You should be able to kick down to start in first. If that's not working, check the adjustment of the throttle linkage. The floor switch may also be suspect, but an incorrect length of even a couple of millimetres, especially the vertical link through the exhaust manifold, can wreak havoc with shift points and kickdown.

Also, if you move the shifter to L and then back to D at a standstill, it will start in first.

Personally I love the start-in-second transmissions... One less shift means that much less wear!

D.

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David Bruckmann, Oakland, CA

Current:
66 Citroën DS21
72 MB 280SEL 4.5
73 MB 450SLC
76 Citroën 2CV6
76 MB 300D
79 MB 300SD
Past:
70 Citroën DS21 (170kkm)/71 Citroën DS21 (137kkm)/72 Citroën DS21 (502kkm)/78 MB 300D (1,200,000 km-ish)/79 MB 300D (425kkm)/79 MB 300TD (260kkm)/81 Citroën 2CV6 (120kkm)/88 Merkur XR4Ti (209kkm)/81 Peugeot 505 GRD (350kkm)/84 MB 300TD (385kkm)/85 Toyota Camry (330kkm)/86 Renault 9 1.7L (155kkm)/02 Golf TDI (74kkm)