confused about tranny shifts
 

1993 190e 2.6 auto
If I put the gear selector at 2 the car will not shift till I move the selector to 3. Then if im going fast enough, 30 or so, it shifts twice. Then if I move the selector to D then it goes into over drive, if im going 40 or more. All of this is normal I just don't understand the 2 position. Is it 2nd gear or 1st. the way the motor winds out it sounds like 1st then when moving the selector to 3 it's shifting to 2nd and then 3rd?
Enlighten me please.


Thanx
Dan

In normal operating conditions:

D = Full range First-Second-Third-Fourth
3 = Only First-Second and Third
2 = Only First and Second.

If you start the car from standstill in "2" the car will start in First, hold it until FULL R.P.M. for First is reached and then change into (usually very abruptly) to Second. Then, it will hold Second to full R.P.M. permitted or until you manually raise the lever to "3".

At "3" it will hold again in Third until full permitted R.P.M. is reached. By then, you should raise the lever to "D" to let Fourth kick in, or the engine auto fuel cut-off will kick in when the red-line is reached.

Your car should always start from Second at standstill unless you push the gas pedal way down to call the kick-down switch. Then it will start at First, but you will be at full gas mode.

To avoid this, and still obtain a First start-up fron standstill, either in D or 3 lower the lever to the "2" position, wait a couple of seconds and then raise it back to 3 or D. The car should start in First gear when you push the gas.

Avoid reaching the red-line at all cases!

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995