engine revs up while driving
 

I have an automatic 88 300e. When I'm driving along, the engine revs suddenly increase (without my help) but I do not speed up. It seems as if I'm in neutral. I happened to me twice today in 4 trips

When I drop the transmission into the next lowest gear (3), it seems the tranny reengages. This problem does not appear in gear 3, the gear just below D, only when I'm in Drive, and only when a gear change ought to have occurred because the appropriate revs were met.

The problems also disappears sometimes when I take my foot off the gas and let the revs drop.

Smell your tranny fluid and if it smells burnt change filter and fluid that mite help. Sounds like your tranny is on its way out.

GEEEEEZ Guys . . . CHECK the FLUID LEVEL FIRST ! ! !

Thanks guys.

Would it make any difference to your replies if I told you that the problem is not there when I tramp down the accelerator-no problem getting into passing gear. The car automatically and smoothly switches up from there.

The car has 100,000 miles on the odometer.

Thanks for replying.

The mileage is right. I'm the second owner. I've had the car 3 years and I've put on 22,000 of the 100,00 miles.

I've never had the tranny serviced. I will do that this week. I noticed the ATF was low-maybe as much as half a litre! It's been topped up. It had a flaring on my first trip on the highway this morning since top up, but has been good since. But it will be serviced.

Thanks again.