1983 240D


When I bought the car it had severe transmission issues with clunky late or non existent shifts. Ended up being leaky 3/2 valves that leaked all the vacuum before it got to the transmission. I removed both 3/2 valves and rerouted vacuum and voila, it was fixed (although after that, the shifts flared)


Yesterday, I was parallel parking on a slight hill and the transmission or differential (couldn't tell) sounded like it was complaining, not very happy noises. I parked, returned to the car, drove home, nary an issue, still shifted fine.
Today, I drove up an incredibly steep but short incline, shifted into "S" and muscled my way up (what little muscle she has). Still shifted fine. Later in the day, driving, out of nowhere, it won't upshift.....strange. I shift into "S" then back into "D" and it shifts..weird. But then, that trick stopped working. Now it shifts HARD from 1-2 and then doesn't shift until redline for both 2-3 and 3-4. It just doesn't want to upshift! This is the time I am dreaming of a manual


Any advice? It almost reminds me of my initial vacuum issues but worse this time. I will check over the vacuum items anyway but will have to wait until a friend returns my Mityvac. I have all the necessary items to change the transmission fluid, just haven't got around to it yet. Think that would change anything?

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-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"

Ditto the vacuum lines and make sure your bowden cable is still attached and functioning (Pull on it and make sure the cable is not broken.)

I don't believe he has a bowden cable, but a vacuum leak is possible.

Humm, I could of sworn they had one by then...




^^^From eBay^^^

Nope, not on the 240.

You think you could have found a photo of a dirtier engine?

Nah, there were cleaner but that had the best shot of the linkages.

Check the down shift switch under the "gas" pedal. If it is stuck it will tell you tranny to shifty late all the time.

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1977 300D Lost coolant while someone else was driving
1983 300D Can't run without oil
1985 300SD (gone but not forgotten)
1990 300TE 4matic Sold
1991 Yamaha Venture
1975 Kawsaki 250 triple
1974 Honda 200CL
1951 8N Ford
2008 Wildfire 650C

What he said. You unplug it then drive around and see.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Ah the switch, will check that. That would be an easy fix wouldn't it

No bowden cable as far as I know. I believe the cable you're seeing ForcedInduction is the idle adjust cable

__________________
-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"

Just checked, the button wasn't stuck

__________________
-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"

Yep, he knows. That is the idle cable. He was just showing the photo to verify the cable was not there.

Have you checked your vacuum yet, is your brake hard?

Got my Mityvac back from a friend and sure enough, ANOTHER VACUUM LEAK! Argh

This time it was the vacuum control valve, doesn't hold vacuum. I temporarily cut off supply to it and rerouted vacuum to the transmission and that fixed it, shifting beautifully again. Amazing what vacuum does. Someone not in the know could easily be lead to believe they need a whole new transmission.

So what is the effect of driving without the VCV connected. I noticed no difference driving.

__________________
-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"