Trany engages very slowly in reverse
 

You guys got back to me so fast the last time so I'll try another question. 73 450sl I'am 2nd owner, with 91000 miles. Starts and runs very nice but I do have some problems.
1st- engages in reverse very slowly, maybe 6 sec. fluid is fine.
2nd.- electric windows work fine but very slow.
3rd.- free play in steering, I'll start checking wheel bearings, tie rods, coloum bushing,Idler arm ect.
4th.- oil leak, some where above drain plug. I thought maybe pan gasket, but I can not fine the pan bolts, the pan is an aluminium finned unit but where the heck are the bolts? Thanks again.

1 - Reverse is about to go. Mine started takin a few seconds to engage, eventually it got to about 5 seconds and i knew it was going to give out one day. Its caused by worn reverse friction plates. I decided to get the whole tranny re-conditioned. You can just get reverse done, but im all for preventative maintenance.

2 - no idea, i dont have power windows :P

3 - I had a bit of free play. New PS fluid and filter solved it

4 - not sure of that model.


seriously get the tranny checked. Last thing you want is to end up like my mate Tim, who owns a 560SEL that doesnt reverse anymore. I tell ya, 2 tonnes of Merc aint that easy to push out of a parking spot.

1. Not sure, but what rah0ul said has been observed before. Sorry about this.
2. The windows on these cars are just not very fast compared to modern cars, keep this in mind.
3. In addition to what you mention, the idler bushings can be worn, the ball joints can be worn, the steering coupling can be worn (difficult to replace, but not that expensive); the steering box may be in need of adjustment (extremely difficult, but doable, with the steering box in the car) and/or rebuilding (removal is nasty).
4. Work from the top to the bottom. Change the valve cover gaskets (fairly easy) BUT...the covers are very thin castings and they will definitely warp if overtorqued (which many are, in a futile effort to stop leaks from shrunken gaskets). Get new gaskets AND the little crush washers under the valve cover bolt heads, and torque to spec as per the manual. It's a very small torque, and I bought a 1/4" torque wrench specifically for this purpose. Stopped my leaks dead cold.

1) there is a REVERSE band adjustment on that trans! Have someone with auto trans ability adjust that band!

Thats interesting to know, because my newly acquired 85' 380 takes about 2 or 3 seconds to engage. I was thinking it was normal. It seems to definitely let you know when it goes into reverse too.

Thanks.

MB transmissions from 1968 with a "4" bolt oil pan have external band adjustment for reverse. That trans was phased out(USA) in 1981 except for the non-turo diesel cars thru 1983

MBDOc is absolutely bang on.my 78 450sel would not reverse period.it was assumed that the tranny was kaput.one of the reasons i got the car for $200.the band adjustment fixed this problem.i dont drive the car much in reverse so i had trouble accepting the idea that the band was worn out.