I recently had the transmission out of my '87 300SDL to replace the front pump due to installing it incorrectly previously and breaking the drive ears.

So I got it back together and have added 6 quarts of synthetic ATF.

The car shifts hard from 1st to 2nd and then... no third. It just stays stuck in 2nd.

Previously it shifted through the gears without issue.

I haven't had a chance to check everything over, what should I look for?

Sticky Bowden cable?

Could it simply be that I need more fluid?

The ATF was just below the low line but I was not able to drive it very long to warm it up. I know I have a little more to add but I wanted to get it warm to check it properly and the roads around me are 55mph so I need third gear.

Let me know what you think and thanks for the help!

__________________
1987 300SDL 167k
1992 Volvo 740 140k
1990 Volvo 740 250k
1989 Volvo 240 269k

Anyone want to trade an old Volvo for an '87 300sdl?

A rule of thumb is the cold fluid level should be about 1cm below the min mark with the engine running.

Sixto
87 300D

Kick down switch ?

__________________

Present
1987 300SDL
1991 300SL
1990 560SEL
2001 ML320

Past
1969 200D 1979-82
1983 300SD 1984-85
1972 250C 1982-02
1995 S350 2011
1997 S320 2012

I do not think this is the problem but you might try this. Under the hood unhook the vac line that goes to the tranny. Drive it. If it upshifts well into all gears, then it is a vacuum problem. Your downshifts will clunk until you hook the line up again but that's not a big problem temporarily.

Simplest things to check are a sticky bowden cable or a stuck kickdown switch. At how many rpm's are you concluding it won't upshift? In other words, will it not upshift at all or just at very high rpm's?

__________________
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

If it were a stuck kick down switch - wouldn't he be stuck in first or put back into first quiet quickly? Or don't you get kick down in second? I don't know that's why I'm asking...


I think the problem could be more related to the shifter as the transmission has been out of the car - was the shifter properly set up?

The ATSG 722.1 manual states the mostly likely causes for not being able to shift past 2 are

1) Selector sleeve detached
2) Command valve jammed
3) Governor pressure too low.

I couldn't find a similar section in the 722.3 manual - sorry... so I hope this helps / makes sense

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I'm not sure about it either. My memory is that previous posters with upshifting problems which turned out to be a result of a stuck switch typically posted about problems shifting into the higher gears.

__________________
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

Fairy nuff

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Thanks for all of the input.

I will check the cold fill and see where I'm at, thanks for the tip.

I thought the kickdown switch was for downshifting?

I will try taking that vacuum line off and see if that is the issue.

I think I should have mentioned that I cannot manually put the car in third nor can I get to fourth gear (in case anyone thought I was able to skip a gear).

I drove it up to maybe 4500rpm before deciding it would not shift.

I don't know what the selector sleeve is but I presume it has something to do with the shift lever, I believe it is attached since I can shift into reverse, drive, and park.

I don't know what the command valve or governor pressure is but thanks for the tip, I will look these things up.

__________________
1987 300SDL 167k
1992 Volvo 740 140k
1990 Volvo 740 250k
1989 Volvo 240 269k

Anyone want to trade an old Volvo for an '87 300sdl?