Our 1979 300D runs great at speed. We just installed a fuel boost pump kit and it really does help starting and idling and did help a little on power too. I was hoping it would also solve our shifting problem as well but it did not. From a dead stop, the car will always start rolling in second gear (which as everyone knows makes it painfully slow) even if I mash the pedal down. It will do this even if I shift into neutral while stopped then shift to drive just before moving.
We've already done the following to this car: recent valve adjustment, timing chain replaced (has good timing now), recent diesel purge, new filters, fuel lines and fuel strainer, adjusted kickdown rod from throttle to transmission (which did improve the shifting above 20mph to earlier shifts for more power).
The car runs excellent on the highway and has passing power even at 70 mph. Its just the starting out that scares me. It will shift down to first gear if I'm already rolling at about 5-10 mph however which is what mystifies me.
Anyone have some valuable 2 cents?
Thanks,
Brandon and Megan Oswald
Pensacola, FL
1979 300D
1985 300D Turbo

To start in first you can move the gear selector down to L and then back to D and it will start in first one time.

Does it kickdown in any other gears?

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

There is very little wrong with your car. Unlike your 85, it was designed to start in 2nd gear. At a standstill, if you put it in L and then back in D it will start in 1st. It sounds as if your kickdown switch under the accelerator is not working from a dead stop It is also designed to put it into 1st if you hold the accelerator to the floor when starting.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yes, it will kick down to a lower gear in higher speeds if I mash the gas pedal but it has to be almost floored. Thanks everyone for all the help so far!

If you floor it from a dead stop, it should start in 1st.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I think it does go into 1st if I floor it from a stopped position. Without the AC on, it accelerates okay but with the AC on and the car in drive, at a stoplight upon acceleration the rpm's get really low and it has died on me once...regardless of whether I floor it or try and ease out into the intersection.