I noticed today that my Dad's 90 300sel is getting stuck in 1st or 2nd gear. I understand that this car starts in 2nd gear...well it will start and stay in this gear. The car is turning over 4000rpm at about 35-40mph and will not release up to the next gear. For a moment or so(sometimes)it will switch to next gear and then a moment later downshift again to the 2nd gear...Once today it went to third gear and then the tranny let go as if a clutch was engaged then came back to 2nd gear. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts as to what is going on with the car.
Thanks,
rob

I could be wrong, but this does not sound like a simple control pressure adjustment. I would not sit on this too long. Have it checked by a compentent tech who knows MBZ transmissions. Could be a number of different things. Of course, the ATF level is OK?? Start there..

Hi Jeff,
Yep, Everything looks fine at the ATF guage. I plan on taking it to a tech on Monday. I was wondering what all it could be. I noticed that the economy guage was a little eratic. It appears to work as it should when you press the accelerator..but then out of nowhere when the car is at idle it will go from no economy(or vaccum i guess) to half the way on the guage. This seems a little strange to me. It does make me think if it is related that there may be a vaccum problem.
Any advice?
My Dad just purchased this car 4 days ago. He got a super deal on it..but it looks as if he may have to put some $ back into it. Do you know anything about this model?
Thanks,

Rob Armstrong, Charlotte, NC

Just went through the same thing with a non-MB car. Turned out to be a faulty transmission governor - internal problem. Hopefully your situation will turn out to be less costly.

I just rechecked the atf guage and it appears to be overfilled...it is a good inch or two above the full marker on the stick...is this a problem?

Evaluating fluid level in MB trannies is way more difficult than it should be. Be sure you use the lower mark when looking at both sides of the stick (if there is a lower mark).

Being over full can cause your problem, but not right away. The fluid will have to foam first this usually takes some miles. I only see it on cars coming off the interstate. As a result, you should try the car again. If it still doesn't shift it isn't from being overfull.

The governor is a good possibility. A stuck control pressure piston would be another.