W110 W111 W112 Sedan, BENZ AID - COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Does anyone know where to access the top nuts to the rear shocks on a 1984 300D Turbo Diesel? I suspect that the back of the rear seat has to be removed as I see nothing in the trunk. Looking for confirmation on this.

Thanks

Have experienced following:
1. Attempt to start - no crank and smoke comes from driver's side speaker area. Wait 10 minutes, try again, cranks and starts fine with no dash smoke.
2. Attempt to start later - again no crank, more smoke. Wait 10 minutes, cranks slowly but starts, no smoke.

Examination under dash reveals oil around ignition switch. My current thinking is to rebuild the vacuum pump and clean out all the vacuum lines I can reach.

What to do about the ignition switch? As I understand it, the switch is attached to a vacuum element that must have been polluted. It seems like the switch itself is now polluted too. Should I replace switch alone after vacuum pump rebuild? Or switch and vacuum element together?

Hi:

My starter motor spins and will not engage 4 out of 5 tries, so I need at least a new solenoid.

It looks difficult to get the solenoid out, what with the heat shield blocking the wiring, and because I can't seem to break the (3) screws loose.

I figure the starter has to come out to replace the solenoid. I may replace the entire unit.

It looks like the exhaust head pipe has to move, because the starter looks too big to slip out any other way. Moving the head pipe will also make access to the two starter bolts easier.