On my way to work today the transmission started slipping between pretty much all the gears although the 2-3 shift is the worst.

It doesn't bang into gear it just flares and engages and then builds up speed.
Almost like going from first to third with a manual trans.

The fluid level is correct and it looks and smells fine.

Any ideas?

I'm stumped that it seems to do it in all gears.
john

Check the VCV and all its vacuum pipes....

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

this is a w115 it doesn't have a vacuum modulator for the trans. all manual linkage from the butterfly.
john

So I finally got to drain and fill the transmission (filter change too) and I have a bad feeling.

During the fluid drain everything looked great.
The fluid was clean as can be and the filter looked good.
When I went to clean the pan I found a little piece of what looks like thin cardboard about 1/4" square and the same on both sides, could this be a friction plate lining?

like i said the fluid looked great.
Could it have coolant in it without making it look like a milkshake?
Would that be enough to make the friction linings delaminate?

It was slipping in all gears would a friction plate do that?
john

Hmm....

My 1975 W114 280 gasser has both a Mechanical Linkage --And a Vacuum modulator.....

As to that item in the oil-pan, could be anything. Maybe its even something thats gone down the filler-pipe.

Only way to find whats wrong is by logical fault diagnosis and not by jumping to conclusions, because you found paper shreds in the sump!
--The oil and filter were clean so O wouldn't worry excessively

You'll need to check various pressures in the transmission, this will indicate where/what the fault is.

__________________
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

I agree, the starting point is to inspect - test all of the linkage.
My daughters 1976 300D acted similar to this, when one of the rods popped off.
Clean - lubricate all of the pivot points/balls, looking for damage/slop.


.

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just to clarify what i found in the pan wasn't shreds of paper. it was a flat chunk about 1/4" x 1/4" x 1/32". hard like an old gasket. brown on one side and dark brown to black on the other. it wouldn't fit down the filler tube. the rods look ok but i'll look a little closer. after the drain and fill it runs a little better but still slipping a bit.
john