The car:
1990 300e 134,000 miles
Was told when I bought it that the trans was rebuilt, saw paperwork for it.

Symptoms:

When I put the car into reverse, I hear the transmission engaging, but when I give it gas it is as if someone is holding the brakes and gunning the motor.

I can shift into D perfectly fine and the car will move forward.

I started to get the 2-3 trans flair that I have read about on the boards, so I ordered a new filter and am waiting on it to arrive.

Just my luck, the day I order the filter, my transmission decides to stop using reverse.

Did I fry my tranny? Could it be a clogged filter? what are some things the car will do if the filter gets clogged?

This is horrible timing for me, I just got out of school, have 0$ because I went to school full time, just finaly got a summer job after looking for 3 weeks, and the week I start, my car decides to die...

This is the exact same thing that happened to my tranny. Drove in the garage, and when I was about to leave... reverse...engine rev... no go! Ended up having a rebuilt Mercedes transmission installed. My tranny was gone!

the reverse clutches are probably worn out.

I screwed around with filters vacuum stuff, then I just got it rebuilt. It is worth rebuilding it, or getting a factory exchange.

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Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Doing a lot of reading tonight, I think it might be due to several factors, the first being low on fluid, then second being I am beginning to believe that my radiator is leaking ATF into the coolant (could low pressure in the ATF lines screw with the shifting? IE it can't build up the pressure in the lines because its leaking into the coolant?)

I have a new filter on the way for the tranny, so I was thinking, drain the tranny, drain the converter, slap the new filter in, while it is on the hoist (have to love friends that own shops) pressure test the ATF cooler on the radiator, if i find out its leaking, order new radiator...drive car until transmission gernades itself.


If I had the money right now I would fix every little problem that I could on the car. The problem is, I don't have any money to my name (spent it all on school) so I can't afford 1500-4000 for a tranny, the very thought of 300+ for a radiator is a bit much for me to take...(my aluminum radiator in my 67 camaro wasnt as much as this one is...)