I believe that model transmission always starts in second, my '86 300E does. If you feel you need first gear from a standining start, place the selector in the '2' position. The transmission will now start in first. Then move the sector to '3' and let the trans shift to second, quickly pull the selector back to '2' and it will hold in second. Then you move the selector to '3' again and let it shift to third gear. Then move the selector to 'D' and it will shift to fourth.

This is sort of a manual shift method to get all 4 gears. I practiced it until I could do it fairly smoothly but it really doesn't seem worthwhile unless you just like to play with the trans. Later models use all 4 speeds.

Draining and replacint the transmission fluid would be a good idea anyway.

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1986 300E
1993 Volvo 940 Wagon
1984 Volvo 240 (daughter's)
1976 Dodge 1/2T pickup, gas hog