Well I unplugged the switch behind the pedal...no results. Could it still be the servo? One other symptom: If cruising at city speeds and in 3rd (2000-2500 rpm) and I quickly move the shift lever from D to N and right back it kicks into 4th. Then it will shift between 3rd and 4th just fine with the lever, but still acts erratic when depressing the gas pedal. What other things control when the tranny shifts?

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

All euro cars start in 1st gear so the whine your hearing is properly the low gear ratio of the planetary, I missed that when I read your post. If the cable is adjusted properly, disconnect the KD switch, if that does not work. It is time to have all the pressure checked; working, governor, and modulator; it will show the condition of the pressure circuits, like a governor problem.

Are you sure all euro cars start in 1st? All euros have the E/S switch, and from what I have heard, if it is in S and you accelerate hard from a stop it will start in 1st but not otherwise. One other thing that I am noticing different now, is that when I come into a stop, right before it stops, you can hear and slightly feel the tranny shifting down. It's a very short whine. Like the whine when starting out but backwards I guess. It never did this before.

Went to the dealer to pick up some coolant and I talked to one of the mechanics, and just from how I described it he said that it sounds like either a warped valve body or just a not properly functioning valve body. Read: $$$$! As you said also, he said that he would need to drive the car and hook it to gauges to be more accurate. It's in the bodyshop right now, so after I get it back, I may do that. He said it would run 2.5 hours of labor, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

It is my understanding and experience that all Euros from Germany and some ROW cars with a selector position of P. R. N. D. 3. 2. Start in 1st gear. I was not aware that German Euro cars had an S/W mode switch. With that said, your late shifts can be related to the up shift delay feature with the S/W mode switch. Try disconnecting the two wires at the electric switch over valve in the engine compartment. And also disable the KD solenoid by removing the relay, or discounting the wire to the solenoid.

I already diconnected the wire to the switch under the pedal with no change. When I get my car back from the body shop I will disconnect the solenoid at the transmission and see what that does. Where is the electric switch over valve for the E/S switch? Thanks!

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

You car should have a shift point retard switchover valve Y3. I do not know were it is on your car, I am usually looking at parts on these cars from under neat, or on the bench. It is a vacuum solenoid with a black and grey stripe vacuum hose going to it and a black hose coming out going down to the transmission up shift delay element. Also check for a broken vacuum hose coming from the plastic check valve going to Y3

Hi mtbjc,

If you can do "manual" shift, the auto box is OK. The problem is in the control/timing. There is a clip which attach the Bowden cable to the trany dip stick so that it is stable. Might want to check that.

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Shane83SD