Weird noise from shifter 85 300SD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JCSC2 · #1 02-25-2008, 03:27 PM

Hey guys, I have another problem that just started with my 85 300SD.
Recently my car was lightly hit in the rear while parked. Not cool, but anyway. I have always had a little vibration around the shifter at certain rpms. But now it is much louder since the accident. Not sure if it is coincedence or not. But it is hard to describe. Kinda of like a groaning noise. This is all happens when the selector is in D. If I hold the shifter back slightly it will stop but I am sure that is not good for the trans and rather figure out what it is. I thought it was a dime that fell in the selector vibrating on the metal shifter. But I have since fished it out. Any help or hints would be greatly appreciated.

easy_asW123 · #2 02-25-2008, 06:12 PM

The same problem happened with my 1982 300D. It was a grinding/scratching ticking noise that came from my shifter and holding the shifter helped a bit sometimes, and the noise varied with RPM. I was told it was my shifter bushings. I don't have a PN or any more info than that- just somewhere to look. Never got around to replacing mine either because a drunk hit my car

Robert Squires · #3 02-25-2008, 06:30 PM

* Find the rod underneath the car that goes from the underside of the shift lever forward to the side of the transmission. The ends of that rod go through nylon/plastic bushings, one at each end. Maybe $5 for both bushings. There is a plier-like tool for installing the bushings, but they can be put in other ways.
* On the older cars, those bushings are usually missing or about to fall out. If you still have play/vibration in the gear lever, there are some more bushings up in the shift gate. But they wear out much less often.

JCSC2 · #4 02-26-2008, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Squires

* Find the rod underneath the car that goes from the underside of the shift lever forward to the side of the transmission. The ends of that rod go through nylon/plastic bushings, one at each end. Maybe $5 for both bushings. There is a plier-like tool for installing the bushings, but they can be put in other ways.
* On the older cars, those bushings are usually missing or about to fall out. If you still have play/vibration in the gear lever, there are some more bushings up in the shift gate. But they wear out much less often.

Thank-you very much for the info. Worn out bushings make sense to me. Now I just need to get under there and see what I can find.

JCSC2 · #5 02-26-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easy_asW123

The same problem happened with my 1982 300D. It was a grinding/scratching ticking noise that came from my shifter and holding the shifter helped a bit sometimes, and the noise varied with RPM. I was told it was my shifter bushings. I don't have a PN or any more info than that- just somewhere to look. Never got around to replacing mine either because a drunk hit my car

Geez that sucks, seems like a person can never keep something nice without somebody else messing it up. Thank you for your help though.