My Car Won't Shift! What the...?????
 

Ok.....

I've finally got my '91 190E 2.6 back together after changing the transmission modulator and the neutral safety switch. I went to take it for a test drive around the block to see if I had adjusted the transmission modulator correctly. I pulled off smoothly, however, my car wouldn't shift to the next gear. After going around the block, I searched on through a few forums (including this one) for the source of my problems and found that it was most probably my Bowden cable. Just to make sure, instead of try to adjust it, I disconnected it and took off around the block again expecting it to shift rather quickly. To my surprise, it refused to shift again! http://community.190revolution.net/i...lies/stern.gif I came back home, lubricated the cable thinking that it may be stuck. Went back out.....same thing!!! http://community.190revolution.net/i...ilies/pmad.gif

I'm at wit's end! I don't know where to look (aside from the general area of the transmission) or even where to start looking. Could someone please help me out or at least point me in the right direction. For info's sake, I did change the fluid and filter. Also, the car will go in reverse (not sure if that helps at all). Any help at all will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I wish I had a simple answer, but all I can advise is going back over the basics.

1. Did you install the correct Vacuum Modulator for your car, mine is GREEN, I think yours should be RED.

2. Is the vacuum hose going to the Vacuum Modulator connected and not leaking.

3. If you do have the correct VM installed, it might need adjusting.

1. I did install a red one. I'm sure that is the one for my car.

2. I put a brand new hose and rubber connectors on each end.

3. I need to adjust the VM. However, I was under the impression that the VM controled the degree of the shift (hard or soft) whereas the Bowden cable controled the shift points. Am I wrong? :confused:

Just curious, did it shift with the old VM? If the vacuum line is disconnected, it won't shift. At least that's what happened once on my 240D. The vacuum line became disconnected, I looked under the hood, found it and cut off the split end, plugged it back in and no more problems.

Maybe someone else will add some opinions.

Was it workin prior to changing out the parts?

Hi,
I'm new on here....great site. I am buying an 86 300e, but I am concerned about the tranny (auto). At times it will not upshift beyond 3rd, and sometimes won't upshift at all. Other times it will. Seems thta there is no rhyme or reason about this and have not seen any questions about it. I have no idea what I'm facing here. Any help would be appreciated!

Possibilities stuck on kick down switch, under gas pedal, or damaged governor plastic driven gear, common with 722.4 transmissions. Do a search for more infromation.

Everything was working before I changed out the parts.

The original problem was the transmission modulator. It was allowing tranny fluid to be sucked up into the intake. Because of this, my car was bellowing out thick white smoke. I had originally thought it was a blown head gasket. So I had the head tested and leveled and replaced the gasket myself (along with various other small things that I've been meaning to get to for a while).

Started the car up and let it run for only a few minutes. That was all it took to turn my neighborhood into a scene from the movie "The Fog". Did Some more research and that's when I found out that it was my modulator. I changed it (along with the neutral safety switch) and here I am. :furious2:

I did a search, however, I couldn't find anyone who has had my problem.

I took out, cleaned, tested and replaced the kickdown switch. So, I know that's one I can scratch off of the list.

I'll double check the vacuum line again alond with trying to find out more about the "gov plastic driven gear" that you mentioned.

Again, I'd like to thank everyone for their help and advice! :happy:

Double checked eveything.......still nothing!

im really not sure what it could be. Check to see if the kickdown switch under the pedal is stuck down, maybe it is not letting it switch to the next gear. Also if still can't find the problem, re-install the old modulator and see if it works. It maybe that you got a bad modulator.

Remove the modulator and check for a broken compensator pin (plastic pin)

HERSHEY,
I had these same problems with my 91 124 300D. Trans would not shift. It was the plastic governor drive gear. The gear was less than $5 at the dealer. However before you take the governor out, unhook the kick down wire at the right rear of the trans and give it a try. The other thing you mentioned the car wouldn't go in reverse. Did you mean the car would not move in reverse or that the shifter would not go in reverse? The reason I ask is the governor can also lock out reverse and the stick will not go into that gear. In other words, if you are moving down the road you can not put the trans in reverse by accident.

Paul

I said that the car does go into reverse.

The "plastic governor drive gear".... Where is it located on the tranny? Do you (or anyone) have a picture of this part? Is it an easy fix (...meaning is it something that I could do in my garage or would I have to take it to a shop)? And lastly, what would unhooking the kickdown switch at the rear of the tranny do? Couldn't I just unplug it at the switch instead?

Thanks for your input!

try unpluging the kickdown switch under the pedal.

I recommended you unhook the wire at the trans to make sure there was no power at the trans. I have seen strang things in the wireing of cars. The governor is at the left rear of the trans behind a cover that I believe is held on by a large snap ring. (I did mine about 3 or 4 years ago and don't remember the fine details.) Remove the cover then look behind the governor weights and you will see another small snap ring that holds the governor in. Release the snap ring and pull the governor out. The gear is on the other end of the shaft. When I got mine out, only half of the gear came out. I never found the other half. It is still in the trans somewhere. You will have to remove the rear trans mount and let the trans fall down a little and push it to the side to get the clearence you need. You will also need the O-Ring for the cover plate when you put it back together.
Paul