Have 81 300td 248,000 miles. Since I've owned the car have hard shift into first and reverse. Before the car warms up to operating temp no hard shift is noticed. The shift is much worse when the car heats up to normal operating temp. Have never had motor mounts replaced although idle is not rough.

1. Warm up the tranny and check the fluid level, make sure it is not overfilled.
2. Change the filter and fluid if you haven't already
3. Adjust the vacuum properly to soften the shifts
4. Should be able to adjust the B3 band screw, though I think that is just reverse.
5. Look into K1 spring (maybe?) I know there's one that controls reverse and 1st.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Tranny vacuum has been adjusted both modulator and pressure on tranny and is on. Filter fluid changed last year and good level. How do I access the B3 band screw and K1 spring? Tranny piston and band 2 replaced in 98.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/131896-car-wont-reverse-help.html#post963365

K1 is for 2-3 shift, my apologies.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

If there isn't a serious lag into reverse or drive (which would indicate transmission internals), you probably have driveline lash. Caused by anything along the driveline after the transmission: center bearing, bad flex disk(s), play in the differential, bad axle w/play.

At 248K, I'm imagining the differential has some play. Reach under car (turn car off first), and try turning driveshaft by hand. If it rotates (most do some), that's probably where the lash is coming from. Also try moving rear half-shafts around by hand.

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Thanks Uriaht!, no lag in shift. I have never checked the half shafts will do today prob will also re check driveline. See you have 81 300td have you had similar probs?

How bad is it if there is a 2 second or so lag before the tranny shifts into drive or reverse? I have a 1981 300SD...

No lag shifting into gear just clunk. Checked the half shafts they do not rotate freely but can move them back and forth between the wheel and differential. No record of driveline work I guess its time to investigate the driveline more thoroughly.

I still have a little clunk in the 300TD, but it was more pronounced before I had to replace both rear axles. They were both on their way out. I can still reach under and rotate my main driveshaft about 1/8 turn or so, but looking in my differential, everything was kosher. It's just something that happens.

Axles do have a little range of motion between wheel and diff, but anything more than a little (hard to quantify w/o seeing it) and you might want to think about replacement. A differential can go a long long time with a little play before needing any work. Most of these cars die with the original differential (most probably even with the factory fluid in them).

Any play in the flex disks and or main center bearing is not good. Easy to take a look at the flex disks for any cracking, and any side to side or vertical play in the driveshaft points to a driveshaft support issue.

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Probably about 2-4 inches movement of axles between diff and wheel.