Good Evening All,

I have a 1986 Mercedes 300 SDL with 280,000 miles on it. I purchased the car and have slowly been working on some of the items that need attention.

1. Slow power drain and improper operation of the climate control system depending on what setting the ignition switch is on. CC works when the key is turned to the aux position. When the key is actually turn on, the CC system stops working. Have been advised to change the electrical connection switch on the back of the ignition housing.

2. Replaced the rear hub, brake caliber, rotor and hoses replaced on the passenger rear. Discovered the hose was collapsed and not operable.

3. Transmission not shifting out from 2nd - 3rd, or 3rd - 4th when it gets warm. Changed the fluid and filter, checked bypassing the vacuum flying saucer (No change), When the fluid was changed, there was a leak of fluid that was corrected. Since that time, when ever driving the car, the transmission will mess up when it gets warm. There is some flaring between 2,3,4...but it comes and goes.

I drove it about 10 miles a couple of day ago and it ran fine until about the 10th mile. At that point the transmission drop down into 2nd gear and would not up shift. I made it to the store and proceeded to drive home after about 20 minutes. The entire distance home the trans would not shift above 2nd gear.

I am open to hear any suggestions of possible fixes. I did purchase a replacement used transmission off this forum but I am not sure of the condition of the unit.

I look forward to hearing from you guys.

Thanking you in advance for you assistance...

Ron

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Does the speedo work when the trans won't shift?

If that is true, the output shaft nut could be loose.

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mbdoc-pe@hotmail.com

Is the pressure control Bowden cable sticking?

Does it happen with the kickdown solenoid disconnected?

Sixto
87 300D^2

Thanks to both mbdoc and sixto for your responses.

mbdoc - the speedo does not work. It doesn't seem to matter what the situation, it doesn't work at all. Can you tell me the location of the output shaft nut?

Sixto - How would I determine if the pressure control bowden cable is sticking? I once tried to remove the fuse for the kickdown switch and still had the problem.

Ron

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I'm pretty sure mbdoc means the nut holding the output flange to the tranny -





I don't know if the nut can be tightened. Seems like one of those use only once deals.

The Bowden cable attaches to the throttle linkage by the cruise actuator. Find the cable that terminates in an accordion section and ball socket. Release the socket and check that the cable moves freely in its sheath.

Disconnect the kickdown switch at the switch under the accelerator pedal.

Sixto
87 300D^2

Okay I will check these things and be back in touch. Thanks for your assistance.

Ron

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Okay guys time for a report back:

1. I did unplug the kickdown switch under the gas pedal.
2. I did not completely disconnect the Bowden cable from the throttle linkage, but i did pull on the inner wire and it seemed to move freely. I pulled about 2-3 inches and then there was some resistance. This weekend I will completely disconnect it during the day time.

When i drove the car with the above issues addressed, I got about 3 miles down the road and when I took off from a dead stop the car would no longer go from 3rd - 4th gear. I turned around and headed back home and it would up shift but not out of 2nd-3rd... or maybe it was 3rd - 4th. There also was some flaring between gears three different times. When the flaring happened that transmission continue to shift, just took a little longer.

Any further suggestions? I will mention that the speedo does not work at all nor does the odometer. I have already check and changed the fuse, but change resulted.

What is the significance of the speedo not work to my problem. This weekend I will also check the other end fo the bowden cable at the transmission. I noticed that it was mentioned that the nut may be loose. Is this something I should notice with or without a wrench?

Would it make sense for me to simply replace the Bowden cable and fitting? What kind of cost should that incur? Is it a DIY weekend project?

Ron

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