Does anyone here know how to access this part as I have a loud vacuum noise, like a high pitched howl, behind my dashboard and this seems to be the likely culprit, this is the part I need to access CENTRAL LOCKING VACUUM VALVE BOX A1708050019
Thanks in advance

 

Try this site for new, Ebay for used
https://www.pelicanparts.com/search/?q=A1708050019

 

Thanks for the answer, perhaps I phrased my question wrong, I’ve bought a replacement part after extensively researching the problem online, but I don’t know how to find the one that’s fitted to the car at the moment, I’m guessing it’s somewhere near the bulkhead behind the dashboard but it appears to be really well hidden and I don’t want to remove anything that isn’t necessary in the process of searching for it.

 

I'm assuming the yellow pneumatic lines coming from the CLP attach to it. I have never seen that box anywhere, but I can tell where I haven't seen those yellow lines - behind the instrument cluster, or under the steering wheel, or behind the center console (could be behind the heater box, but I've never removed that), or in the inner passenger amplifier area under the passenger side carpet. I have seen the yellow lines running along the interior driver's side rocker panel, on the passenger's side of the trunk, and to the locking mechanism in the lower center console. Maybe that helps a little.

 

Thanks Red, I'm in the UK so some part names might be different, is the rocker panel the sill below the door?
I can see the grey vacuum pipe from the engine going through the bulkhead and a yellow pipe under the glovebox (left hand side under the dashboard) so, my guess is that the box I'm looking for might be behind the heater. I'm hoping that I don't have to remove the heater because that looks like a huge job.

 

My new weekend job. The part you bought is located behind the glove box. It is feed by a vacuum line that runs under the battery and that line is know to rot from the battery being just above it. You must remove the glove box to get at the part you bought. That vacuum valve box attaches to the air switchover valve. It is all part of the heating system. I would check that vacuum line under the battery before tearing into the glove box removal job.
I don't know if you might have access to that valve box you bought from the bottom: maybe take a look at removing the air filter and blower. It may be easier than getting the glove box out. I'm just not sure which would be easiest.

 

Hi, maybe rocker panel isn't the correct name either, but it's the panel on the side wall, under the dash on the left side (if you're sitting in the drivers seat) by your legs. There's a small cover that hides the screw that secures the panel, otherwise the panel is held by the weatherstripping and the carpet.
Also, as Zip says, the gray pneumatic line goes under the battery and is a favorite target of rodent chewing. I've had to repair mine twice, the last time I repaired it I put plastic conduit around it. So far, the little critters have left it alone.

 

Thanks Zip, I've had another look behind the glovebox from underneath, I can see the reservoir box like you said,
I haven't tried to remove it because I'm not convinced this is where the noise is coming from. The noise seems to be from the drivers side. These boxes are listed for sale as central locking vacuum reservoirs, but I've read that they are actually for the recirculation flap in the HVAC system, do you know which system it's for?
I've also read that the grey vacuum pipe that goes from the engine through the bulkhead/firewall does connect to this reservoir box and it can be blanked off if there is a leak. When the pipe is blanked off the grey box stops working and the recirculation flap will default to fresh air setting, I might try this to eliminate the box from my inquiries if it's true. The noise is particularly loud when the engine is producing more vacuum at about 30 MPH and when the car has been stood for a while suggesting that all the stored vacuum has been lost, the central locking is working properly even when the car has been stood for days which leads me to believe this leak and is nothing to do with the CDL system.

 

Thanks for your reply Red, I will have a look there tomorrow, it's very dark here at the moment and there's a storm blowing outside, I will get back to you and let you know

 

I removed the trim panel at the right hand side below the dashboard and adjacent to the accelerator pedal (UK model RHD). I found a yellow pipe leading to the door lock but no reservoir box.

 

You say you have a howl and assume it is this part which you have not seen on your car, I think that is presumptuous there is a valve behind the glove box which has been known to make a noise. That is the part I would assume it is, but I cannot hear it myself as you can.
How you came upon this part which I have never seen on the forum in 18 years is a mystery to me.

 

Hi onehundred80 thanks for your input, I did a lot of research including searching for Mercedes SLK R170 faults, a number of people said they had cured a similar noise by replacing this part, there are a lot for sale on Ebay etc suggesting they are regularly bought, this is probably because they contain a rubber diaphragm which fails causing a leak, they're an inexpensive part so a good place to start in my opinion. Please can you provide some more details of the valve you've mentioned so I can check mine. As you seem to have a lot of experience of these cars please could you also let me know where I can get replacement vacuum lines, connectors and valves? or what the specifications or part numbers are? Many thanks in advance

I have a good recording of the noise but there didn't seem to be a way of posting the file for other people to listen to, I tried asking the forum administrators if this was possible but haven't had a reply yet.

 

I like to see the faulty part before I replace it, I saw this part was used on roadsters but maybe that is wrong.

 

I agree with you there, but because of where the sound is coming from (behind the dashboard, somewhere), the facts that it only does it when the car is being driven and there is nothing obvious to see, I will have to rely on other people’s experiences and use a process of elimination until the noise stops. When I find it I will let you know, and if you would like to hear it I can send the sound file to you, thanks again.

 

The part you bought has nothing to do with locking/unlocking or security. It connects to a switchover valve via one of the vacuum hoses. That hose is about 8 inches so the switchover valve is within 8 inches of the reservoir tank you bought. I am not familiar with the layout of the right hand drive cars, but if the glove compartment is removed on our cars here in the States you will access to the hoses, reservoir tank and the valve.The glove compartment on our cars is on the same side as the A/C fresh air opening in the engine compartment. I'm guessing that resrvoir is there to hold a vacuum when the engine is off and you would want to use the recirculating heat system while parked. Good Luck

 

Update..... I have disconnected the grey vacuum pipe from the engine bay to the interior of the car, as other people have said it runs from the central rear of the engine under the battery tray and through a rubber grommet in the bulkhead (firewall) to the vacuum reservoir behind the glovebox (RHD car)

After doing this the noise is still apparent and obviously not vacuum leak related as suggested by other posts I've looked at although they might make a similar noise.
I have noticed on this forum that another member has the same noise on their car, described at flutey, we have both recently had the propshaft central bearing replaced just before the noise started, I have contacted the parts suppliers and they've had complaints about the same thing so it looks like a faulty bearing is to blame. A new bearing is on the way and I'll confirm if this cures the problem when it has been fitted.

 

Update, the noise was caused by the propshaft bearing which had recently been replaced, the suppliers had received a faulty batch and sent me a replacement manufactured by a different company. After fitting this bearing the sound went away completely. The company I used for the bearings is chryslercrossfire.co.uk they are excellent to deal with and very knowledgeable, thanks to them my car is a delight to drive again.

 

Thanks for the update. I'm glad that you've solved the problem! I've bought the wheel centers from the same company. They fit perfectly and shipping across the pond wasn't bad at all.

 

My question is finding the box to purchase. They’re all over eBay as a Used part. That seems risky but can’t find a new one?

Mine is whistling and I have confirmed it is the gray box. Take off one of the hoses and the whistling stops.

 

When you search for it you have to take off the "p" at the end.
I found a few new ones, but you might have to check for availability. Here a few links:
AutohauzAZ Vacuum Tank

Mercedes Parts Center Vacuum Tank

Pelican Parts Vacuum Tank