Thank you Steve,

I think I do understand what you said that I should start with the Bowden cable adjustment and then try turning the modulator in a turn, but I think there is a chance that I am still confused about whether my problem is too much vacuum or not enough vacuum. My shift flair does not occur if I accelerate briskly.

I found this using bowden and pressure as keywords:
“The Bowden cable increases throttle pressure inside the transmission and thereby causes the shifts to occur at higher rpm's. The tighter the cable, the greater the rpm required for the shift.

The vacuum modulator increases the modulator pressure inside the transmission and thereby increases the speed of the shift. The more pressure, the faster and firmer the shift occurs. This adjustment can also be done with the vacuum control valve to increase or reduce the supply vacuum to the modulator.”

It sounds like I could use a little tighter Bowden and maybe a little increase in modulator pressure too. It also sounds like these adjustments might be more of an art than a science. Do you think I need a Mercedes specialist or would it be good to go to a transmission specialist? Is this a Mercedes thing or is this a similar thing for all transmissions? I am also thinking about just going out to my garage and trying to tighten the Bowden myself. From some pictures I found during my searches, it looked like it might be very accessible right under the hood. Could this be a simple do-it-yourself kind of thing for a non-mechanic like me? Any tips would be very welcome.

The transmission didn’t flair at all until after they replaced the Bowden cable, flushed the transmission fluid, and replaced all of the seals. I just had my engine light come on and they said it was the kickdown actuator, but I had no symptoms. They fixed some things and I ended up with a problem that they couldn’t fix. I sure hope it is really just a simple adjustment. If only somebody knew how to fix it.

The fact that my flair is not there with full throttle is what made me think that it is not caused by simple wear and tear on my aging transmission. It seems that the transmission should slip worse under heavy load, if it was a problem with wear. Is that true?

__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320.

I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend.
You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better.



Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/