Hi,

I have an 83 300D. I have been reading about 1st gear starts, and are convinced that my car starts in first gear, not second, as said here. My question, is perhaps silly, but Id liek to know anyway. The transmission choices are L S D on the shifter. I kind of thought that S was a second gear start selector, but I now think Im wrong. What is the difference in the settings. I take it L is perhaps only 1st gear for engine braking, etc, S is standard drive, i.e. no overdrive, and D is all four gears, i.e. with overdrive?
ANy info is most appreciated. Thanks

JMH

My 1980 300cd starts in fist when shifter is in D. I get three up shifts. However, I am pretty sure that when shifting to L, it only goes down to sencond gear. I will test drive and find out for sure. andy.

I get two gears when my trans is in S. andy

you might also want to look down to page 2 of this forum to a thread on "auto trans gear ratios" started by "andy." These cars do not have an overdrive! 4th gear is 1 to 1! The owner's manual for my '85 300 TD says:

"'D' drive. Automatic upshifts to top gear. Position 'D' affords optimum driving characteristics under all normal operating conditions."

"'S' Slope. Upshift to 3rd year only. Suitable for medium range up or down grades."

"'L' Low. Upshift to 2nd gear only. For driving in mountainous regions. Since transmission will not shift up any further, this gear selection will make use of the engine's braking power.

Now there was a time when M-B transmissions, like FordoMatics and Hydromatics of the '50s, did start in 2nd unless the accelerator was floored, but by about 1978 they had switched to something which seems to me even weirder: the transmission selects 2nd while you are sitting still in "D" in order to reduce the car's tendency to creep forward and thus spare the legs of little old ladies who might get cramps trying to hold the brakes otherwise (do you want one of these people behind you on the freeway?), but it is supposed to jump down to 1st gear as soon as you press on the accelerator. This works, provided that all the linkage is perfectly maintained and adjusted. I'd rather go to 1st right away.

My 300SD never drops into 1st when the shifter is in the D position.
I wish it did. It makes for some sloooowww starts unless I force it into 1st by putting the shifter in L.

__________________
Joe

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1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
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Former Family Members
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Here is what I think is happening.

The vaccuum "bleed-off" valve on the top of the valve cover, this valve prohibits vaccuum from getting to the trans modulator. When you touch the throttle, the valve opens and receives a large vaccuum signal, and you get 1st gear.
I suspect that someone was monkeying around with your vaccuum lines trying to get it to shift better.

I noticed that if I eliminate all vaccuum from the modulator, IOW, block a signal from the modulator, The trans will not go into 1st by itself.
It will go in if you use the lever. But it won't shift into second until redline. Here is what you can do. Push the lever from L to S, this will shift it into second. Quickly, shift it back to L and it will stay in second. If you leave it in S, it will quickly go through second and into third, leaving you with little acceleration.
You will get the hang of it.

Hope this helps,
Ed

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


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