanks! I will reach out to them, should make for a fun little job.

 

[nocfn]

The default safety action when the center vent fails, is to send air up the defrost so in the summer, you get cold air fogging the front glass. Normally, just a pod issue, failure would be weak flow out the center vents (not even effective) because of this defrost safety default. There are so many while you are there issues and refreshing all the rubber bits and pods perhaps even checking the condition of the heater core, condenser etc. You do not want to do this again obviously. I had done this on the 126 and they are pretty much the same.