Hello All,

My Helga was running like a top.

But just this morning, when I was in the process of going up a steeped road from a full stop. I noticed that my beloved Helga was revving but was not able to move up. I moved the shift lever from D to 2 and she was able to climb the hill.

What problem am I having now? I changed the tranny fluid a year ago together with the tranny filter.

Is this vacuum or b2 piston related?

Yes...or it could be something else, too..

Tell us more. How many miles on your transmission? Any other symptoms?

I doubt that it is vacuum related..

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Off topic but name stealer !!

Back to topic sound like more of a vacuum issue to me but i am experiancing tranny problems myself that i am unable to remedy as of yet.
Best of luck.

__________________
1987 300D 180k
1985 300SD 330k Helga
1992 300D Lola 269k- Sold
1986 325 coupe Bessie >300k Original engine(ODO Broke) sold
2006 2500HD Druamax Linda- Tows boat and looks pretty in garage thats about it

It's most likely that you have to adjust the bowen cable and the transmission vaccum moduel that us located omthe side of the transmission by the driver sideit has a t key. I suggest to use a vaccum gauge. It must fall between 15 to 20 mmhg at idle and should fluxuate during shift I am not sure how much. Google transmission vaccum adjustment. You'll get more info.

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

All Helgas are good lookers

I'm isolating the problem since if I purchase parts, it would be coming stateside and I do not want to waste any resources

Would it cause any damage mechanically to drive a car with a broken b2 piston?

Check the fluid level again before you jump to any conclusions. I've seen multiple times (in my short time here) people replace the B2 when it is just showing symptoms of low fluid....not necessarily your case but check the level and make sure.

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

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

I will keep you posted on the latest developments

My 300D sometimes does the same thing. Since it has never become a real problem (I just downshift or floor it) I have not worried about it. Had always guessed it was a glitch concerning vacuum and the transmission just couldn't decide which gear it wanted to be in. Not a very professional assessment, but it has never become a problem either. It has done this for years and only happens on occassion.

__________________
John Schroader
bio burnin' 83 300D, '83 300 SD, '79 240D
"I've never met a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else" Ben Franklin
"You cannot permanently help a man by doing for him what he could and should do for himself" Abraham Lincoln

I check the tranny fluid on ambient shop temp and it was in between the two lines on the dipstick.

I checked again the tranny fluid based on the owners manual instruction. So, after idling Helga for 5 minutes. I checked the dipstick after initially wiping it off and then re-inserting it back again with the lock on the release position. Lo and behold, I was surprised that the fluid level was way below the minimum line.

I added a quart of tranny fluid and the shifting went back to the way it was before and it was definitely smoother.

I tried Helga on an uphill sloped from full stop and she climbed it with ease

Thank you all for your help here. I really learned something from this ordeal and that is to check the fluid level as instructed in the manual and to checked fluids regularly.