Wierdo Transmission
 

Still driving the old girl (in winter no doubt) and still no end in sight for the transmission problem I have. The car (when cold, or sitting for more than an hour) will (in park or neutral) put itself into drive. I correct this by manually putting the shifter in drive and back into neutral and everything runs fine until I leave the car sitting a while again.

I have had the linkage checked and nothing can be found wrong with the linkages. I've had the fluid and filter changed and no excess dirt or metal pieces were found in my pan.

Some suggest it may be a computer related problem, but I didn't think I'd have a computer on a 1976 car.

I'm completely stumped, but I don't believe taking off the tranny and going inside will solve anything (but my bank account).

Any help will be appreciated.

AARON

1976 230 W115

On MB transmissions before electronic ones the MAIN band B2 is pressure engaged & released. If the seal leaks on the pressure release side then the car will act like yours & even sometimes lock-up in reverse. This is an internal pressure problem.

If this is an internal presure problem, how long do I have before it needs fixing, how difficult a job should it be and should I take it to any transmission shop or stick with MB ?

Thanks for your expert advice, much appreciated !!!

AARON ROCHARD

1976 230 W115

Well, some people would already have fixed this problem as they may not want to walk anywhere BUT since the car always moves then it is up to you when you want to spend the $$$.
Since you are driving a 26 year old car spending big $$$ doesn't always make sense.

MY first car was a Healy 100-6 so I have learned that walking is GOOD thing.

There are some magical trans additives aroung here that soften the trans seals so this this type of bleed off "doesn't" happen.

A complete overhaul would be in order!

M.B. DOC; that lock up thing sounds like what happened to mine. Transmission was working perfectly until I backed up and I shifted to forward but it never released reverse. I didn't realize it at the time but it was pulling forward and backward at the same time. It didn't take long before it burned up, so now I have to buy a rebuilt. :( Had I known what was going on in there I probably could have saved it. I only had to "walk" 63 miles to get home.

Too bad it looks like an expensive job, I'll try the additive thing to see if it helps, but the car is in pretty good condition for a 26 year old car and considering the alternate costs for a newer car made of PLASTIC, I'll consider keeping it going longer. I know of a used Benz parts dealer nearby that'll sell me a used tranny for CDN $300, so I guess I'll just press my luck and see where it goes. I've been driving it like this since Christmas, so here's hoping.

AARON ROCHARD

1976 230 W115

Used Bardahl transmission additive this weekend and it seems to have helped. My tranny is yet to leap forward since. Hope I can keep this going for a while.

Thanks M.B. Doc !!!

AARON ROCHARD

1976 230 W115