This afternoon my wife calls me out to the garage to look at the car with an alarmed look on here face....
She just arrived, drove it to the garage as usual and while backing out a little ways in order to reposition the car
(so as not to block the doorway )- the car limps backwards as if the brakes are on (or locked). I put the brake on and release it a couple of times, that does not make a difference. the car jerks back, yet the moment I take my foot of the accelerator it will stop dead in it's track. Forward motion seems less painful.
Is this indeed a locked brake or a transmission problem ?

1987 300SE Euro. Daily Drive

Does the transmision engage? Make any sounds etc?

I did not detect any weired sound - It does engage. When put in reverse it won't budge until I hit the gas pretty good - then it jerks back. When in Drive it seems to move Ok (without pushing down on the accelerator).
Mind you this is all inside the garage. - I don't want to aggrevate the situation so I haven't taken it out for a spin.
What do you think ?

Ok it sounds like the brakes are on because I woild think that if it was tran. trouble it would not try to move. I was told along time ago that the ebrake only is ment to engage in one dierection cand rember if it was backward or forward. Check your e brake cable it might be cought or it could also be a rear end problem.

mechanic says it is transmission...
they pulled it off of the car today but haven't taken it
apart yet to see how extensive the damage is. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I've spoken to a couple friends and done some "transmission time" tonight going through the archives here and I cannot seem to find a similar situation to mine - where a transmission flat out quits - no advance warning( no delay in shifting, no slippage, no flaring etc.)
Any one experience that ?
Suddenly I got into my head that perhaps the symptoms were not diagnosed correctly. This is a major expense, so I definitely appreciate the help

They(trustworthy Mechanic) did decide to replace the tranny with a rebuilt unit they had on hand.
At first it sounded and shifted good , then started slipping, so I took it back to them.got the car back again yesterday after the shop worked on it for a couple more days ""adjusting things"
the car now shifts very smoothly - so they must have adjusted well...

thanks all for your help

What was wrong with the old one?

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL

Hi Sixto,

the last one just quit. reverse got stuck - etc, etc. mechanic said it weas less expensive to replace with a rebuilt unit he had than to attempt to rebuild mine.

Less expensive to who? Your reverse clutch came apart most likely. A simple straight forward affair that probably should include doing all the seals and other clutchs, but if he installed a tranny he had in stock I doubt you saved by the deal. You would have saved if you had went to a shop capable of fixing the car without shotgun parts replacement. His replacing the trans with a unit for that type of repair tells me that he don't fix them himself.

This isn't a put down of the final product, just the diagnosis. it's just that one will get a product for less money by eliminating the middle man (if that middleman isn't a producer).

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Then philisophically he isn't a middleman.

Sorry, just testy with all the little problems cropping up on the SE and capable guys like Steve on the other coast.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL

gidpor, not knowing what homework you did, I was wondering if you have any credible mercedes shops in the area? Perhaps this was one? Did he give you back your old transmission? I would have thought he would have...My only concern is that the new one has no proven history on it. Did he have any records on it or did you go simply by word of "his" mouth? How well did you know this guy? Just curious.

ps: I know these guys can't catch every post but it's too bad 2 weeks went buy until you got a good answer from a credible tech..

My suggestion as to technical response would be to place more description in the title of a post.

I don't view all posts and opinion posts can be the last that I read. The title of this post got it by me. I will guarantee that any post available while I am on line will get read if it states "transmission" in the title.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Steve,

I didn't put 'transmission' in the title, but I put 'shift.' No response yet.

91 300SE -- delayed 2-3 shift when warm

It also holds first for an awfully long time.

It's not as severe a day later. It will shift below 4000rpm if I let off the gas long enough.

Seems to be worse when the engine temp is closer to 100C and not so bad when the engine temp is closer to 80C.

Thanks,
Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL