I have a 1980 300CD with an 85 turbo engine. It has the origninal tranny. Every once in a while, and this seems to happen more often when it's cold, it won't let me push the shifter past Neutral into Reverse or Park. When this happens I have three options:
1. I can let the car roll forward until it bounces off a curb or something and then rolls back ever so slightly, and then the reverse lockout will dissenage.
2. open the door and push the car back ever so slightly with my left foot...
3. Shut off the car, shift into park, start it up again, and then reverse.
When I'm standing the car sometimes I just have to leave it in Neutral with the E-brake on.
I'm wondering if I there is some simple adjustment, or repair that might fix this problem.

Dude, your car is not European!!!! stop advertising it as such. thank you


thier is no such think as a EURO CD

__________________
1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

The only thing I know of is to check the fluid, maybe do a filter and fliud change. Be sure to drain the torque converter too, this must be done seperatly from the pan. You will need to spin the engine to gain acces to the drain bolt that will show through the "window" you'll see when viewing the tranny from below. Don't know of any linkage problems with this trans. Hope this helps. As to sctbenz83, there are gray market cars out there, a friend has a '79 300CD, non-turbo, manual transmission, no tach. His car was cobbled together, a problem when getting parts.

__________________
83 SD

84 CD

An 80 transmission does not have a "lockout" ? I would suspect the trans. external linkage has missing or worn out bushing. Or within the trans the rod that moves within the valve body is binding. Assuming the external linkage is ok, you can watch the internal linkage with the trans pan off and a friend shifting the car.

__________________
81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.

Mine has no tach too, and the temp guage is in Celsius.

How would I go about checking the external linkage? Keep in mind that this problem only occurs when the car is on.

Thanks guys.

Do you hear any rattling when you move the gear shift? Strange clunking when turning left(linkage hitting drive shaft)? If so replace the linkage bushings.

Mark

__________________
85 300D (California) 220k
03 Silverado 1500 Xcab Z-71 Guzzler 90k Real American steel(made in Canada)
03 Suburban 1500 4x2 Guzzler 170k Real American steel(made in Mexico)
Diamondback hybrid
Element skateboard(mileage unknown)

Good news for diesel owners...There's no such thing as cold...only the absence of heat!

"Beer is proof that God wants us to be Happy." Benjamin Franklin

"Possession....the King of sin." The Avett Brothers

No I don't hear any strange noises, but it is really easy to shift. Like the shifter offers almost no resistance. I thought this was normal until I got another 300CD and felt how it's shifter is really firm. Now it kind of disturbs me.

I had this problem on my 91 300D. Problem was the trsnsmission governor was stuck. I removed the governor, cleaned it with parts cleaner and the problem was solved. I don't know what is involved doing an 80 300d but you could check with a trans shop or maybe someone here could help. I do know It is on the left side of the trans close to the rear. I also know there is something on the right side that needs to be removed on my 84 500SEL but not necessary on the 91 300D.

__________________
84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

To check external linkage. 1 jack up car. 2 get under car. 3 on driver side of trans locate the shifter rod. 4 grab rod, see if it has slop, play. 5 post back!

__________________
81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.