Car doesn't shift and is much faster.
 

I have a 1991 300D 2.5, and I was on my way driving to work...I backed out of my driveway, put the car in drive and hit the gas. he car was very quick, but it did not shift up to the next gear. I slowed down and hit the gas again, but still no shifting to the next gear. I stopped, put it in park then D again and rove off. It then drove normal, but it was not as quick. It seems almost like it was starting in a lower gear, which I liked, but it did not shift. Later on that day I checked the fluid level and it was ok and clean. the tranny had the filter changed about 10,000 miles ago. The are no leaks or any other symptoms and I was not doing any work on the car in which I may have bumped or knocked anything.
What gives??
The car drives great and has not exhibited any tranny problems ever nor has it repeated this one again???

has anyone else encountered this problem? I can't imagine that I am the first.
:)

My previous 1981 300TD one day (after a regular service) decided when cold to accelerate to maximun r.p.m. in first gear, stay there for a few seconds and then it would jump into second (braking your neck at the same time).

The problem would solve by itself once the engine heated up a little.

The M.B. dealer, in charge of the regular service, took back the car and kept it for three days trying to figure out what the problem could be.

They found out that the mechanic who performed the oil filter change have switched two hoses of the vacuum system that commands the gear changes on the auto transmission.

Maybe that day you had an intermitent problem with the vacuum system. Who knows? Although, I am not sure if the W124s autos work with vacuum as the W123s autos did.

Just a thought.

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

When I first picked up my '92 300D 2.5turbo it had the same problem a few times. It did indeed have vacuum issues (the tranny does rely on a vacuum pump, which in my case had failed), so we replaced the pump. No problems since :)

Go to Diesel discussion section to see if my fix can cure yours.

subject:83 300SD trans problem.

I've been driving mine like "semiauto" for 2 weeks before I got it fixed. whenever revs up I release the gas pedal and shift it to "N" and back to "D". it will shift to the next gear... Anyway, this is not a fix but certainly it will help it shifts.

Thank s for the help. I tested the system for leaks, none to be found and no problems since. I am just very curious why it did that.