Every since I got my 240 it has started in first gear with a fairly hard 1-2 shift and 2-1 downshift. In traffic it hunts between 1st and 2nd, very annoying. As I understand, the 722.117 should start in 2nd. The kick down works fine. Is there anything short of a rebuild that could get my transmission where it should be?

Thanks,
Chris

A 722.117 is supposed to start in first.

I doubt you want a 240d to start in second (my 300d non-turbo did it a few times, during my transmission issues, and it was not funny).

If the back and forth between 1st and 2nd is that annoying, it sounds like your shift points are off (second is coming in too late = harsh). What speed is the shift happening at?

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

There seems to be confusion about this. Almost everything I've been able to find suggests that 722.1 transmissions are designed to start in second unless 1) when stopped, you move the gear selector to L and then back to D or 2) you floor it from a stop, activating the kick down from 2nd to 1st.

This is what my '79 does.

If I do the L to D gear level change, and take with very light pedal, it almost instantly shifts to second.

Quite a few other 722.1 owners report similar activity.

Is this truly a transmission adjustment problem that so many people have?

Here is an example of a post from over on Benzworld that seems to suggest otherwise - that 1st is only available when kickdown is engaged or the gear lever is moved to L:

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1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

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Here is the remainder of the thread where that post came from, in which a pre-1980 N/A 300D owner thought his car might be equipped with a 3-speed...

Confused 722.1 tranny - Mercedes-Benz Forum

...until he tested the L to D gear lever maneuver and discovered 1st.

__________________
1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

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Here is the data for the 123.123, which I believe is the 240

Yes, the 123.123 is the 240D.

As a side note, the source for this info appears to be the separate, never translated German version of the transmission service manual.

__________________
1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

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The 722.1 trans came in a couple different shades......does yours have the vacuum only version, pressure control rod and no vac version or Bowden cable w vac trans?

I ask this because the first version like I have, has a bushing on the control pressure rod that fails......on any of these trans....the linkage length of the rod from the valve cover control to the injection pump is very important.....with that linkage disconnected and the stop lever pushed down....there must be a 5-6mm gap from the head of that rod to the ball it connects too...

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It is vacuum only.

Could you take a picture about which rods you are talking about? I would appreciate it.

This shows the shift rod at the trans....it connects under the manifolds...

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Now I am even more confused, sorry

The .117 and .118 are vacuum control only. There is no shift rod or Bowden cable.

I cannot imagine they were designed to start in second. They are designed to idle in second when D is engaged and they are stopped (complete stop). But they should drop into first as soon as the car moves off (and likewise, if you do not come to a full stop at a stop sign, for example, they remain in second).

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Here is a post from the .118 rebuild thread that suggests there are some differences between the two because of rear gear ratio 722.118 Automatic transmission rebuild (Monster DIY)

Also, my car doesn't remain in second if I do not come to a full stop. So regardless of whether or not we agree on which gear I begin in, we can agree that I have an issue. It seems, at least according the German FSM, that these should start in second. I have NEVER actually driven another 240D so I have nothing to compare it to. I just know the shifting is harsh and especially annoying in traffic. I like the idea of only using 1st when the kick down is activated or when I go from L to D.

That is indeed the way the 722.3 transmissions in the turbo cars works.

But everything else I've read about, with my own personal experience included, suggests that the 722.1 transmissions are intended to operate like this.

Mine was serviced and adjusted just before I purchased it and it appears it was adjusted to FSM specs. It shifts right around the points listed above, when converted to MPH. Starts in 2nd every time, unless as mentioned I specifically move the lever to L and back to D.

With the 3.46 rear end of the N/A 300D's, and the even shorter gears in the 240D, 1st barely gets to 10mph under average driving. Handy while towing or navigating a steep start on a hill, but otherwise pretty useless and obnoxious. Which is why it actually makes sense to me to design it to start in 2nd; for all the times you're just doing normal driving, 2nd is a perfectly acceptable starting gear on these cars.

__________________
1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

The Baja Arizona Oil Burners Send a message if you'd like to join the fun
Left to Right - UberWasser, Iridium, Stuttgart-->Seattle,, mannys9130

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Yes. A lot of times it doesn't even register on the speedo before jumping into 2nd.

My former 77 300d definitely started in 2nd unless engaging the kickdown switch or dropping into L and then back into D when it started in 1st. Hell of a jolt when going into 2nd.

__________________
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