1989 300E reverse does not engage when hot
 

Having problem with transmission. Even when cold its slow to engage in reverse. Drive is OK (forward). Is there an adjustment I can make? When car gets hot after a long drive reverse does not engage at all.
thx

See joe p's words in the following post:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/45663-help-transmission-dummy.html?highlight=reverse

How long has it been since the fluid was drained and filter changed? Has this been done on a regular basis? Basic stuff to think about.

Hi, we just bought the car and were told the transmission was rebuilt. The fluid looks and smells good. We bought the car 500 miles away from where we live, so can not go to the repair shop that worked on the car to check it out. I was hoping there could be an easy way to correct the problem like an adjustment or a fuse. Just do not know. Any help is appreciated.

Hi, by just I mean we bought it about two months ago and up to this point the car was running like a dream.

I have taken the car to replace filter and oil. They said trans looks really good and the previous oil & filter were clean. I recently had to spent some money on two separate trans rebuilts on 92 chevy van and 85 300SD. Getting frustrated with that. Appreciate your interest. Car seems to engage a bit better, but its not good.
thx
henryk

Don't know alot about this transmission in question but Mercedes Trannys are not your run of the mill domestic transmission. But they do share some things in common. Being rebuilt is usally a hard one to figure out. If its a transmission speciality shop and all they do is trans like B&M, etc. they useally have the best warrantys. Mercedes probably has a reman for a half to two thirds what a new one would run. But we are talking upwards of 3000.00 more than likely. I've got some older cars and trucks 1990 chevy pickup, 1986 Olds 88 and I have used with great success, a product called Lucus for automatic transmissions. These have close to 300000 miles on them and I've always serviced the transmissions. It say it is safe in all transmissions and since it want go into gear anyway 8.00 dollars is a safe shot.
Problem with rebuilt transmission you dont know who did the job. If it was a regular transmission shop you probably didn't get any hard parts with the job ie, torque converter etc. Just clutches bands etc. Hope you can figure out the origin of the rebuild/ Call the guy who sold it to you for follow up info and go from there.
Good luck
K



1989 420 SEL 105500 miles
1990 Chevy C-1500 290000 miles
1989 Olds Dellta88 276000 miles
1985 Ford Ranger Explorer 173000 miles
Gravely Tractor 8123 1400 hours

no reverse?
 

Take it back to the shop that rebuilt it. Either the reverse clutch selas are leaking or the main oil pressure is too low (worn pump?) Does it shift OK in forward gears or is it sloppy and slipping there too?

no reverse
 

It is possible the shaft seal on the reverse clutch pack that failed.

The reverse clutch pack is the first this behind the oil pump, so getting to it is easy once the tranny is out of the car. All the parts for the reverse clutch unit cost less than $100, and no more than an houtr of good tech labor in the tranny shop. R&R of the tranny is the hard part.

Thanks,
the other gears shift properly (D,3,2,1) and car drives very well and smooth. I will explore the seal issue with the shop. I wondered if using an additive like suggested by someone else could help a bit. I always worry about adding anything to gas, oil or transmission. Are there any good products out there that help in performance and protection?
thx
henryk