Follow the wire from the kickdown to the transmission. Somewhere on the right front (I think, not sure) the wire connects to the solenoid. I THINK you can remove the solenoid without draining the tranny, but I don't know for sure. You may get a bath in tranny juice if you try!

Apply battery voltage to the solenoid when you find it. It must click when voltage is applied -- if not, it's stuck.

I don't know for sure if the W116 started off in 1st or had the "second gear sitter" situation -- meaning that it sits in 2nd while stopped and immediately kicks down to 1st when starting off. The W123 300D does, so does my 220D, but I'm not sure about the W116. If it is supposed to and doesn't, check the vaccum and bowden cable systems, something isn't working correctly.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!