I put it in park and got out and it started rolling down hill clicking all the way.

I am also having starting issues ..where i have to push the shifter up to get the starter to engage.My first thought was neutral safety switch.
subsequent research brought up this thread.

Tranny Question: Car won't start in Park, only Neutral

So now I am thinking "shifter bushing".


So my question is .... Is this the "shift lever bushing"


http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1979-Mb-300sd-Transmission&yearid=1979%40%401979&makeid=MB%40%40MB%40%40X&modelid=300-SD-001%40%40300SD&catid=J%40%40Transmission&subcatid=J1171@@Shift+Lever+Bushing&mode=PA

or the "shift linkage bushing" he is talking about..

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1979-Mb-300sd-Transmission&yearid=1979%40%401979&makeid=MB%40%40MB%40%40X&modelid=300-SD-001%40%40300SD&catid=J%40%40Transmission&subcatid=J4070@@AT+Shift+Linkage+Bushing&mode=PA

that would make the car not go all the way into park.

The tapered spool linkage bushings are usually the problem.

Sounds like the parking brake need some adjustment and/or should have been used.

shifter bushings probably need replacing also.

I see this all the time, people slam it into park and jump out and the car is rocking back and fourth. It is a little stress full on the trans.

yesterday at Home Depot a newer car roll back into the side of another car. luckly no one was walking behind it.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

My parking brake doesn't work, so I always gently allow it to catch on the prawler (slowly release brakes) and it has always been trusty for me. Also, I avoid hills.

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'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Thanks for the responses..
But back to my original question ..
Is the part the "shift lever bushing" or the "shift linkage bushing" that i want to buy to fix this.??..anyone??

You should fix it. It would probably take about 10 min of adjustment to the rear shoes.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I believe it is the shift linkage bushing based on my own past experience, but then again you are the only one that can investigate your own car. I would get them all to be honest.
The shift linkage bushing replacement I do believe is by far the most aggravating job I have done to these cars in 4 years!!! Buy the tool!!!!!
Worth every penny!
BTW, you are the benchmark for having a problem, searching said problem and posting with all your ducks in a row. Very nice!!!!

**edit**
Best $$$ you will ever spend:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Mercedes-Transmission-Bushings-Repair-New-Tool_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2 ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem110312503367QQitemZ110312503367QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

The ol' bolt and washer method will work, but it isn't close to being as easy as using the tool. It is worth it at twice that price......

__________________
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

Not so simple.....I fully replaced and adjusted the shoes last time I did my rear brakes....about 3 years ago. The parking brakes worked awesome for about 1.5 years, then one day as I applied them the pedal bounced back at me, and it was all springy. Its "in the middle" of the travel....it doesn't come all the way up even if I try to pull it with my foot. It goes all the way down but doesn't hold the car at all. I think one of my parking brake cables snapped....

What is it with W126 parking brakes? They don't work on any of our SD's! The 300D has an amazing parking brake. It rusted out on the minivan and snapped....not a surprise there.

I've been planning to get it all working again when I need to replace my rear brakes....which is probably still a ways away.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

What chassis do you have?

If it's a 123, it's an easy job to replace both the shifter bushings and the linkage bushings. Why not do it all at once?

126 is a little more difficult because you have to remove the center console to get the shifter out (but a good time to replace those burned out bulbs in the climate control, etc.)

I did both my 126 and 123 earlier this year and it made a world of difference. No special tools required if you pull the shifter out.

Lots of threads...do some searching and reading.

To answer that question, you need to spend a little time underneath your vehicle. A visual inspection of the linkages, while someone exercises the shift lever, should be quite revealing.

116 1979 300sd



Should have been used.

My indy told me to quit using my parking brake because it was likely to rust, break, and cause more trouble than it's worth. He said the trans's parking prawl is very strong and would easily hold the car even on a hill.

I had been using the brake every time I parked but don't bother anymore. What do you all think?

Charlie

__________________
05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

Get a new indy.


My cars have 150,000 and 350,000 miles (parking brake used every time), and have always worked perfectly. Minor lubrication, cleaning and adjustment are all that is required.

The problem is when you leave the car sit for more than a month with the parking brake on. Either way its alot cheaper than fixing a broken or worn pawl.

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1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Park should and will hold the car on reasonably level ground.

The parking brakes on these cars are IMO weak, my 124s and 201 have always had parking brakes that can easily be overcome even when my T124 was new.

If you're on ground with more than a little incline, the parking brake is a must. Yes, using it in a salt-climate aka: the rust belt, will eventually lead to the plating wearing off of the cable and it will eventually rust/stick. That will take years, inspect it in the summer and replace when necessary.

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Gone to the dark side

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