My 380SL is having some strange transmission troubles. When cold, the trans shifts well. When warm, after perhaps two miles of driving, after coming to a stop, it will start in second gear and have a terrible flaring shift into third. The shift to fourth is OK but a bit soft. If you shift into Low at the stop, it feels like the brakes are on when you move off.

I just had the transmission tested. The findings were

- working pressure 210 PSI in Drive, idling - out of limits
- modulating pressure 60 PSI - 30% high
- valve body regulating OK

Recommendation was for a rebuilt trans or to go into this one and replace the K1 and K2 packs.

Now here's the kicker. When I drove the car home from the shop, I discovered that, if at the stop, I shift to Neutral and then back to Drive, it starts in first and changes up through the gears very nicely with the exception of the soft shift to fourth.

I called the tech and reported this. At first he expressed disbelief, but after we got past that, he could not think of a reason for this behavior. It seems to me that if the trans is left in gear at a stop, something is preventing it from going properly into first gear.

Anybody have a clue?

TIA

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe