This might be unrelated but I changed my fuel filters yesterday afternoon. And of course, diesel fuel got everywhere.

After I got them changed and the injector primed, I started the car (it died and I had to prime it again and it took me a couple of tries). To make sure the fuel was pumping, I drove her around the block a couple of times. When I parked, I put it in Park and was on a slight incline. I took the key out and started to open my door and she started to roll backwards with a clinking noise, I put on the brake and checked to see if it was in Park. It was and I let off the brake to see if I was imagining things but it started to roll again (slowly, it was not a steep incline). I put on the brake, turned the ignition "on" (not started) and moved the shifter to Drive and back up to Park and it seemed to work. I put the parking brake on (to make sure it wouldn't roll into someone overnight). This morning, on my drive to work, I had trouble finding Drive. As I would shift into Drive, it didn't "feel normal". Hard to explain but I usually shift all the way down to "S" and then back up to "D" (to make sure I am not in the lower gear, which I used to do when I first got her 3 years ago). But today as I did this it didn't quite feel right. And as I first started driving, it seemed I was indeed in "S" instead of Drive. After playing with the shifter, I "found" Drive but it seems like it is hard to find now. A couple of times this morning, between picking up a friend for coffee, going to coffee, dropping him off, and driving to work, I found the selector was difficult to "find" the Drive between Neutral and "S". The Shifter on the outside looks like it is in the right place but the correct gear is not engaged.

Has anyone had the shifter linkage mess-up? Could I have caused this somehow during the Fuel filter change?

Also probably unrelated, but I changed my B2 Band Piston (and K1 Spring, Transmission filter and fluid while I was at it) two years ago, with GREAT help from this forum!

Thanks for any input you might have!
Aaron

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Gisele: 1985 300D (430K miles)

do you feel free play in the shifter?


it could be shifter bushings on the linkage and bottom of the shifter.

shift rod bushings. Not sure of your vehicle but this link will give you an idea:

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W124ShiftBushings
also
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W210EngTransMounts

the shift rod bushing look pretty much the same. On the W210 images you have to scroll down a bit to see them in the images.

It's not a hard job, and it's very rewarding.

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

I think it's unrelated too. The rolling when in park is petty noticable in mine since I've had it and in the transmission itself. I think that too is unrelated to the loose/wandering shifter. Coincidence to doing fuel filter? Probably...

I just got some new bushings (2) to replace mine that are completely gone! I think they were less than $2 each..... Installing this week... Good Luck to you!

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1987 300TD 147,000 miles- Palomino leather interior, 1995 facelift and body cladding, E350 wheels, Rebuilt suspension and sport springs, rebuilt turbo, New Monarch injection pump and injectors....and the list goes on and on...

Thanks for the input!

jt20:
I am not really sure how to evaluate if it has a normal amount of play. I would call it "free play" probably. Since I haven't driven another 300D, I don't know what normal is. I would say it is pretty loose. It has always been this way. I assumed that was the way it was supposed to be that was why it has the zig-zag like pattern to the shifter guide (because with out it it would easily bump into another gear). It certainly is not near as stiff (or precise) as any newer car I have driven with a shifter on the floor.

bobodaclown:
Thanks for the DIY's those are very helpful. Both are newer cars than a W123. Are they going to be the same?

1benznc:
Good Luck! Let me know if you have any tips after.

Thanks again everybody!

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Gisele: 1985 300D (430K miles)

Any play is too much play. When the bushings are in proper order, its like a new car.

However, you pay will dearly for this luxury. The torture ratio to work accomplished is quite high.