240d mercedes. automatic door locks seldom work.
Very common. The rubber diaphrams and checkvalve o rings do not last forever, and they begin to leak. The most common one is the driver side's vacuum door lock valve. This one is activated when your key turns the lock and diverts the valve's vacuum, which activates the other door's plungers to open. This is the one to fix first, and it requires that you remove the inside door hardware and panel to reach it. Buy a new valve ahead of time so you don't have to take it apart again. Then try the system. If it works but still not well, then get ready to test the other vacuum pods: Trunk, gas cap, center dash (HVAC). The center dash pod is fairly common and a bit difficult to reach (I would go through the center dash' vent with one hand, and the removed glovebox with the other) to replace the center. Check the web for the detail on that one because it requires taking the pod apart while its still attached to its bracket under the dash) Not fun, but better than removing the entire dash. In the end, troublshooting - specially without a vacuum pump (you can get a hand held one from an autostore) - is tedious and is by trial and error and replacing the pods. But, either you do it, or be charged $75/hr and no gaurantee the leak can be found. New door valve is about $20 and the dash pod $25.
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