Just purchased this car with 60K miles.
It is supposed to be a 4-speed auto, and I am trying to verify the transmission shifts properly.

If I accelerate steadily from a stand-still, without carrying any load, how many up-shifts should I experience and at approximately what speeds (road speeds & rpm) do they occur? What other general tests on the transmission can I try? Thanks.

Your car does have a 4 speed auto, but it is made to start off in second gear, not first. If you completely floor the car, you should feel a button being depressed at the top of the gas pedal, that is the kickdown switch. This will cause the car to downshift to first from a dead stop. Or, when stopped in drive, pull the shifter all the way into the lowest setting (should be "2") and then put it back into drive, this will also cause the car to start in first. Hope this helps, should explain why it feels like a three speed. Under normal driving you will experience a shift from 2 to 3, and then from 3 to 4, and that's it.


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Chris
'87 300E