Helo guys I have a 1982 300td wagon. The car starts off in second gear. What is the best way to get the car to start out in first? I have been driving it and sometimes it gets annoying. Thanks for the help.

It should start in second gear. Does it downshift to first gear as you move off under load?

Take a look in the below Links and see if your symptoms match a B2 Piston Failure.

DIY Repair Links
DIY Links by Parts Category - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

PeachPartsWiki: Do It Yourself Articles - Mercedes Vehicles

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

It will but it takes a couple seconds to actually downshift to first.

The car should stand in second gear and shift back to first gear upon take-off. The bowden cable does that, if you take a look at the linkage, you can see that the bowden cable is pulled first before the IP is actuated if you press the accelerator pedal. So your first port of call is the linkage and more especially the bowden cable. Check and adjust. The procedure is in the FSM, section 30.

What I did:

1. Source a four speed manual transmission from a 240D.

2. Remove and discard automatic transmission.

3. Install manual transmission. (Several threads here describe the particulars)

Results:

Perfect. The transmission goes into whatever gear I put it in and stays there until I take it out.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Go for it Guy!

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

I looked at the throttle linkage. It does in fact pull the Bowden cable first for maybe a 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch before the injection pump. Is this correct?

Use the kickdown under the accellerator.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

On some 123 models with 2nd gear start, if you put the shifter into 1 and then back into D while at a stop, it will start in first gear. Or, you can use the kickdown switch.

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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

That is indeed correct, pulling on the cable should increase control pressure inside the transmission, causing the shift back to first gear.

Sorry that I am not sure about what variant he has, but are we talking a 722.120???

They downshift to first when you release the brakes...

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

1982 300TD Turbodiesel has a 722.315 transmission if original.